Car Statistics: Subaru - Forester Series 08 (3 stars)

Styling (2 stars)

You can understand why Subaru wanted to make the Forester SUV look more conventional. To that end, the styling's successful. But the Euro box looks could do with pepping up a bit - the Forester doesn't stand out from the crowd.

Handling (3 stars)

Surprisingly entertaining, although the body roll's pronounced and that takes getting used to. Traction and stability control comes as standard. Low centre of gravity boxer engines with four-wheel-drive aids the Forester's on road manners.

Comfort (4 stars)

A soft ride helps here, although the seats could offer more support. The Forester can get a bit too bouncy on rough roads.

Quality (2 stars)

Subaru's track record for high build quality and making tough cars that don't break down is hard to fault. But the interior fixtures and fitting on the Forester don't look or feel as premium as a Honda's or a Toyota's.

Performance (2 stars)

The 2.0-litre boxer four-cylinder is smooth and thrums along nicely, but it lacks the low-down punch that is required in a 4x4 like this. The diesel version is likely to be more impressive. The Forester's relatively light kerbweight (1460kg) aids straight-line pace.

Roominess (5 stars)

Very good. It's a rival for bigger 4x4s like the Nissan X-Trail in this department. The rear passenger seats fold flat to the floor to further expand the already generous boot.

Costs (4 stars)

Improved fuel economy is useful in the petrol (33mpg), and the diesel boxer engine should offer well in excess of 40mpg. A CO2 rating of 198g/km for the petrol keeps the Forester out of the most expensive tax band.

Value (4 stars)

The Forester is certainly a strong value position. The only issue is with depreciation, because Subaru isn't a strong enough brand in Europe for values to stay high - unlike its more established Japanese rivals. However, if you're after a workhorse to run for many years the Forester would be a good choice.

Stereo (3 stars)

Not the best in terms of sound quality, but both are thrown in as standard on the XS trim, which is the pick of the range. The stereo has an auxiliary socket for an iPod.