14 Jul 05
Few manufacturers participating in the World Rally Championships manage to translate the handling ability, agility and road-holding of their rally cars into their road-going ranges, but Subaru is one of them. Even more impressively, the small Japanese manufacturer has succeeded in getting some of its Impreza WRC magic into its Forester 4x4. First launched in 2002, the Forester has been a well-kept secret amongst the dedicated Subaru following: whilst the Impreza holds plenty of headlines in the motoring media and remains a must-have machine in petrolhead land, Subaru's other models have yet to make an impact on the public on any scale, not least because the company does not offer a diesel engine as yet.
The 2006 Forester, however, on sale from August 2005, is instantly more of an attention-grabber. Like its forerunner, it sits lower than most SUVs and has a lower roof, but its larger alloy wheels and redesigned tail end make it look taller, and its new front wings, bumper, bonnet, grille and headlights are more distinctive and bold, without being overly aggressive. It looks less boxy - its silhouette now not quite so reminiscent of the old Talbot Rancho - and more like a full-sized proper 4x4 than a jacked-up estate car. Its cabin, though still looking a little dated, has been revised with better-quality plastics, a deeper rear seat and luggage-restraint system, as well as new upholstery choices, including water-repellent black cloth and black or beige leather. All models now have a CD player, with all but the entry-level 2.0X gaining a six-CD autochanger system and steering wheel-mounted controls. Attention has been paid to detail, creating a more pleasant tactile experience, with extra damping to cupholders and storage compartments, and special low-friction door handles - Subaru boasts that the latches have a new disulphide molybdenum coating, whatever than means, though it certainly sounds effective.
