SECOND HAND SENSE:THE SUBARU Forester would have been a far more popular car were it not for two reasons.
It was too expensive, and Subaru did not offer a diesel alternative to its thirsty petrol units until late last year. Tardiness in embracing diesel technology cost it dearly because Subaru is not short of rural fans.
The Forester has been around since 1997 and has become a worthy alternative to more fashionable soft off-roaders such as the Toyota Rav 4, the Nissan X-Trail and the Honda CRV. While the Forester does not have the same ground clearance, it does have a low centre of gravity and can cope with quite tricky conditions. It is better to drive than its competitors, none of which – despite their size and height – are real off-roaders.
The Forester was replaced last year and the boxy model that ran from 2002 to 2008 had not aged very well.
The car has a choice of 2.0 litre or 2.5 litre petrol engines – the lowest output is 155hp and the highest is 225hp – more than enough power. The 2.5 is pretty much redundant and the 2.0 litre is unlikely to get more than 30 to the gallon.
Inside, the Forester can be dull and dated. The Nissan or the Honda are smarter. There is a lot of heavy plastic but everything is functional and practical. Dials and instrumentation are good and clear. The rear has plenty of space and seats fold 60/40. There’s a rear sunroof.
Ride is good and handling sharp, thanks to traction control. And there is no shortage of power – the 2.0 is fast and the turbo version unnecessarily blistering. Remember the fuel penalty.
Subarus are very reliable but they can be expensive to repair.
A 2006 model with the 2.5 engine, side impact protection system, airbags, cruise control, climate control, ABS, traction control, leather upholstery and with just 48,000km has an asking price of €16,000.
A 2007 model with the same equipment, a 2.0 litre engine and 40,000km is on offer for €21,900. Neither are worth anything like that. If you get one for a lot less you might not opt to wait until the 2008 diesel reaches the second-hand market.
STAR RATING: 5/10