Subaru Forester (08 on) - Review

Entry-level cars come with fabric seats while XS models get leather, however both are very comfortable, even if they do lack side support. The ride is good - on a smooth and level surface, however uneven roads cause it to pitch and wallow excessively which can leave passengers feeling ill. It's better on the motorway but still never quite settles down and there's constant movement in the cabin. There's also noticeable wind and road noise

The light steering makes parking and tight manoeuvres a doddle while the vast expanse of glass and thin windscreen pillars mean visibility is good. Rear passenger space is excellent with bags of leg and headroom while up front there's decent stowage with good door pockets and a large central cubby. The wide boot opening makes loading wide objects easy as does the absence of a boot lip, but it's a shame there are no underfloor storage areas.

Robust and practical best sums up the interior. It's well put together and feels like it will happily endure years of abuse, but the design is drab and it's dominated by dull grey plastics. The switchgear and column stalks are far from upmarket and although the steering wheel and blue dials have a sporty feel to them there's little else to get excited about. The driving position is good and there's plenty of adjustment in both the seat and steering wheel but overall everything seems rather dated and it doesn't reflect the price tag.