Motors North

Subaru Forester 2.0D XS NavPlus

THERE are five models in the new Subaru Forester family – but only three are fitted with the most fascinating little turbodiesel on the planet, the “boxer”.

It took guts to introduce a flat four oil-burner to the ultra-conservative private car world, but if anyone could pull it off it would have been innovative Subaru – and it has!

The 1998cc horizontally opposed turbodiesel it is using across its range of cars is a little charmer.

It has all the flat four characteristics of the petrol “boxer” units with the same satisfying “boxer wobble” and a satisfying beat under power and in the cruise that makes this piston engine layout so attractive.

I was a diesel “boxer” sceptic – and I was not alone. That’s why Subaru is persisting with the 146bhp 1994cc flat four petrol engine, even in the Forester, despite slipping the 145bhp diesel into most of the models.

Early on in the life of the diesel “boxer” some owners complained of irregular slow running and poor hot starting.

But if there was a problem it was not prolonged, and anyone I’ve spoken to with a diesel flat four of late is more than happy with the way it performs.

Forres businessman Harry Younie has run a Subaru “boxer” diesel for 18 months. His is in a Legacy estate – but it’s the same as the Forester’s unit.

He has experienced some hot starting problems, but for 15,000 miles or more the little “square four” engine has not missed a beat.

“It’s a great engine,” he told me. “It pulls strongly and although it’s sometimes been a little reluctant to start when it’s hot, it always fires after a couple of tries and that never becomes an issue.

“It’s the economy that’s really impressive – it just gets better and better.”

Initially he averaged 49mpg but that figure recently climbed to 52mpg – and knowing Harry’s enthusiasm for driving, that’s not thanks to sauntering!

Bolted into the latest Forester, the “boxer” has found another fine running mate. Compared to the “boxer” petrol unit, the diesel delivers a tugboat pull.

The two-litre petrol churns out a respectable 145lb.ft of torque at 3200rpm – but try a diesel and it’s like chalk and cheese.

The oil burner shows its muscle from the start with a superb flow of 258lb.ft from just 1800rpm. It’s a slogger – willing to rev through its six-speed gearbox and able to respond swiftly to the throttle.

Subaru has refined the installation – the earlier “wobble” tremors are a lot less obvious, but there’s no mistaking the “flat four” beat.

It’s a pleasant distant thrum for most of the time with a more urgent note when you accelerate hard. But it sounds great – gruff, but soft at the same time.

Driving the Forester’s four wheels presents the SUV with no problems. It’s smooth enough on the road, though suspension bounce is still present over uneven surfaces.

I first detected the Forester’s sloppy feel on the launch more than a year ago – and while it’s certainly better contained and controlled than before, it is still evident when the car is lightly loaded.

However, fill the Forester with passengers and luggage and head for Orkney, as I did, and ride quality and suspension float improves dramatically and makes the vehicle far more enjoyable to drive.

Off-road the Forester is a breeze. Ground clearance is not as good as full-blown 4x4s, but it’s perfectly adequate for farm and mountain tracks and good enough for a pal’s challengingly undulating access road to his river fishings.

Grip and traction is excellent. Subaru’s mastery in simple 4x4 systems takes the Forester right to the top of the class – and the hill!

Add the diesel engine and you have a combination that needs no complex lever pulling or even switch pushing to get where you want to go. Just point and drive.

The diesel heart really came into its own on a steep, grassy hillside in Orkney.

With the engine idling and my foot just hovering over the throttle, it crept its way up a substantial and uneven slope in first gear with no interference from me. All I did was steer and marvel at the engine’s fine torque.

But it’s in snow like we saw during our recent winter that this Subaru diesel/4x4 combination would have won friends.

Because the vehicle is neither overpowered nor overweight, it should be able to take snow in its stride.

Ground clearance of 8½ inches and a smooth undertray will help it to scrabble through deeper stuff, and that wonderful pulling power at low revs will avoid unnecessary wheel-spinning.

That “tug” also allows the Forester Diesel to tow up to two tonnes.

When I say the Forester is not overweight, I’m referring to its kerb weight of 1.55 tonnes – between a 1.49-tonne Toyota RAV 4x4 and a 1.77-tonne Land Rover Freelander 2.

Sadly, though, although the Forester is as well constructed as both the aforementioned, it gives the impression of being a real lightweight!

It’s the external panels! The last time I heard doors, wings and bonnets clang like this they were attached to a tinny Citroën BX. They are remarkably thin – and feel it.

It’s a pity because they give a wrong impression of the Subaru. Those panels are thin because they help to save weight and that aids fuel consumption and keeps the emissions down to a £180 band H 170g/km.

The “clang” could be cured if Subaru added a little more sound deadening – but that would not change the steel panels’ vulnerability to minor dents and dings.

The XS NavPlus I had on test was a well-appointed model with a list price of almost £28,000 – two much cheaper models with the same diesel heart and 4x4 system are better value at below £21,820 for the 2.0D X or around £24,070 for the better-trimmed XC.

Or, if you like the NavPlus luxury touches but don’t need satellite navigation, there’s a similar well-appointed model called SureTrack at £27,320.

The NavPlus has comfortable leather, powered sunroof, climate control, four electric windows, cruise control, and a rear parking camera.

That’s in addition to excellent Subaru VDC stability control, front and side airbags, a handy split and fold rear seat, and good-looking alloys.

But the feature that gave this model its name – the navigation system – was a frustrating device that was difficult and fiddly to use with a screen that was hard to see, despite a four-position tilt function.

My advice? Save money on the NavPlus and buy a cheaper XC and treat yourself to a portable Garmin or TomTom costing less than £120.

That final irritation apart, I liked the Forester. Luggage capacity is good at 450 litres, and folding the rear seats boosts that to a massive 1,610 litres.

Ride quality and grip is good on the 17-inch alloy Yokahama Geolander 55 section general purpose tyres, but they generate a lot of road noise.

As a dependable and comfortable family 4x4 that should be inexpensive to run – going by the average 46mpg in my hands over a week – this good-looking replacement for the original Forester so beloved by many is a fitting successor to a sensible and practical compact 4x4.

Rating: 7.5/10

FINAL THOUGHT: There had been doubts about the Subaru “boxer” turbodiesel when it was announced, but clearly there was little to fear. The flat four unit behaves and sounds like any other diesel, with the added charm of a “boxer beat” to keep the driver company. Good compact 4x4 SUV with rather lightweight skinning. Best buy? The XC 2.0D at £24,070.

Subaru Forester 2.0D XS NavPlus

Price: £27,820
Capacity: 1998cc
Power: 145bhp
0-62mph: 10.1 seconds
Maximum speed: 115mph
Economy: Combined 44.1mpg; Urban 38.2mpg
CO2 emissions: 170g/km
ESP: Standard
Insurance: Group 24 (New 1-50 Rating)

Make

Model

Area

Price From

Price To

Your Local Newspaper

Subaru Forester 2.0D XS NavPlus