2009 Subaru Forester reviews

Subaru Forester X 2009

There can be no doubt about what the Subaru name stands for. In the world of international rallying it is a byword for dependability and success in the most gruelling conditions imaginable - and the marques heritage is supported by numerous victories over the years. It’s no wonder then that the new Forester is a car which makes real driving adventure accessible as well as offering the sound practicality that your better judgement tells you to go for. Presenting the styling blend of a purposeful off-roader and the smooth lines of a modern estate, it’s as ’at home’ in the most elegant settings as well as the ’great outdoors’. As we’ve come to expect from niche market manufacturer Subaru, quality is as good as it gets. Subaru's are built to last and you only have to look to the ’still living’ Subaru's of yesteryear, suffering and surviving thrashings by farmers - who give them no quarter and treat them with the same heavy handedness as they afford their tractor! Tough though the new Forester certainly is, it's' marshmallow’ on the inside and packed with thoughtful touches... Warm, spacious and inviting, there’s all the ambience and quality of a luxury car, but there’s no unnecessary adornment or excess. With lots of room for five strapping adults and their luggage, intelligent use is made of every bit of space - and the flexibility offered by permutations of ’seats up/down/half up or down’, means that you can change from luxury cruise liner to cargo ship in an instant. You’ll always be safe, of course, because six airbags are there just in case - and the rigid structure of this Subaru is not so far off Challenger Tank strength. There are three specification levels, with the basic X, which I tested, costing £20,295. Top of the range XS costs £25,495. Even the ’basic model has heated seats, electric windows, automatic air conditioning and even cruise control. No one is going to be able to steal it either because it comes with Fort Knox security levels. - Unless they steal your keys, of course. But how does the new Forester feel behind the wheel? You sit tall and enjoy good visibility - and the range of seat adjustment even let my pal ’Tubby Dougie’ gets comfy. Cars like this are often bloaty when the roads turn twisty - but not the Forrester. It handles in a surprisingly nimble way - with the added security offered by that four wheel drive letting you cut along at a jolly brisk pace when ’needs must’. And if you load it to the gunwales - as is the wont of busy country folk - the self levelling rear suspension is a boon... Power for this Forester comes from the worlds first commercially produced 4 cylinder horizontally opposed diesel engine. (2.0 litres, 147 bhp and 350 Nm of torque are the figures). It really ’does the business’, with lots of features that, quite frankly, you don’t need to know about. Here is a simple list of what is so great about this engine: it delivers solid response from right down in the doldrums of the rev range; it is uncannily smooth; it has a seamless power delivery; it is able to take this heavy four wheel drive car up to 115mph while at the same time sipping fuel to give remarkable economy of 40 mpg in urban use (Try as I might I couldn’t get the consumption to increase over this!) - And it backs up all these virtues by being so quiet... With this extraordinary combination of vitality, vigour and tractability, it’s a true diesel engineering revolution. You don’t need to know about the gearshift quality of the six speed manual box (light, accurate, easy) because that’s a given thing with Subaru. You do need to know about the four wheel drive; however, because it is efficient and effective and lets you take the Forester where others fear to venture. Towing your horsebox across rutted fields or your caravan down to Cannes should be no problem. Not only does the new Forester pack a heavyweight punch that’s light on the pocket - it has style to go with stamina and class to go with capability too. And finally, for those who not only drive estate cars but LIVE on estates too, I’m pleased to tell you that with the Foresters top notch four-wheel-drive ’go anywhere’ ability to patrol your forest tracks and trails - you’ll be first past the poacher every time. Who wouldn’t like to see one of these splendid cars gift wrapped under the greenwood tree. As hardy as Old Thomas himself, this superb Subaru leaves all the rivals on the shelf.