Weighing up the odds

START by identifying what it is you want from your car, then test drive each one and assess how well each meets your needs and wants. The X-Trail, Forester and Outback are all good choices, but the Outback is a little different to the Forester and X-Trail, as it's a Liberty that's been raised to give it some extra ground clearance. It doesn't ride as high as the other two, so wouldn't be as good if you want the visibility a high-driving position gives you. A test-drive would instantly reveal that.