Subaru Forester X 2012 Review

Love them or despise them, the birth of all SUVs have their DNA in Subaru's Forester. It is the originator of the street-smart wagon that put on high heels and minced into the bush, creating a dual-use machine that Australians embraced like cold beer.

In fact, Australians probably lit the fire that raged into the global SUV inferno. It was a humble wagon back then and it remains a humble wagon. The Forester X is as basic as you can buy a Forester. But things change in February when an all-new Forester arrives. Meanwhile, here's a look at the outgoing Forester X in case you're tempted to save a few thousand dollars in the run-out period.

Compact SUV buyers will note that the bulk of entry-level wagons start at around $31,000. The Subaru Forester X starts at $30,990 for a five-speed manual and - get this - a two-speed transfer box. So you get five low-ratio gears as well, making it share with the Suzuki Vitara wagon the ability to go a bit further in the dirt.

Subaru has added leather, heated mirrors, electric seats, 16-inch alloy wheels and fog lights and thrown in all drive-away costs and is selling the Forester Luxury for $32,990 manual and $34,990 as an auto. That's good value. But Toyota will do the same as it rolls out its new RAV4 and there are still some 2012 Honda CR-Vs left which are also being discounted. It's a great time to buy an SUV.

DESIGN

It's an unmistakable shape that has grown up over time. The Forester looks small but in the metal is surprisingly tall. Its boxy lines make it space efficient and there's heaps of rear head and legroom. The fold down (to almost flat) split rear seats honour the genre's versatile character.  There is no boot lip so it's easy to load and unload heavy cargo, the rear hatch opens high and all the doors swing out wide for easy human accessibility. 

While practicality is tops, the acres of hard plastic cheapen its image. Yes, there are flashes of metallic-look trim on the dash but there's low tactile appeal. The blank spaces in the instrument dials are also cheerless.

TECHNOLOGY

The 126kW/235Nm 2.5-litre flat-four engine is, again, an evolution of previous powerplants. The engine design sits low so benefits handling and accessibility for repairs, but the odd exhaust note (think VW Beetle) and the distinctively weird starter-motor noise are acquired tastes.

All wheels are constantly driven - unlike all its rivals which are generally front-wheel drive with an on-demand pick up to the rear wheels - which gives the Forester safety advantages on wet roads, gravel and sand. The four-speed automatic transmission is the weak link and gets shown the road in the next model.

SAFETY

This is a five-star car with constant all-wheel drive and all the must-have electronic brake and chassis aids. As a base model, the X is potentially as safe as its siblings though the heated side mirrors - available in the current run-out special - would be a boon on the test car. There's also a full-size spare wheel.

DRIVING

There's a familiar whining starter motor and the off-beat exhaust note which is the opener to any Impreza-Forester-XV drive. Nothing bad, just different. There's nothing else unusual about the Forester and that'll probably explain why there's so many on the road.

Entry and egress are excellent, making this ideal for less-flexible owners. Dash design is simple and, as said, there's lots of hard plastics. But there's also plenty of personal storage space. The handling is good, though there is a bit more side-wind buffeting because of its height. The 2.5-litre engine is certainly eager and will jump smartly from rest.

Even the automatic gearbox is fine. But when pushed, the engine becomes noisy, thrashy and harsh and the gearbox bumps uncomfortably into the next ratio. Hit the kickdown for overtaking and the box will leap from fourth to second, bringing with it screaming engine noise.

Thankfully the box has a manual mode and drivers are best slipping it into third from fourth. Or start treating the whole car less enthusiastically. Subaru claims 9.3 L/100km and my suburban/freeway test reported 10 L/100km which isn't anything to write home about.

VERDICT

Strong resale, simple mechanicals, reliable history and a practical body design make it a winner. Price makes the current model a winner though technology could make its successor a better buy.

Subaru Forester X

Price: $32,990
Warranty: 3 years/unlimited km
Resale: 56%
Service interval: 6 months/10,000km
Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC
Crash rating: 5-star
Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cyl petrol, 126kW/235Nm
Transmission: 4-speed auto; constant AWD
Thirst: 9.3L/100km; 91RON; 220g/km CO2
Dimensions: 4.6m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.7m (H)
Weight: 1490kg SPARE Full-size