Subaru Forester 2.0D X

Nov 20 2009 Enda Mullen

IT might not be particularly exciting, but the Subaru Forester is one of those cars I have always liked for some reason.

As SUVs go it is one of the more basic and straightforward.

No frills or fancy sloping roofline but very much one of those 'does what it says on the tin' vehicles.

Mind you, perhaps my fondness was underpinned by the fact that, despite its no nonsense looks, one model was also the ultimate 'wolf in sheep's clothing' in the otherwise fairly staid SUV segment.

Firstly the 2.0XT and latterly the 2.5XT was, in effect, an SUV version of the awesome Impreza STi.

Way before the days of the Porsche Cayenne and Range Rover Sport, if you wanted a genuinely sporty SUV this was the only choice.

Fuel economy was pretty dire but it offered a thrilling drive combined with the practicality of a regular family estate or SUV.

Sadly the turbo-charged petrol Forester is no longer available. Subaru has gone all sensible in these eco-conscious times. In actual fact it had little choice with manufacturers having to hit emission targets across their range.

Subaru's way of dealing with it was to unveil its first diesel engine. For a long time the company resisted, saying the development of a Boxer flat four diesel engine was difficult to say the least.

But one thing Subaru is renowned for is its engineering prowess and eventually a diesel engine was unveiled and is now available in a range of vehicles, including the latest Forester.

The new generation Forester actually has a few more curves than its predecessor but it hasn't gone all 'lifestyle' either, with a look that might be more modern but is still fairly functional.

The interior is a bit of a let down. It is open, roomy and comfortable but the fascia looks a little like something from a bygone age. Subaru is not renowned for in-car ergonomics but one would have expected the Forester to offer a little more in the way of imaginative design - like the current Legacy.

But such complaints are easily forgotten when you get out on the road.

Based on the Impreza platform, the latest Forester maintains the reputation for delivering the goods as a driver's car.

The two-litre, four-cylinde,r boxer diesel engine is potent, refined and reasonably quiet too.

It might not have the all-out aggression of the old 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine but it certainly punches above its weight.

The Forester has a wonderfully supple and agile feel for an SUV. It's fun to drive and its flexible and pliable suspension takes the lumps and bumps of choppy road surfaces in its stride.

As well as being a capable performer the diesel engine will return 44.8mpg on the combined cycle. Low running costs are further enhanced by the low 167g/km emissions figure.

It also boasts a relatively low insurance group of nine.

A six-speed manual gearbox is standard in diesel models and - as it is longer, wider and taller - the new Forester has more presence than its predecessor.

The sleeker lines have been achieved with no compromise on carrying capacity, the increased size meaning there are 450 litres of load space - up 63 litres from before.

FAST FACTS

Subaru Forester 2.0D X

Price: £20,875

Mechanical: 147bhp, 1,998cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving four wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox.

Max speed: 115mph

0-62mph: 10 seconds

Combined mpg: 44.7

Insurance group: 9

CO2 emissions: 167g/km

BiK rating: 24%

Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles