After testing the Forester on the off-road course, we will of course have the chance to drive it on the road. Wait, what is that? We won’t do it?

In this case, we will have to wait until we have more time behind the wheel before rendering a final verdict and comparing it with the best of the competition.

So think of it as a taster; an introduction to a car that has become a rural favorite. Indeed, Subaru is keen to point out that 66 percent of its owners live in the countryside.

Yet the Forester’s popularity has fallen in recent times. Where once its mix of earthy simplicity, go-anywhere ability, reliability and practicality meant you could barely get around rural areas, the latest version has proven to be a disappointment.

The problem is, while the old Forester might have been extremely capable in the harsh conditions, it wasn’t much of a cop on the road, with a noisy engine, unstable ride quality and an interior that felt cheap and old-fashioned compared to his best. rivals.

And while these rivals might not have been as good at climbing a sandy slope, they were still perfectly capable on a muddy track – which was more than enough for most buyers.

So this new Forester aims to broaden the model’s appeal – retaining the mud-slinging edge it’s known for while adding a more refined sheen.

This is no easy task given that Subaru engineers had to work with what they already had; the new car is based on the same platform as the previous one.

Fine margins

They have been busy perfecting and refining. To start, by reducing the amount of noise felt by car occupants, with the aim of reducing fatigue on long journeys, and by installing seats designed to reduce head jerks during impacts.

The Forester also gained 10 percent more torsional rigidity, largely due to the use of a huge amount of extra structural adhesive – 27 meters, compared to eight meters on the old car.