Subaru Forester 2008 first drive review

The constant all-wheel-drive is a wider and taller vehicle with more cabin space.

It makes its Australian debut at the Melbourne Motor Show in February and goes on sale in March.

Australian specifications and pricing details have yet to be announced.

The 2008 Forester, right, will debut in Europe with the world's first diesel boxer engine, a 2-litre with about 110kW and 320Nm of torque.

Subaru Australia corporate affairs manager David Rowley said they had not ruled out the diesel engine for the Forester or other vehicles.

“We still don't have any firm time frame for diesel, but we'd definitely be interested in evaluating the engine in various models for our market,” he said.

Currently, the Forester comes with a 2.5-litre petrol engine, with a five-speed manual or four-speed sequential automatic in X, XS and XT trim levels.

The new Forester's 85mm taller roof line makes the vehicle look a little gawky, but its 45mm wider stance helps balance that impression.

The vehicle is also 75mm longer and, together with the 90mm longer wheelbase, should improve legroom.

Inside, it appears to get the same stylish dashboard and centre stack treatment as the new Impreza.

Subaru Australia also launches the Impreza STi hatch in February.

It loses the big wing, gold rims and over-sized bonnet scoop but gains a menacing body shell with pumped-out front and rear guards.

The six-speed-manual Subaru has gone from 206kW to 221kW from the 2.5-litre turbo boxer with 407Nm of torque and goes 0-100km/h in 5.2sec.