Subaru Forester Wins 'Compact 4x4' Towcar Award

Reigning ‘Towcar Of The Year 2004’ - the Subaru Forester - has again won its ‘Compact 4x4’ category for 2005.

The turbocharged Forester 2.0 XT beat off all challengers in its class including the new BMW X3 3.0i Sport in the fiercely-fought contest organised by ‘The Caravan Club’.

This was the 22nd year of the highly-regarded competition which attracted 51 entries from 22 manufacturers.

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

Project Director for the ThrustSSC Supersonic Car Programme, Richard Noble OBE, joined the judges and competition organisers for the final day of testing at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.

He presented the trophies at a special awards ceremony at the RAC Club in London this week.

The Subaru Forester range starts at £16,445 on-the-road for the 2.0 X which has a braked towing limit of 1,500 kg. The winning car - the turbocharged XT - has a braked towing limit of 1,800 kg in manual form.

It is joined for 2005 by a new 211 PS Forester 2.5 XT which produces 236 lb.ft of torque at only 3,600 rpm – ideal for caravanners and sufficient for a 2,000 kg braked towing limit.

The new Forester 2.5 XT also has outstanding performance, with a 140 mph top speed and 0-60 mph time of only 6.0 seconds.