Subaru Forester 2005 quick review

Here's a car that is not only a practical and comfortable small wagon, but is happy to go banging down a dirt track a rate of knots without breaking into a sweat.

In the hands of a skilled driver, it is even capable of more adventurous exploits off road.

• 2.5-litre horizontally opposed four cylinder produces 121kW of power at 5600rpm and 226Nm of torque at 3600rpm. Power is up marginally from 115kW in line with earlier changes to the Liberty engine. The two share the same power plant.
  Explore the 2005 Subaru Forester Range

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• Our test vehicle was the better equipped XS model fitted with the optional four speed auto. XS gets a six stack CD sound system and a few other extra goodies.
• Four-speed auto is gated which means moving the change lever up and down and from side to side through a series of notches to select gears.
• Works well for quick down shifts to third for hills and overtaking, but it is easy to sail straight past D and into neutral when going back the other way. The engine is torquey enough that most drivers will probably be content to just leave it in D.
• Although it has only four gears, it has a good spread of ratios, and the car remains responsive to the throttle in most situations - although not in the same league as its turbocharged stablemate that we drove previously.
• The boxer engine is a little harsher than a regular in-line four, but the effect is not unpleasant and is far outweighed by the benefits.
• These include better balance, because the engine sits lower in the car. Boxer engines also tend to be harder wearing and more responsive to the throttle.
• On the downside all-wheel drives have a reputation for being a little thirstier, which is a consideration with the way petrol prices are going.
• Claimed fuel consumption for our test car is 9.7L per 100km.
• Subaru has cleaned up the exterior design of the car with trimmer, more compact lights up front and trendy clear lens tail lights down the back. Turn indicators have also been incorpor- ated into larger exterior mirrors.
• As with other models, the Subaru name has curiously been removed from the back. There's just the badge and Forester name, with no model designation.
• Inside the finish is first rate and light or dark coloured trim is a no cost option. However the metallic look plastic is prone to scratching.
• The suspension has also been firmed up which means less body roll in corners.
• Standard equipment includes temperature controlled airconditioning, side and front airbags, ABS brakes with electronic brake force distribution, as well as cruise control, fog lights and 16in alloy wheels.
• Our test car also gets self-leveling rear suspension which is handy for towing or for carrying loads.

VERDICT: Forester is a fine example of what Subaru does best. It's a compact, well engineered all-wheel drive wagon capable of serving many roles, with a pedigree that stretches back to the company's original sports wagon. Our model as tested will set you back at least $36,990.