New-Look Subaru Forester In Towcar Award Hat-Trick

Reigning ‘Compact 4x4’ Towcar champion - the Subaru Forester - has again scooped a coveted prize - this time in new-look 2.5 litre XT guise.

This is the third year in a row that the Subaru Forester has been selected by The Caravan Club as an outstanding towcar.

The best-driving and performance-leading crossover sports utility vehicle was voted outright ‘Towcar Of The Year’ winner for 2004 and ‘Compact 4x4’ Towcar champion for 2005. Both awards were for the 2.0 litre turbocharged XT model.

Now, the new-look Forester 2.5 XT has made it an award hat-trick following rigorous testing at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire by winning the £20,001-£25,000 category.

Features which appealed to the judges included the Forester’s symmetrical all-wheel drive stability and traction, hill-holder clutch and self-levelling rear suspension - all useful benefits for the towing community.

The winning car features a 230 PS turbocharged 2.5 litre horizontally-opposed petrol engine producing a massive 236 lb ft of torque resulting in a braked towing limit of 2,000 kg.

Its performance is closer to a Porsche Cayenne than its price-class competitors, with a 134 mph top speed in the manual form tested and a 0-60 mph time in an outstanding 5.7 seconds.

The latest Subaru Forester range starts at £17,595 on-the-road for the new 2.0 X which itself boasts a new 158 PS four-cam ‘boxer’ engine and a braked towing limit of 1,500 kg.

Forester 2.5 XT prices are even more competitive than for the previous model and start at £21,995 OTR for a slightly lower-spec model than previously.

Improvements for ’06 include a bolder, more dynamic new look, upgraded, high-quality interior and thoroughly revised suspension with larger wheels and tyres for even greater handling agility and roadholding.

The Caravan Club’s award ceremony was held in the RAC Club in London this week.