Subaru Forester: car review | Martin Love

Subaru's sturdy Forester is so robust and uncompromising that it pays to have calloused palms before you drive

Price: 25,495
Top speed: 118mph
0-62mph: 10.2 seconds
MPG: 47.9
CO2: 156g/km

A few weeks ago, my wife's uncle organised a family get together to commemorate 100 years since her great-great grandfather had died. We learned she'd had two relatives on the Titanic (neither survived) and another who'd thrown himself down a well when the family business collapsed. Cheery stuff. Most of her ancient relatives had been West Country farm workers. Great Uncle Fred told me: "Oi've been cow man, pig man and ditcher." His friend Albert said he'd been "hedger 'n' forester". They were men hardened by decades of physical work. My soft palms felt clammy. I didn't know what to say. I blurted out: "That's funny. I'm test driving a Forester this week." They looked at me in incomprehension. "It's a new Subaru," I explained. "Would you like a lift back to the village hall?"