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MUCH LIKE SHANIA Twain, when I first saw the Subaru Forester I thought “that don’t impress me much”. However, once I sat inside the SUV and got it out on the road, I began to fall for its rugged charms.
In terms of styling the Subaru Forester puts function ahead of form. It’s not as stylish as some of its competitors but then again, I’d always choose function over form especially when it comes to a family car.
When you use the Forester everyday you really do appreciate how functional and practical it is. Let’s take the boot for example. It holds 505 litres with all seats in place and can expand to 1,573 litres with the seats tumbled. While it’s not the biggest in class, it is very user-friendly with an electronic tailgate (available on certain trims), low loading lip, wide aperture and rubber boot mat.
There is useful storage too with large door bins, a deep centre console cubby, decent sized glovebox, and space under the infotainment system for a phone.
Space in the back is great and the rear bench is nice and flat and wide and very comfortable, too. Unlike some of its rivals the rear seats don’t slide or recline – but there is plenty of leg, head and shoulder room for three people back there.
In fact the whole cabin is really roomy and thanks to the panoramic sunroof (available on certain trims) there is a feeling of light and spaciousness which adds a pleasant atmosphere to the interior. I was really impressed with just how much space there is in the Forester. Perfect if you have a growing family.
The cabin is laid out really well. Everything felt very sturdy and well screwed together and the materials were of good quality. What it did lack was a certain polish or luxe feel – but then again, the cabin was just so spacious and functional that this didn’t bother me at all.
As daily driver, the visibility is wonderful all around so it is perfect for city and town driving and thanks to its high driving position and large windows parking the Forester and manoeuvring in and out of tight spaces is rather easy.
Powering the Forester is the latest version of Subaru’s 2.0-litre petrol engine. The boxer layout helps to keep most of the mass low down in the engine bay, and this reflects in the positive feel from the steering. Turn in is quick and throughout a variety of situations, the steering has a good, mechanical feel to it.
The engine doesn’t have masses of power, with a maximum output of 150hp and 198Nm of torque, but it feels adequate for pulling the roomy SUV along at a healthy pace. All petrol engines come with the Lineartronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).
Usually, CVT units are awful and tend to do little else than send engines into high revs without any relation to forward momentum. Subaru’s new unit uses a chain rather than a belt, and along with some software, tuning results in an effort that’s not bad.
You do need to adjust your driving style to suit it, but then providing you are more conservative with your throttle inputs, it all works reasonably well.
The suspension setup can cope with tackling some real off-road stuff, with approach and departure angles that are among the best in the segment. A 220mm clearance also helps if you end up in the ruts. On the road, it can feel busy on certain surfaces, but most will find it quite comfortable.
Overall, whilst the Subaru Forester may not impress in the looks department, it is a very accomplished machine that gets the job done and gets it done well without much fanciness. It is a proper rugged go-anywhere workhorse but one that is family-friendly and comfortable to drive. If you are in the market for a five-seat SUV that is spacious, safe, and reliable you really should put the Subaru Forester on your shopping list.
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Better known as empty pockets. Seriously over priced food.
I wouldn’t pay those prices for a simple burger and chip out of principle nor have I spent a cent in any topaz for a long time dob can go get f ucked before he gets another cent of me
7 euro hot dog….OMG
We’ll all be as fat as yanks
I’m way ahead of ye.
Why do you feel the need to insult? I’ve lived in Ireland and can truthfully say I saw as many obese people there as anywhere. In fact, the majority of young women and teen girls I’ve seen in Ireland are pretty dumpy and unfit looking compared to the majority of girls in the US.
Yup, Ireland and the UK are two very obese nations
I have to agree with Susan on the young people, especially girls, and it’s the parents faults, all kids get these days is frozen food dinners, this young generation will have the highest cancer rate, simply because they eat and drink shite.
After a few battered sausages at the chipper… let alone Empty Pockets….
I never buy petrol in Redacted O’Swine’s filling stations, and I will not be buying burgers there either.
Topaz, the most expensive petrol/diesel in the country. €13 for a burger and a few frozen chips sprinkled with paprika. No thanks. I’ll give both a miss.
Introducing the new “DOB grease ball hamburger”.
I will not be putting any of my money in DOBs pocket.
Great is there not enough over priced food in filling stations already..
I always feel posh when I go to Eddie rockets, not any longer!
Me too Stephen. Do you cock your little finger out as you sip your drink, too? I stick the napkin down my t-shirt as I nibble on my burger avec pineapple.
The pineapple should be inserted in your other hole. Far too decadent for a hamburger.
I just love their personal touch with their in-house somelier who is always there to recommend various brands of Coke, diet coke, coke zero, they have so many. Although if he recommends diet coke to me one more time there might be trouble
I’m sure he is just trying to preserve the fine physique he sees before him. The complimentary crayons are also a nice touch.
I know! Finally crayons for adults, I thought no one would ever ask
Any connection to ‘redacted’ gets a “no thanks” from me.
Barack Obama Plaza should now have its name changed to the Valdimir Putin Plaza.
Have not been to a Topaz , and will never give them my custom no matter how they jazz there places up.
I’m out, Eddie.
Poor choice of stablemates.
Topaz owned by Denis o Brien. He can shove those overpriced burgers up his redacted.
Topaz?….Eddie Rocket doesn’t have his finger on the pulse.
McEddy Rockets
Great to hear jobs wise
Un-sure about the use of Eddie Rockets and “swanky” in the same sentence though..
Eddie Rob Your Pockets
I love Eddie rockets but I think the standard and quality will suffer if you’re buying it from a petrol station
Comment of the Week
Greggs are opening up at Applegreen petrol stations.
Brian Cowan might have to change allegiance…..
no dancing in the forecourts,Eddies the most expensive and coldest fast food on the planet,even the Fonzie would be hard pressed to give eddies the big thumbs up.
Aaaaaaaye
more jobs, fantastic news
Yea, James. Great news. More low skill low paid jobs. But having said that Eddie Rockets dose have the best milk shakes and malts.
Now we can all be as fat as DOB.
Eddie rip off
Haven’t been to an Empty Pockets in years. Do they still have that horrendous spray cheese shyte? The “bacon” tasted quite plasticky too from what I recall…
I wouldn’t let my shadow into a topaz
Love Eddie Rockets but it will be a cold day in hell before I go into one in a Topaz station, seriously have to question the reasoning behind getting into bed with Ireland’s most despised man!
They’re trying to fight the spread of the off-shoot “Rockin’ Joe’s”, which were former Empty Pockets, but were no longer prepared to pay the extortionate franchise fees, and so branched out on their own…
Eddie robyourpockets.your food is stink and way over rated
Barack Obama plaza is a dive.
We actually agree on something.
22
If it’s named after Obama it’s bound to be a sh*t hole
Eat fresh and healthy, even more reason to bring your own sambos on a road trip. Given the recent strides in Irish food and tastes, this is like a headline from the 80′s.
Typical culchies!
Come up to the big smoke and pack a bag of Hang Sangwiches with your Denny ham slices!
Yous would all burst if ya had to spend a few euro on food!
Denny ham? More like flaked salmon with a chive and lemon mayonnaise for me thanks, but you fire away buying water wafers
I did enjoy eating there, but as I have already boycotted Topaz I’m more than happy to get my burgers elsewhere as well.
At least ER is better than McDonalds!
At almost twice the price plus the tip you would expect it to be.
too bad the food is barely mediocre at best
No thanks. I’ll get my fuel and food at Tesco.
Best of British, fair play to you!
At least he didn’t say “Tesco’s”.
Tesco buy a lot of Irish products.
They are also the only control mechanism Irish consumers have for semi fair pricing.
The oil all comes from the same source, none of which is Irish.
I choose to support British rather than Maltese.
Remind me again, what does Malta buy from us, how many jobs does Malta deliver to Ireland?
It’s bloody turkeys like you who think they are being smart by being blindly and stupidly ‘Patriotic’.
Looking forward to a visit to ERs with my 12 year old son on route to Ireland Germany tomorrow
TMI
Thomas, low skilled people need jobs too.
@David
Plenty of skilled people doing min wage work in this new bastion of equality..
Apple Green and Subway for me.
Eddie rockets empty pockets
the food is shite
We talk about been healthy sugar tax etc… how come so may petrol now sell fast food and deals on sweets.
€5.75 for a burger in Rockets Douglas ffs! Stick to the institution that is KC’s. Creole’s all the way… ;-)
there chicken burger is terrible. all this green sauce and a cold tomato which makes the sandwich cold. overpriced dirt. can’t beleive it when I see people queuing to get this crap.
Will it take over the upstairs restaurant part in the Topaz in Dublin Port or the downstairs one?
Nice food and all.but bit too pricey.
Shame I used to enjoy Eddie’s, RIP
I’ll stick with Roma’s meal deals and they deliver so I don’t have to go out to any overpriced petrol station.
Noooooooo
Not for me, no more be it burgers or newspapers will I voluntarily give over
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