Subaru Forester 2.5-Litre XT : FOREST THUMP

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Whoever Said That 4x4s Cant Be Fun To Drive Obviously Never Informed Subaru. Andy Enright Takes A Look At The Forester 2.5 XT

Buying a compact 4x4 is often an exercise in compromise and the solutions are rarely particularly satisfying. You either opt for something rather agricultural that feels out of place on-road. Or something thats great on tarmac but leaves you wondering why you didnt hang it all and buy a decent estate. The answer for many lies in a crossover sports vehicle like Subarus Forester.

If youre only set to use the all-terrain ability only occasionally but dont want the motion sickness-ride of a 4x4, yet want some jollies on your favourite back road, the latest 2.5 XT turbo model looks to be a viable solution.

The Forester has always been a bit of a bargain, weighing in at thousands less than something like an Audi Allroad or a Volvo XC70 yet offering the sort of capability and handling that eludes even these plutocratic smoothies. With a wilder version of the Imprezas 2.0-litre powerplant, the XT is a firm candidate for most fun you can have in a car with a three piece suite along for the ride. Now with 230PS on tap and the straight line performance to keep a Porsche Boxster honest, the 2.

5-litre XT variant is the do-anything vehicle you always wanted but never quite realised existed. Think about it. Heres a car thats yours for around £22,000, will accelerate to sixty in under six seconds flat, has all-wheel drive and serious carrying capacity yet is affordable to insure, impeccably reliable and will have you hooting with laughter as you pitch it through a set of twisties. If youre intent in buying capability rather than making some sort of lifestyle statement, the Forester 2.

5 XT scores big.

"This is a practical all-wheel drive estate with the performance to keep a Porsche Boxster honest"

Although there are some airship hangars that are more aerodynamically efficient, the Forester 2.5XT will now bludgeon its way to a top speed of 134mph. Mid range torque is massively improved over the two-litre car too, with peak pulling power being raised to 236lb/ft. This means that the braked towing limit goes up to a full 2,000kg.

Need to tow a speedboat or caravan? The Forster can take care of business. With a rear limited slip differential, full-time symmetrical all-wheel drive and self-levelling rear suspension, its unlikely youll want for traction. These features helped make the Forester XT the Caravan Clubs Towcar of the Year for 2005. If you need even more power, you can get it with the Prodrive Performance Pack which boosts the engines output to 245bhp and increases torque 273lb/ft.

With this upgrade fitted, the Forester 2.5 XT will hit 60mph in 5.5s. If the idea of dragging a septic tank up and down the country doesnt appeal, worry not, for the Forester doesnt need to don a flat cap and cardigan to strut its stuff.

With a low centre of gravity and use of lightweight aluminium for the bonnet, front and rear bumper beams, roof rails and sunroof frames, the Forester XT is agile enough to handle like a well-sorted sports saloon, albeit with a little more in the way of body roll. Other XT tweaks include larger diameter anti-roll bars, modified power steering and a limited slip differential for the rear axle much as youd find on an Impreza WRX. As you might expect, the brakes have also been upgraded to cope with the extra performance, with 375mm ventilated discs on the front and ventilated 350mm discs at the rear. If you want plenty of equipment, you might want to consider the leather-trimmed XTEn version, priced from £25,252.

You can also order either 2.5-litre model with a clever new automatic gearbox featuring sportshift manual selection and linked to Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control. This apparently boosts handling, roadholding and accident avoidance. Just in case the neighbours overlook the fact that youve opted for the Forester flagship, theres an Impreza WRX-style bonnet scoop.

Which is a useful reminder out on the road that this boxy 4x4 shares plenty of its siblings manic exuberance. To be frank, it feels even quicker than it actually is, the sheer unlikeliness of this unprepossessing estate cars turn of pace prompting pedal to the metal progress. It corners superbly too, flat and hard, all of a piece. Try to upset it and it behaves very tidily.

Overall, there aren't too many sports coupes that can hold a candle to the Forester when it comes to handling. Part of the reason why is that the development staff at Subaru are all mad about cars in the same way that possibly only Porsche and BMW M division employees are. They live, breathe, eat and sleep performance and the Forester is evidence of that trickle down effect. The emphasis is clearly on dynamic excellence.

The Forester still offers that extra ground clearance - over say a Legacy - that could make all the difference on bumpy tracks. Subaru learned the value of this in the forests of Carlisle, the gravel of New Zealand and the snow and ice of Scandinavia. What it means in real terms, however, is high-speed stability and handling that are the equal of many of a class-leading family saloon. A wide track and a carefully tuned suspension system help further here, plus of course that four-wheel drive system means that traction on wet and slippery roads can be taken for granted.

If you need an all-terrain vehicle but could do without the stodginess and bulk, take a look at the Forester 2.5XT. Its quicker than youll ever believe and is extremely well screwed together. All the ability without the social oppobrium? Thats about the size of it.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Subaru Forester 2.5-litre XT
PRICE: £22,252-£25,252 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 18 C02 EMISSION: 250-254g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 134mph/ 0-60mph 5.7s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 19.2mpg / (extra urban) 33.6mpg / (combined) 26.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS with EBD
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4450/2006/1590mm