Subaru Forester 2.0D 2010 review

ANYONE looking for a compact SUV needs to head to a Subaru showroom.  It's been that way for a couple of years, as the Outback and Forester have done the best job for families in Australia.

Other SUVs are bigger, flashier and have the rough-and-tough reputation which some people want, but the Subaru pair are the closest to a passenger car in comfort and safety - not to mention fuel economy - with the ability to tackle the sort of soft-road work which comes on weekend getaways.

Why the history lesson?  Because Subaru is doing some essential update work this year, installing diesel engines in its SUVs, and we currently have the Forester in the Carsguide garage.

It comes following time with the Outback, which is good enough to make the BMW X1 look lacklustre and over-priced, at a time when support for compact SUVs has never been stronger in Australia. And continues to grow.

Explore the 2010 Subaru Forester range

• Subaru Forester 2.0 diesel 2010 first drive review
• Subaru Forester 2010 review
• Subaru Forester 2.0D 2010 review

The Forester is much the same, with a 2-litre turbodiesel engine that makes 108 kilowatts/350 Newton-metres, with claimed economy of 6.4 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of 168 grams/kilometre.

It arrives at the right time, as we've been flooded by newcomers this year including the impressive Hyundai ix35. And the Kia clone of that car, the Sportage - with local suspension tuning - is less than a month away.

The Forester is a much chunkier package today than it was in the past, stepping up in size into the space previously occupied by the Outback. It's a family five-seater available with two levels of equipment, both still priced below $40,000.

The diesel is obviously aimed at Europe - just like the oil-burner engines in the Mazda family, from the top selling Mazda3 to the giant CX-9 - because there is no automatic gearbox. The Forester, like the Outback, comes with six-speed manual but you still have to shift for yourself.

Driving - Paul Gover

The size of the Forester comes as a surprise. It's a very big vehicle these days, which means it is an excellent family choice.

So, what's the diesel like? Well, it's a bit flat at low revs, but punches hard from about 3000 - when old-school, truck-type diesels are generally done - through to the redline. Yes, it rattles at idle but once you're rolling most people would never pick it as a diesel.

The six-speed manual has plenty of gears for any job, but the shift is a bit notchy and you don't spend much time in first. It's the same complaint as the Outback which lived with the Carsguide for three months, and is likely to improve - as the long-termer did - with extra kilometres.

The fuel economy is excellent, so too is the range, and the manual will make sense for country drivers and long-distance runners who tend to favour diesels.  Around town it's less impressive, partly because you never seem to get past fourth gear and party because of the less-than-slick shift.

The rest of the Forester package is as good as we remember, which means best in class, except for one thing. The suspension in this diesel is generally soft and way-too-soft in the back end. It means the car wanders around too much in corners and cannot cope with big bumps when you have a full load onboard.

There were even some seasick complaints from the back during a four-adult country run over some undulating roads.  But the Forester is a winner and, although it does not score top marks with the diesel, it's still equal to the best in its class.

She says – Alison Ward

This Suby is good. Compared to the Outback I drove before, the gearbox is nicer and not as fussy on the shift.

The size is great, with plenty of room inside. The seats are fine and it was easy to put four adults and the little man in the car for a short trip.

The seatbelt in the back of the rear seat is really, really fussy and I find it hard to use. It would also be nice to have parking radar on every model and the one-touch turn signal - you just breathe on it and it tinks three times for lane changes - that I've had in most recent test cars.

The performance is good but I think the Forester sways a bit in corners. That's being fussy, but it must be to do with its being raised and on soft tyres. I didn't feel that way in the Outback, so maybe they need to a bit more work.

I like the way the doors open right out but they are a bit fussy to use. You think they are closed but they are not, same with the boot. I must have spent five minutes today making sure they're all shut properly - but I'm told it's because Subaru has excellent rubber seals to stop dust and crud getting into the cabin.

For the price, it's very good value and I good family car.

Subaru Forester 2.0D

Price: $35,990 (Premium $39,990)
Engine: 2.0-litre four cylinder all-wheel drive
Power: 108kW at 3600 revs
Torque: 350Nm from 1800-2400 revs
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Body: Five-door wagon
Seats: Five
Dimensions:  Length 4650mm, Width 1795mm, Height 1700mm, Wheelbase 2615mm, tracks front/rear 1530mm/1530mm
Steering: Electric rack-and-pinion power steering
Suspension: MacPherson strut front, double wishbone independent rear
Fuel tank: 64 litres
Fuel type: Diesel
Fuel Consumption: 6.4/100km combined
Weight: 1520kg (1555kg Premium)
Spare tyre: Full size
Brankes: Anti-skid all-round discs
Wheels:16-inch alloys (17-inch Premium)
Tyres: 215/65 R16 (225/55 R17 Premium)
Safety gear: Dual front, front side and curtain airbags, electronic stability control, traction control, anti-skid brakes, brake assist, hill start assist, active headrests, front and rear foglights
CO2 Emissions:168g/km

Features

Air-conditioning tick
Cruise control tick
Alloy wheels tick
Climate control tick
Leather seats cross
Heated seats cross
Parking sensors cross
Automatic wipers cross
Tick standard equipment
Cross nonstandard equipment

For ANCAP vehicle safety ratings, go to howsafeisyourcar.com.au

Rivals

Holden Captiva (from $27,990): 74/100
Honda CR-V (from $30,990): 76/100
Hyundai ix35 (from $26,990): 78/100
Toyota RAV4 (from $28,990): 74/100