WHAT'S good about the Subaru Forester is that it does more or less what it says on the tin.
Subaru's all wheel drive estate/SUV may not win many any beauty contests, but on forest roads, dirt tracks and not-too-demanding off-road conditions, the Forester is capable of holding its own.
Despite its lack of aesthetic charm it also appeals to a surprising audience.
One well-to-do pal commented that she preferred it to a Freelander, praise indeed and despite a slightly agricultural look, the Forester offers distinctive styling and sporty performance.
Even the two-litre offers at least warm-hatch performance with the 0-60mph sprint taking less than ten seconds.
The turbo is much quicker, completing the dash with an almost supercar time of 5.7 seconds. Rapid indeed and goes right up to a top speed of 134mph.
The car feels pretty composed in a straight line but can be a bit twitchy on corners, which should not be surprising given the high ground clearance, while the steering wheel is on the large side and lacks adjustment.
There is no getting away from the boxy shape but conversely this means there is plenty of space in the interior, particularly headroom and three adults can fit fairly comfortably in the rear.
Boot space is impressive and can be further increased via the 60-40 split rear seats and there a plenty of oddments spaces and cupholders.
The washing up bowl in the boot floor and out of sight umbrella holder also feature.
The interior now features multi-function centre console/armrest/table/cupholder plus a new loadbay-restraining system and water-repellent seat trim.
But interior trim, although robust, feels slightly cheap when compared to European competitors, but there is little chance of bits falling off.
The dash and centre console are neatly laid with aluminium trim, that contrasts nicely with the dark interior and the controls are both logical and easy to use including the standard satellite navigation fitted to the test model, which is sensibly mounted at eye-level.
Re-vamped for 2007 all models now boast electrically folding door mirrors, while the 2.0-litre versions receive Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and the 2.5-litre turbo models gain body-coloured exterior door handles and aluminium-coloured roof rails.
The Forester is versatile. It has braked towing limit of 2,000kg and the 200mm ground clearance and large wheels and tyres give it plenty of grip, making it a popular tow car.
The constant all-wheel drive is facilitated by a dual-range gearbox which gives ten speeds. Dual-range is selected by depressing the clutch and raising a small lever next to the gear-shift which can be done on the move.
This gives control through enhanced engine-braking in slippery conditions.
The Forester offers decent standard kit for the money, inluding the usual electric windows and heated, folding door mirrors, Xenon headlamps and windscreen wiper de-icer. For safety, driver and passenger airbags are complemented by side airbags, active front head restraints, seat belt pretensioners , side impact protection beams and stability programme.
Economy is only moderate and the lack of a diesel engine is a drawback, but the Forester is a robust and good value package that offers a decent alternative to the normal off-road favourites.
Prices start from £17,650 for the Forester 2.0 X.
FAST FACTS
Subaru Forester 2.0 XEn
Price: £21,977
Mechanical: 158bhp, 1,994cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving four wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 122mph
0-62mph: 9.7 secs
Combined mpg: 30.4
Insurance group: 13
CO2 emissions: 220g/km
BiK rating: 31%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust