Subaru had an underground hit on its hands with the previous-generation Forester - it was a cult car amongst the landed gentry, used for carting free-range eggs through fields and things like that. Its excellent four-wheel drive system saw it through all but the harshest conditions, and its estate styling prefaced the crossover craze by practically ten years.
Of course, an underground hit doesn't necessarily mean that it sold very well, so in coming up with a new car Subaru ditched practically everything but the name. It's a sad story, but the Japanese company does have bills to pay.
Tapping into the fashion for SUVs the newest Forester mostly grew upwards, but unfortunately this put it in direct contention with the current market darlings the Land Rover Freelander, Honda CR-V, Volvo XC60, etc. There are seemingly dozens more rivals where those cars came from as everyone tries to muscle in on fashionable market.
Essentially the Forester looks just like another me-too SUV. There is nothing particular about its looks that stands out, but it is at least a fairly handsome contender. We actually found the car fairly entertaining to drive, although Subaru seems to have got the balance of the car slightly wrong.
Buyers in this segment tend to forgive a stodgy drive at the expense of a strong image and premium feel, but the Forester is quite the opposite. The quality of materials inside the car just isn't up to scratch. Although the Subaru might be tough and built to last, these plastics are no match for those you'll find in the competitors listed above.
A pleasant surprise, though, is the amount of room available in the Forester. It is well-packaged to the extent that it rivals many bigger competitors for the amount of space it offers. Usefully, the seats all fold to form a flat load space, which might sound like a simple thing but is strangely rare these days.
The diesel boxer engine was our favourite powerplant for the Subaru - helped by low weight, the engine offers up plenty of power and useable torque. The Forester will be a firm favourite with those drivers who need to do a lot of towing. It might be less left-field than its predecessor, but the Forester represents good value and does have some charm of its own.