Subaru Forester 2.0D X 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The Forester 2.0D X 5dr is powered by a gutsy 2.0-litre, 4 cylinder 16v 1998cc diesel engine. It is smooth and flexible, and manages to give stronger pull at higher revs, thanks to the 145bhp and torque figures of 258 lb-ft it produces.

The car has good acceleration, and records a 0-62mph time of 10.4 seconds. For a car its size, this is commendable. On the road, the Forester 2.0D X is stable but tends to lose grip easily. Suspension is firm and keeps the ride comfortable while efficiently soaking bumps.

Only two things keep the Forester from being the most thrilling car to drive in its class: 1) the steering, which is light and slow and 2) body roll in corners. The suspension does a good job in keeping body movement under control but it is not strong enough for the car’s height, hence body roll in corners.

The engine is quiet, only becoming loud at higher revs and dying out once you have picked up speed. Soundproofing is good and keeps the cabin free of road noise.

Plenty of glass and small-sized pillars ensure good visibility.

The Subaru Forester is not exactly attractive, but it has a strong design and is well-built. It is a medium 4x4 with five doors and five seats. 4560mm x 1780mm x 1675mm dimensions make it only 69mm shorter than the Audi Q5, its biggest rival in the class.

The cabin is well-designed but the material and finish is no match for more luxurious rivals. However, no pieces are likely to come apart anytime soon as it is all solidly put together and looks durable.

The Forester has a good level of equipment. It comes with power steering, central locking, Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, driver airbag, passenger airbags, front side airbags and curtain airbags, alarm, immobiliser, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth and CD player.

Only metallic paint is available as a cost option, and it goes for £480.

The Forester is among the most spacious cars in the class. It has enough room for five, with plenty of headroom and legroom. Comfort is assured for all passengers except the rear, middle passenger, who gets the narrowest of seats. Rear seats recline at an angle for extra comfort so your passengers get to set their own comfort level.

The boot is a good size. You can expand the 450 litres available with the seats up by folding the rear seats, to get 1660 litres. The seats fold completely flat, increasing versatility of the new-found space, as it can hold all shapes of loads.

Both the steering wheel and driver’s seat can be adjusted for height and reach, to give a comfortable driving position. The controls are well-arranged on the dash and these won’t give you a problem either.

The car is fitted with plenty of safety kit. Subaru has ensured that you are protected, with everything from airbags and anti-whiplash head restraints to stability control installed. The car is yet to undergo the Euro NCAP safety test but there is every possibility that it will get a good rating when it finally does.

The Forester is backed by Subaru’s legendary reliability. For years, the car maker’s standards have remained consistent, with one quality car being launched after another. The Forester 2.0D X comes with the same high quality build and engineering. It also has a 3-year/60,000 mile warranty that will take care of things if any mechanical problems arise.

The Subaru Forester is cheaper than many rivals. But it has lower resale values. This is its greatest disadvantage because everything else works in its favour: economy, fuel, insurance. The car has class leading fuel economy - 47.9mpg. Carbon emissions are also low, at 155g/km on average. This will cost you 65 in VED under road tax band G.

With the car placed under insurance group 21, insurance costs should be low. A 12,500 mile service interval is reasonable, given that service rates for the Subaru are affordable.