Subaru’s are quiet performers. There’s none of the bells and whistles one finds in the interior of a Beamer, nor do we confront the raw, belligerent bulk of a Hummer or something – but regardless, the fine curves, the spritzy running and the manufacturing integrity ensure that most of their cars are bankable. Not one to miss the boat, the Subaru Forester is a proud addition to these ranks, and indeed can stake a claim to be the leading exemplar of this design spirit.

Subaru have put together some very tasty chassis in their time, and the bodywork on this year’s Forester is no exception. Chunky but restrained, ir screams nothing particularly overt, but in its understated way it ticks all the requisite boxes. The effect created is of a car that asserts its strength and composure with a powerful tendency towards fluency. The overall composition is stylish and both vanishing points at front and back are neat and demure. The silver trim adds a little extra sparkle to a very nice product.

Subaru have one of the most stylish interiors around with plenty of options like a 6-disc in dash CD changer with MP3.WMA player which is attached to a 7 speaker audio system with subwoofer, Sirius Satellite capabilities, dual stage heated front seats, panoramic sliding glass moon-roof, leather trimmed upholstery and an optional 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat. The Forester also comes with power mirrors, electronically controlled cruise control and lots of storage throughout the vehicle. The dashboard is classic Subaru and tastefully refined. The Forester has been equipped with the same dash layout as the Impreza. So if you’re going from the bachelor-boy coupe to the family-man Forester SUV, you won’t notice the difference – well, not much anyway!

The 2009 Subaru Forester offers extra cabin space for all five seats. If you’re doing carpool duty for the rugby team, even the lankiest locks will be comfy in the back seat. The Forester comes in five different alternative packages: the Forester X, the XS, the XS Premium, the XT and the XT Premium.

The Subaru Forester’s grippy handling comes from the Subaru tradition. The all-wheel-drive system that transfers power where needed to supply the best traction. It’s all automatic and on-guard all of the time.

Safety is top priority for the Subaru Forester with their Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, anti-lock brakes with Brake Force Distribution, daytime running lights, dual stage driver and passenger front and side airbags and much more. Their enviable five star crash test rating is exemplary.

From the powerhouse perspective, the basic difference between these models is that the X, the XS and the XS Premium are fitted with a 2.5 litre SOHC powerhouse (126 kW of power at 6000, 229 Nm of torque at 4400 rpm), while the XT and XT Premiums carry a DOHC turbo boxer unit that pumps out 169 kW of power at 5200 rpm and a very respectable 320 Nm of twist at a low 2800 rpm. Either engine type makes for very nippy acceleration. In turbo form, this SUV can move it! One has also the choice of either a manual gearbox or 4-speed automatic – depending on your driving tastes.

Unimpeachable design attention, versatile performance and a solid, trusty functionality render this latest Forester a confident addition to the SUV market. It will never monopolise attention, and other manufacturers will hardly be losing sleep or checking their insurance policies for fire cover, but Subaru have nonetheless created a punchy fourby of which they can be justifiably proud.