The New Subaru Forester (2008)

The new Subaru Forester went on sale in April offering more space, a smoother ride, greater ground clearance yet even more agile handling. Fully justifying Subaru's adherence to the low centre-of-gravity ‘boxer’ engine – having its cylinders horizontally-opposed rather than the conventional vertical layout – and all-wheel drive system which has made the brand famous.

The Subaru Forester is their third generation of crossover SUVs occupying a similar silhouette to the Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail or Honda CR-V.

Based on the platform of the current Impreza, the Forester features a new multi-link rear suspension, fuel-saving electric power steering, standard Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control, self-levelling rear suspension, engine efficiency improvements and a revised automatic transmission offering ‘normal’, ‘sports’ or ‘manual’ mode.

Now closer in size to its less agile SUV competitors, the completely new Forester is 75 mm longer, 45 mm wider and gains 110 mm in height.

Rear legroom grows by 95 mm, the driver’s eye-line is 30 mm higher, while the load space is now 450 litres with the rear seat up – 63 litres more than the previous model.

It also enjoys enhanced fuel economy and driveability thanks to an improved 2.0 litre petrol ‘boxer’ engine which gives the car a lower centre of gravity for improved grip, reduced body roll and more precise steering response.

This is further aided by the engine and transmission now being placed 10 mm lower in the platform.

The Forester 2.0X and 2.0XS petrol models were launched in April 2008 costing £18,495 and £22,495 on-the-road respectively in manual form. Expected to be the bigger sellers, automatic versions add a £1,000 premium.

The Subaru Forester Boxer Diesel range was launched in September 2008 priced from £20,295 for the Forester 2.0D X.