REVIEW: I thought the new Subaru Forester would be uninspiring. Then I drove it

From that bug-eyed Impreza of the early noughties to upside-down Alfa grilles and many forgettable ‘Legacies’ in between, it’s safe to say that Subaru has never been a master of exterior design.

But while their products don’t win beauty contests, the brand has garnered a loyal fan base among those who appreciate a more functional kind of design and an engaging driving experience. From flat-four ‘boxer’ engines that keep the centre of gravity low, to standard Symmetrical all-wheel drive that keeps you in control, Subarus are almost always a pleasure to drive, and the new Forester is no exception.

At first glance, the new midsize SUV contender is quite nondescript, as if it could easily get lost in Soccer Mom (or Dad) suburbia. The front is bolder than before with its larger black grille, but there’s very little brand identity going on here. The side windows are really big, which doesn’t do the aesthetics many favours, but from the inside they offer a view out that few SUVs can match - and surely that counts for something on your next family adventure.

Functional, high-quality interior

The cabin is unpretentious yet beautifully put together. There’s not a single surface which looks cheap, and the build quality is impeccable, but it’s also not trying to shout luxurious.

The Touring model, which we had on test, which is second from the bottom of the range, comes with durable-looking cloth seats, which, strangely enough, offer power adjustment for the driver. The interior smells like the unboxing of a new pair of hiking boots from a place like Cape Union Mart, and something about that made me want to hit the road and explore scenic places.

Subaru has fitted a large 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen from Touring spec upwards, to keep with the times, but it hasn’t gone overly digital. You’ll still find physical controls for the audio volume, track and temperature, while the remaining digital climate controls remain permanently visible on that huge screen. The base model has two 7.0-inch screens. The instruments in front of the driver remain analogue in all versions because, hey, Subaru isn’t reinventing its interiors all in one day.

Fancier versions get leather seats, a Harman Kardon 10-speaker premium sound system and panoramic roof, but the sensible Touring that found its way into our garage still ticked most of the boxes, with standard features such as dual-zone climate control, powered tailgate and the flurry of ‘EyeSight’ driver assist gizmos such as Adaptive Cruise Control with lane Centring, Autonomous Emergency Steering and Pre-Collision Braking.

The Forester is certainly practical as a family car, with plenty of leg-stretching space in the back, even for adults, and the spacious boot holds 490 litres worth of luggage. The rear seatbacks also fold flat at the touch of a lever in the boot area.

USB A and C ports are provided for both front and rear passengers.

Let’s take it for a drive

Alright, so it sounds rather uninspiring on paper: a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, with outputs of 136kW and 247Nm, paired with a CVT gearbox and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.

And yet the way it all comes together left me deeply satisfied after each drive. That horizontally-opposed boxer engine makes a pleasantly off-beat burble, and power delivery is smooth and linear. The CVT gearbox is among the best I’ve ever encountered, with minimal droning and eight programmed ‘steps’ that realistically mimic gear changes.

Its performance is not going to set the tarmac on fire, but then this is a mid-range SUV, and the engine provides adequate and rather effortless performance that is surely going to satisfy most owners. The Forester is also ultra-quiet on the road, and the ride is comfortable.

It is rather heavy on juice, though, with our car consuming 10.3 litres per 100km in a mixture of urban and highway driving.

A really engaging drive

What I enjoyed most about the Forester is its steering. I genuinely don’t remember when last I drove a car whose steering felt so beautifully weighted and communicative. Dare I say the last that comes to mind is a Porsche 911. There’s a genuine feeling of engagement with this vehicle that makes driving it an absolute pleasure. 

Being a Subaru, with that aforementioned Symmetrical AWD, you can be sure that handling is among the best in class, too. The Forester is the only vehicle in the RAV4 class that has all-wheel drive as standard, and you may argue that it’s unnecessary, given the price sensitivity of the market. For the most part, it is probably unnecessary, but it is something you will appreciate when you suddenly have to swerve out of the way of an obstacle on the highway in the pouring rain or on a dirt road.

The Forester is not a hard-core 4x4, but with its class-leading 220mm ground clearance and an X-Mode electronic system for slippery and rutted terrain, it will do better than most of its class rivals.

VERDICT

It might seem nondescript on the surface, but spend some time with the Subaru Forester and you will surely come to appreciate its attributes. It's built like a rock, engaging to drive and oh-so practical. It's not trying to be fancy, just a good and solid SUV that's made for life.

The downside is below-average fuel economy, and at R740,000 for the 2.5i Touring (the range starts at R699,000 and rises to R830,000), it is a little on the pricey side. It’s competitive against the RAV4 and X-Trail, but you can get a whole lot more Chinese SUV for a whole lot less. None of the latter will come close to matching the Subaru’s quality, though, that I can assure you.

IOL Motoring