Subaru FORESTER S SPECIAL EDITION
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Subaru Forester Has Long Been A Favourite Amongst Those Looking For A More Nimble 4x4. In Special Edition S Trim, It Offers Excellent Value Too. By Andy Enright
Theres no getting away from the fact that despite the lifestyle advertisements were constantly bombarded with, we live in a country thats beset for several months of the year with rain, sleet, snow and ice. Despite this, we still buy more convertible cars than the Italians and the Spanish lumped together. What we really should be buying are 4x4s. Not the faintly ridiculous lumbering behemoths often spotted on the school run, but smarter 4x4s, capable of taking the worst a British winter can dish out but without looking like something that figures in Stormin Norman Schwartzkopfs fantasy garage.
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Subaru have done rather well with their Impreza, Outback and Forester lines, and its the Forester that we look at more closely here, this time in special edition S trim. For those who are interested, there are two main versions of the Forester. The X model is the entry level version, while the XT adds a turbocharger for more power and a whole host of interior goodies. Until now there hasnt been anything for the buyer who wants the luxury fitments of the XT but can do without the emissions and the fuel consumption of the turbocharged car.
Solace comes in the form of the S, a limited run model of 240 manual and 60 automatic cars priced from £19,295. To save you from consulting the price lists, thats £150 over and above the asking price of the X model with All Weather Pack upon which its based.
"The Forester S is a very informed buy for those of a practical persuasion"
So what does your £150 buy? Resort to Subarus options list to bring your Forester X up to snuff and the answer is, sadly, not a whole lot. Choose the Forester S instead and youll end up with a much better deal. The three-spoke leather steering wheel would account for all of that if you decided to option your Forester X with it, but the S also features a leather-trimmed gear lever, handbrake and dual range shift lever. As well as the hide theres also the same sporty black
seat trim as the XT with black carpeting and black soft touch armrests.
In case you were wondering, the All Weather pack consists of side airbags, an electric sunroof, alloy wheels, cruise control, front fog lights, heated front seats and grey metallic bumpers with lower body cladding. The Forester concept as a whole is certainly an interesting one, blending the practicality of an estate with the all-wheel drive utility of a true off-roader. Of course, by its very nature, this must be an exercise in compromise but Subaru have managed this balance better than most. The Forester S is a model which will never get the column inches of its more powerful turbocharged XT sibling, but it nevertheless merits consideration.
With better economy and a far lower asking price, the S model is certainly a compelling value proposition. The bodywork of this latest generation MK2 Forester is a good deal smoother than that of the original version, the wheelarches neatly integrating into the slightly more voluptuous wings, the front end less resolutely craggy. The body continues an evolutionary styling theme, despite every panel being different from the first generation model. Up against the tape, the MK2 Forester is slightly shorter than its predecessor but a handy bit wider, especially when it comes to rear seat accommodation.
Although the metalwork has evolved significantly, the same cant be said of the 123bhp engine. A number of incremental changes such as exhaust gas recirculation and refettled piston rings have meant a smoother, more tractable and cleaner engine but its largely the same as ever - which is no bad thing. The S is agreeably lively, the chassis letting you know its capable of handling twice as much power with ease, yet its never a tedious steer. 60mph is 10.
9 seconds away whilst the top speed of 112mph should be enough for most. It always feels up for fun, the characterful engine giving something back even when youre bumbling along in the traffic. There aren't too many sports coupes that can hold a candle to the Forester when it comes to handling. So good is the Forester S in a set of corners that it does tend to make one yearn for the added power of an XT. Part of the reason for this has been Subarus constant quest to reduce weight. The bonnet, roof rails, sunroof frame and bumper beams are these days fabricated from lightweight aluminium.
Even the anti roll bars are now hollow tubes. If the normally aspirated cars chassis is almost too competent, perhaps you can console yourself with the fact that youll return 33.2 mpg whereas your turbocharged colleague will be looking at a significantly bigger annual fuel bill. Subaru are a very special car manufacturer who seem to operate on a whole lot of enthusiasm and gut feel without recourse to things like focus groups or customer clinics.
As a result, many of their products seem touched by genius, whilst more than a handful down the years have had most of us scratching our heads in sheer dumbfounded disbelief. The Forester range is no exception. If it had a spare wheel hanging on the back and was festooned with bull bars and powered by a lusty turbodiesel engine, it would have been so much easier for us to get. It would have been Subarus low-slung take on a
Land Rover Freelander.
Theres a lot to like about Subarus Forester S. Its rather unpretentious, wont cost an arm and a leg to run, should prove impeccably reliable and has a very low-key image. Of course, this last point may well count as a demerit among those who buy a 4x4 vehicle to get noticed but if youve read this far, youre probably a good deal brighter than that. Subaru are counting on it.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Subaru Forester S Special Edition
PRICE: £19,295 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 11
CO2 EMISSIONS: 204g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 112mph/ 0-60mph 10.9s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 24.4 (extra urban) 42.2 (combined) 33.2mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, ABS, full-time 4wd
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4450/2006/1590mm
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