Alternative review of Subaru Forester

To be honest, I expected Subaru's Forester to be much more rugged than it is - but then the name caused me to jump to conclusions. This is not a car for lumberjacks, more for ramblers and picnickers. That said, after an enjoyable weekend visit to the coast, my family and I decided that the all wheel drive Forester had a good deal going for it.

It has been said that this car is Subaru's response to compact 'sports utility' 4x4s like Land Rover's Freelander, Honda's CR-V and Toyota's RAV4, but for buyers who want something more car-like. After all, the majority of us only head for the hills at weekends, leaving five days of the week at least when we're driving in towns, sitting in traffic jams or pounding along motorways to the next appointment. What impressed me most about the latest Forester was the attention to detail in the finishing. There are umpteen handy storage spaces inside, ideal for busy families everywhere. My husband found the tie-down points in the boot area really handy, too. There's also an invaluable cover, which just pulls across to hide any valuables you have to leave in the car. Although you're not as high off the ground as in a 'real' off-roader, the Forester is loftier than Subaru's other four-wheel drive cars which makes driving that bit easier. The seats are reached via an easy sideways shuffle and are extremely comfortable. I appreciated the fold-down armrest when I wasn't driving, but it got in the way a bit when it was my turn to take the wheel. We picked up my sister and her husband on the way to the sea and they squeezed into the back with a seven-year-old, manageable for a short hop but the rear seat is really only designed for two, our only mildly negative observation about the car's practicalities.

Subaru, of course, have made their name in producing rally-proven cars. The Forester is based heavily on the mechanicals and suspension of the mid-sized Impreza, the car that has earned Subaru so much World Rally Championship success, and it's great fun to drive. The engine I tried, however, is a 150PS 16-valve, 2.0-litre four-cylinder taken from the non-turbo Impreza, yet it still offers brisk performance. Zero to sixty takes just under eleven seconds, with a top speed that we refrained from reaching of 114mph. The car's high-speed stability was for me surprisingly good, given its extra ground clearance compared with traditional family estates.

For sheer family practicality the Forester, in my book, would be hard to beat. It might not win hands down on price but that rugged feel could well be the deciding factor. So, if you fancy one, don't hold back.

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