Subaru Forester review

The Forester’s 2.0-litre petrol engine sounds great and revs sweetly, but simply doesn’t have enough guts. It lacks torque and it’d be an unpleasant thing to pilot if towing a trailer full of horse. The boxer diesel is a far better choice (the cylinders lie flat and punch across each other, hence the name). We’re familiar with Subaru boxers in petrol form, but this is a first in diesel guise. Don’t expect the usual turbodiesel traits though; the boxer has less lag and, appropriately, a more instant hit. It sounds interesting and likes to rev too, so you can hold on to gears longer. It’s a diesel with soul. So they’ve done a fine job on the engine, but not such a great one on the damping – the ride is too choppy at speed, which is surprising, considering the suspension is a posh, multi-link affair. None of which will matter to most Forester buyers, who are more interested in its excellent four-wheel-drive duties and rugged durability. This could be the most honest SUV out there.