SINCE 1997 there has been a Forester in the Subaru line-up and for the past eight years, along with its Legacy and Impreza stable companions, this practical estate car-like family leisure vehicle has managed to effectively disguise its 4x4 identity.
Subaru designers made the Forester a little taller than your average family car and elevated the seating position resulting in a discreetly turned out off-roader effectively disguised as a comfortable motorway cruiser with fine handling credentials.
Forester also adopted the Subaru line-up's natural ability for winning awards in the field of customer satisfaction surveys, having been voted The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year 2004 and Compact 4x4 Towcar Champion for 2005.
Last August, a new-look Forester arrived in UK showrooms and, following yet another rigorous testing weekend at the Millbrook proving Ground in Bedfordshire, the 2.5 XT made it an award hat-trick by winning The Caravan Club's £20,000 to £25,000 category for 2006.
The new-look Forester now boasts a bolder, stronger and more dynamic look, features thoroughly revised engines and an upgraded, higher quality interior, all designed to further the Forester's appeal in face of some quality competition from the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and the Nissan X-Trail.
In a range which is quite competitively priced from £17,595, the Forester offers a brace of petrol engine options - a two-litre 156bhp Boxer and a 2.5-litre 227bhp turbo. Transmission choices are five-speed manual or automatic, plus the advanced Sportshift autobox £1,350 cost option for the 2.5 XT model which features manual clutchless gear selection.
Trim levels are X, XE, XT and XTE and driven here is the 2.5 XT which, like all Forester models comes well kitted out and includes in its standard manifest, climate control, electric windows all round, large door mirrors which are electrically manoeuvrable and ideal for towing, powered sunroof, satellite navigation and cruise control, plus a seven-speaker sound system with six-stack CD player and that fine driver safety item steering wheel-mounted controls.
Unlike some traditional 4x4s, the Forester provides easy access to all parts while the wide-opening doors close with a reassuring thunk of quality build as you settle into leather-trimmed, heated seating.
While previous Foresters have never been noted for imaginative interiors, the current generation offers an upgraded, better quality inside story which adds some style and practicality to the experience.
There is some lifestyle input with front seats flanking a multi-function centre console set-up which includes an armrest which slides forward, hinges vertically and flips backwards to create a small table while the armrest also slides rearwards to provide back seat passengers with cupholders.
The centre console also houses a pocket which can hold four CDs while a 12-volt power outlet allows driver and passengers to recharge mobile phones.
Although the bootroom isn't massive and is subject to some wheel arch intrusion, it does feature a user-friendly loading lip, luggage restraining system and a cargo bay large enough to satisfy most families' requirements, plus the rear seat splits and folds to extend load-carrying space even further.
With some fine head and legroom available, most drivers should be able to get comfortable in a pole position, from which, the major controls are user-friendly and, despite not providing quite the commanding view enjoyed from most high-rise traditional 4x4s, the driving position is sufficiently elevated to provide a good all round view.
Powered by the 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with the five-slot manual gearchange, the Forest shows hot-hatch pace on the tarmac, making the 0-60mph dash in under six seconds while boasting a maximum speed, where legally allowable, of 134mph.
But, while the Forester 2.5 XT is a proven, very willing towcar with 236lb/ft of pulling power on tap, with pricing bordering on the compact executive estate territory, running costs could prove a problem for some private buyers with combined mpg of 26.4, high emission levels of 254g/km and Group 18 insurance stacked against them.
On the tarmac, the permanent all-wheel-drive not only affords stacks of grip which helps to provide a hugely composed handling performance with an agreeable ride quality, whatever the conditions at tyre level, it also enables the Forester to feel nicely at home in the country when introduced to some light off-roading where the self-levelling rear suspension came into its own.
Overall, the Subaru Forester 2.5 XT is much more than a mere rural load-lugger. Its on-the-tarmac credentials border on the sporting performance car level and combine agreeably with an off-roading ability to keep you running freely when the tarmac runs out, making it a fine all-rounder.
FAST FACTS
Subaru Forester 2.5 XT
Price: £21,995
Mechanical: 230bhp, 2,457cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving all four wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 134mph
0-62mph: 5.8 secs
Combined mpg: 26.4
Insurance group: 18
CO2 emissions: 254g/km
BiK rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 12yrs anti-rust