The new generation Subaru Forester is gearing to launch in the UK in May. The car has a good reputation in the British market for being extremely tough and versatile, but it has never been brilliant at comfort and luxury and convenience. Until now.

The new generation Forester is a pretty much no-compromise car. You still get the same toughness and power you’d expect – thanks to larger size, higher ground clearance and enhanced symmetrical all-wheel-drive system – and you benefit from a nicer design and a much better interior that now employs higher grade materials on the dashboard, the center console and doors. Places you touch most – steering wheel, gear lever – are made from specially fine materials to give you a feel of refinement.

The new car is also more sophisticated than its predecessors, specially when it comes to safety features. It comes with an upgraded version of Subaru’s Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) electronic stability control, and new Trailer Stability Control, as well as twin front, side, curtain and knee airbags.

Despite its high ground clearance that makes it a good off-roader, the Forester has a low center of gravity – thanks to its boxer engine. And that makes it a great car to drive on tarmac as well. It has a true go-anywhere capability this car.

Speaking of the engine, have three 2.0-litre horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engines to choose from – a 150ps naturally-aspirated petrol engine and a 147ps turbocharged diesel unit from Subaru’s FB family of engines, as well as a new FA20 DIT direct injection turbocharged petrol unit, which produces 240ps.

The new Subaru Forester is available with the choice of either a new six-speed manual transmission – available on 2.0i and 2.0D models – or an upgraded version of Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT automatic, available as an option on 150ps petrol models and standard on vehicles equipped with the new 240ps DIT engine.

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