The new 2013 Subaru Forester is practicality at its most inspiring. Find out how it proved itself the perfect 4x4 for Pony Club mum Lisa Sydenham when she trialled it during a busy day out and about with her daughter Charlie
Few things in life tick all the boxes.
But the brand-new Subaru Forester is the exception to the rule. Combining genuine off road capability with a spacious interior, generous equipment list and enhanced towin capacity, it is the ultimate choice for busy equestrians like Oxfordshire-based Lisa Sydenham.
Like most Pony Club mums Lisa has a lot to juggle, meaning she needs a car that can cope with anything she asks of it. And as she found out after test driving the all-new Forester for the day, the car’s all-round capabilities make it the perfect choice for anyone looking for a no-nonsense 4X4.
Towing capability — not just capacity
Lisa put the Forester through its paces when taking daughter Charlie and her pony Honey to a cross-country schooling session with Nicole Biggs at Rosehill Equestrian (www.rosehillequestrian.co.uk).
“It’s essential that I can tow Honey with confidence, be it to schooling sessions or Pony Club rallies,” Lisa explains.
With a towing capacity of 2 tonnes (fully laden), the Forester is ideal for mums like Lisa who tow ponies on a regular basis.
And by focusing on towing capability rather than just capacity, it’s a 4×4 that imbues you with confidence, whether towing solo or with a friend.
All models — and there are 8 to choose from — come with Towing Vehicle Dynamics Control System as standard. When this system is deployed, the car works to keep the trailer stable at all times, taking the stress out of towing and helping to reduce the possibility of snaking, which is often a worry for anyone who tows.
A serious off-roader
Since its inception in 1995, the Forester has become renowned for its no-nonsense, fuss-free ruggedness.
More than many of its SUV rivals, the Forester is a true off-road vehicle with strong all-wheel drive capability. And all from a starting price of just £24,995.
Lisa discovered how easy it was to travel across uneven terrain when driving to the cross-country course at Rosehill.
“It made light work of the hills and felt stable, secure and sure-footed at all times,” she says.
Indeed with full-time symmetrical all-wheel drive and a host of clever functions and features, the Forester is a superb off-road vehicle that fits perfectly into the rural equestrian lifestyle.
When you are travelling your horse the last thing you want to worry about is how your car will perform. The Forester has a host of clever functions (as standard on all models) that allow you to concentrate on the things that matter to you. So no need to worry about:
- Steep hills. No problem with the Forester. Simply use Hill Start Assist. Deploy this clever system to prevent the car rolling back when starting on a slope (just like at Rosehill).
- Different ground conditions. Full-time symmetrical all-wheel drive and a system that constantly monitors and adjusts performance.
- Snaking. A worry for all drivers, but the towing control system on the Forester ensures that the towing outfit is as stable as possible. This makes for a far more comfortable ride for your horse.
All this, plus the Subaru’s class-leading 220mm ground clearance, make the Forester a serious off-road vehicle.
It’s performance that counts
As Lisa and Charlie found out the Forester is a comfortable, well-built and robust 4×4 — but it’s not one that has prioritised looks over performance.
The well-lit cabin is airy and has superior visibility, while the boot on the new model has been super-sized to 505 litres, meaning plenty of room for kit, tack and dogs. The Power Rear Gate (standard on 2.0i XT) takes some of the work out of lifting and loading, opening and closing automatically at the touch of a button, a great help for when loaded down with tack.
But for all the ingenious functionality, the Forester is a practical car. The carpet in the boot is durable — even with dogs, muddy boots, grooming kit and tack it won’t need regular cleaning. This is a car that is supremely low maintenance and can take a real day’s work without worry about cleaning and upkeep.
An exceptionally capable SUV designed for comfort and versatility, the Forester is a fantastic choice for Pony Club mums like Lisa, equestrian professionals and keen amateur riders.
Serious off-road performance combined with a large, low-maintenance interior, superb visibility and great fuel economy make the Forester a trusted choice for every day in your equestrian life.
3 reasons why mums like Lisa love their Forester
1. REVERSING CAMERAS. An absolute essential for hitching up to a trailer. The camera screen is situated in the centre of the dashboard, is easy to use and the guidelines on the screen make reversing and hitching up simple.
2. A SMOOTH OFF-ROAD EXPERIENCE. There are lots of undulations at Rosehill — that’s one thing that makes it so good for cross-country schooling! — but it doesn’t always make for the smoothest drive. Not in the Forester, though — the ride off-road was first-class.
3. IN-BUILT SAT NAV. An absolute essential when travelling to new venues
The Forester has been brilliantly designed with a host of clever specifications — both big and small — to make your life easier. Some of our favourites include:
- More space. By widening the door openings and flattening the floor, the new Forester has more interior room than ever before. This makes journeys comfortable for all 5 passengers — but if you need to fold the rear seats flat you then get a seriously spacious boot.
- Low-maintenance interiors. Even the side sills have been designed to resist collecting dirt, meaning you need to do the minimum of cleaning to keep your Forester looking good.
- Child-friendly. Lots of space, great connectivity for digital devices and even a backseat step designed to ease entry and exiting for small children.
- Great visibility. By redesigning the A-pillar and integrating the partition windows into the front doors, blind spots have been greatly reduced. The wing mirrors have also been placed on to the door panels, creating a fantastically wide field of vision.
- Safety comes first. The Forester has been awarded the maximum 5-star safety rating in the most recent round of Euro NCAP safety performance tests.
Official fuel consumption figures for the Subaru Forester range in mpg (l/100km): Urban from 25.2 (11.2) to 40.4 (7.0). Extra Urban from 40.4 (7.0) to 57.6 (4.9). Combined from 33.2 (8.5) to 49.6 (5.7). Official CO2 emissions from 197 to 150 (g/km). MPG figures are official EU test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Price shown is for a Forester 2.0D X manual, manufacturers’ on the road price £24,995.00. Vehicle shown is a Forester 2.0i XT Lineartronic, manufacturers’ on the road price £30,995.00. On the road prices include VAT, delivery, number plates, 12-months’ road fund licence and first registration fee. Metallic paint extra. For built-in peace of mind, all vehicles marketed by Subaru (UK) Ltd are covered by a 5-year/100,000 mile (whichever is sooner) limited warranty. See www.subaru.co.uk for more details
