SUBARU has an image problem in this country. How ironic that the car that made Subaru a major player in the past decade - the Impreza STI - should be so spectacularly responsible for an inexplicable failure to rebrand as a purveyor of fine 4x4s and easy-to-own SUVs.
When STI mania was at its height, the turbocharged rally-bred hot hatch represented more than a third of Subaru’s UK sales.
But times change and Subaru has been slow to transition.
The company sold more than 170,000 examples of the last generation Forester- more than half of them in the US. Here, the Forester sold to a small, but enthusiastic, band of followers; but it should have been trading blows with the NIssan Qashqai. Instead, it remains a rare sight on British roads.
For 2014, Subaru is back with a new Forester that’s bigger, better trimmed and sharper-looking but it’s still got it all to do, particularly in a sector of the market that’s crammed with good cars.
And, as if that weren’t hard enough, there’s a new Qashqai just waiting to clean up.
ON THE ROAD: This is the fourth generation Forester. The first was nothing more than an Impreza on stilts but the two have been growing apart ever since. With this version the metamorphosis from jacked up soft-roader to fully fledged SUV is complete.
Subaru’s trademark flat four layout places the engine closer to the road which reduces the centre of gravity. In fact, although the Forester has 10mm more ground clearance than its predecessor, the engine sits 10mm lower. Arguably, this is more important on an SUV with its long travel suspension and soft damping than it is on a hot hatchback like the STI. Keeping the engine’s mass as low as possible means the Forester doesn’t suffer from the “top heavy” feeling you usually get with a full-on 4x4 when it’s driven smartly.
Multi-link double wishbone suspension replaces the older rear strut arrangement and helps maintain the optimum wheel location. Traditionally, a double wishbone layout is harder to package than the cheaper strut arrangement but the Forester uses a particularly compact layout for better luggage space. It’s mounted on a subframe beneath the floor for better road noise isolation.
Subaru's impressive Japanese tv ad
Like all previous Foresters the new model features a self-levelling function which makes it particularly useful if you wish to tow a caravan. The diesel Forester can tow a ‘van weighing as much as two tonnes.
The steering ratio has been tweaked for a sportier feel and better response. However, the old power assistance system has been swapped for an all-electric set-up in the search for better fuel consumption (electric systems don’t sap power like a hydraulic pump). The trade off is precious little feel through the steering wheel.
The unusual flat four diesel has quite an appetite for revs. To get the best from it you need to treat it like a petrol unit with a bootful of revs from a standing start. The twin horizontally-opposed pistons help cancel out the usual diesel vibes.
ON THE INSIDE: The Forester has plenty of family car appeal. It’s 35mm longer than the previous car and the wheelbase is stretched by 25mm. You can see the result as soon as you slip into the rear seats - the Forester has acres of leg and knee room. The floor has been lowered by 2.7 inches which gives plenty of room to put your feet beneath the seat, even if you’re wearing a pair of muddy wellies.
Plenty of room - floor lowered by 2.7-inches
The dashboard is the same as used in the Subaru XV cross-over layout - simple and straightforward. Some of the plastics are a bit harder than Europeans are used to but they feel tough and more than capable of standing up to a bit of rough treatment.
WHAT DO YOU GET: The basic model features Subaru’s excellent four-wheel drive, self-levelling rear suspension, 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, a CD player, heated front seats and cruise control. The XC model adds roof rails, larger wheels, automatic wipers and headlights, one-touch folding rear seats and a massive electrically operated sunroof. As you’d imagine, the Premium model includes a satellite navigation system and a Pioneer CD/DVD infotainment head unit with Bluetooth wireless connectivity.
HOW PRACTICAL IS IT? The 505 litre boot is plenty big enough for everyday life - it takes golf clubs, prams, pushchairs and supermarket carriers in its stride - and the rear seat backs can be folded down from the boot just by tugging a lever.
The big selling point, though, is the standard four-wheel drive system. Manual models use a centre differential and a viscous limited-slip diff which can vary the 50/50 power split according to road conditions. The CVT automatic (only available with the petrol engines) apportions its torque with a multi-plate clutch and has a different 60/40 front-to-back split. What does this mean? If you fit your Forester with a set of all-weather tyres nothing a North-East winter can throw at you will trouble the Subaru.
The design shows signs of clear-thinking everywhere you look. The cabin has deep luggage bins, twin cup holders and a decent glovebox. The bonnet rises on gas struts and the seats are double stitched for greater longevity. Even the door handles have extra deep recesses so they can be operated by someone wearing winter gloves.
RUNNING COSTS: The diesel XC is rated at 38.7mpg in town and 47.9mpg combined. That’s perfectly acceptable but some of the Forester’s rivals can do better. The CO2 emissions figure (156g/km) is rather less impressive. The Boxer diesel’s fuel tank has been enlarged from 60 to 64 litres compared to the petrol models, giving it a range of up to 625 miles.
A demonstration of the Forester's four-wheel drive
VERDICT: Why have UK magazines fallen out of love with Subaru? Once, they couldn’t find enough superlatives to lavish on each new Impreza STI. Now, they delight in pointing out that Subaru tends to use more hard plastics than rivals and its lack of a small capacity diesel engine. True, the Forester may never be a best-seller, but it has a very loyal bunch of owners who will, no doubt, be delighted with the new one. The Forester is the epitome of no-nonsense motoring. From the driver’s seat, it feels like a car that - to use Timex’s old epigram - can take a licking and keep on ticking.
And that’s exactly what Forester owners want.
Spec: Engine: 1998cc/four cylinder/direct injection diesel Power: 147PS/3600rpm Torque: 258lb/ft Top speed: 118 mph 0-62mph: 10.2 seconds Fuel economy: 47.9 mpg combined CO2 emissions: 156g/km Insurance group: 25 Equipment: Electric windows, mirrors, 17-inch alloy wheels, electric sunroof, climate control, cruise control, colour reversing camera.
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