AT FIRST glance, Subaru's muscular Forester looks like a normal estate that has been on steroids. But look beneath the surface and you will discover one of the most streetwise vehicles on the road.
The latest Forester lives up to its name as a hunky macho 4x4, but features a practicality and comfort factor many competitors would love to achieve.
Another thing competitors would die for is the utter oomph of this vehicle, which comes from the same stable as the famed Impreza WRX Rally Car.
Still featuring the tough, flat, 'boxer' engine, the two-litre Forester XT turbo as tested whacks out 177PS and delivers a cracking amount of power and flexibility, which an Impreza-based chassis efficiently transmits to the road.
The overall result is a car that looks as though it is at home on a farm, yet makes a lot of performance hatches pale at its awesome road capability.
The Forester is also a class leader in Sports Utility Vehicle economy and emissions - meaning it is also a class leader for Benefit in Kind SUV tax - even against diesels.
Still retaining a lot of the character of the Legacy estate, the Forester is an exciting car to drive. Here is a car with a definite beat to the engine and a subtle roar as it winds up through the gears. Where permissible it is possible to spool the turbo up to 125 mph, and 0-60 mph acceleration is just 7.9 seconds in manual transmission form.
One of the secrets of the Forester's amazing character is that the short, flat engine is in line with the transmission, allowing all drive shafts to be almost horizontal. This means that there is no awkward transfer box - just power to the rear wheels in a straight line with no loss of power on angled drive.
On a 4x4 this means that the cumbersome feel of such vehicles of past times is lost.
The Forester has permanent four-wheel-drive yet drives and feels like a normal estate - except on corners where its handling is utterly tenacious. High ground clearance and a 1,800kg towing limit are factors that paint the broad picture of a truly great all-rounder.
On the debit side, I do wish Subaru would introduce framed windows on the Forester. Its frameless offerings just don't seem to belong on a vehicle like this.
FAST FACTS
Subaru Forester 2.0 XT
Price: £20,995
Mechanical: 130bhp, 1,994cc 4 cylinder flat four turbocharged engine driving all four wheels via five speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 125 mph
0-60 mph: 7.9 secs
Combined mpg: 28.8mpg
Insurance group: 15
CO2 emissions: 235g/km
BiK rating: 31%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000; 6yrs anti-rust