Compact crossovers have gained so much popularity in recent years that seeing one on the road is as easy as buying a plate of mango sticky rice in Bangkok.
Most car owners trade in their stodgy sedans for Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) simply because they offer more space, drive well enough in an urban environment and aren't bad looking at all - most of them at least.
But with the rise in popularity in this segment of vehicles, one particular car has managed to stand the test of time, unfazed by the growing competition and, is pretty much, the poster child of the division.
This car is none other than the Subaru Forester, a Boxer-powered, all-wheel drive backwoods basher and tarmac tap-dancer. At the recent Subaru regional launch of the new MY16 Forester, the car proved to be one of those things that gets better with age and hours of technological expertise.
To experience what the Forester is thoroughly capable of, a buddy and I found ourselves hauling a Forester 2.0 i-P through an estimated 600km of demanding Thai terrain over a period of two days. Not surprisingly, the car handled it all and got the job done well.
That left me wondering - is there anything the Forester can't do?
Exterior
Those who are familiar with the fourth generation Forester, will find this one's sheet metal to be a familiar face. This is because the latest model is very much nearly the same-looking as before.
In a bid to avoid ruining the Forester's styling recipe, changes have been kept minimal, inclusive of a brand new front grille, headlamps with Steering Response function, which move left or right according to the steering wheel, a younger pair of tail lamps and sportier 18-inch rims.But even with these neoteric doodads, the Forester hasn't lost the rugged edge that the Japanese automaker has built over the years.
Instead, the car has grown with the times and evolved to be one of the best-looking things in today's SUV segment.
Interior
Revisions in the cabin have also been kept simple, albeit with the necessary bells and whistles to keep the Forester at the top of its game.
Though minimal, there is still an obvious sense of refreshment the moment you plant yourself in the Forester's plush seats.
Every inch and panel in the cabin balances a sleek, modern design with all-out comfort, which is praise-worthy for a car built primarily as a tough-roader to handle even the worst of driving conditions.
The first thing that caught our attention was the new LCD Cluster display, which presented vital information quickly and effortlessly, as it should. Other informative car vitals can be retrieved at a touch of a button via Subaru's new high-grade multi-function display, which also doubled up as the car's entertainment hub.
And just like the Subaru XV, the Forester is now equipped with a shift boot - a simple detail that is an absolute must-have in any car these days.
Revisions in the cabin have also been kept simple, albeit with the necessary bells and whistles to keep the Forester at the top of its game.
Though minimal, there is still an obvious sense of refreshment the moment you plant yourself in the Forester's plush seats.
Every inch and panel in the cabin balances a sleek, modern design with all-out comfort, which is praise-worthy for a car built primarily as a tough-roader to handle even the worst of driving conditions.
The first thing that caught our attention was the new LCD Cluster display, which presented vital information quickly and effortlessly, as it should. Other informative car vitals can be retrieved at a touch of a button via Subaru's new high-grade multi-function display, which also doubled up as the car's entertainment hub.
And just like the Subaru XV, the Forester is now equipped with a shift boot - a simple detail that is an absolute must-have in any car these days.
Apart from looking and feeling more expensive than before, the new Forester also maintains the ergonomics and space-generosity of the outgoing model.
During our drive, three adults and five luggage fitted in the car without a woe in the world and with its 2,640mm wheelbase, it will house five Asian adults quite comfortably.
We also noticed how refined and hushed the ride was. Even at high cruising speeds, wind and road noise levels were barely audible, as if behind the wheel of something German - the payoff of improved soundproofing materials and increased window thickness.
More impressively, drivers with a knack for adventure will be happy to know that they no longer have to face the risk of damaging their key fob thanks to Subaru's Personal Identification Number (PIN) code access feature, which allows access to the car.
By using this feature, the Forester can be unlocked by entering the pre-set PIN code, translating into a hassle-free keyless adventure.
The Drive
Here's the best bit. Underneath all these comfort-focused refinements, the Forester is still the mud-mashing mechanical beast that it was built to be.
The 2.0i-P model we tested may not have the brawns of its turbocharged XT sibling but the 147bhp and 198Nm of torque generated by its naturally aspirated 2.0-litre FB20 Boxer Engine was enough for the 1,495kg Subaru to pick up speed with pace and grace, on both tarmac and sludge-filled thickets.
Transferring power from the engine is Subaru's Lineartronic CVT and although this sort of transmission isn't exactly our cup of tea, we were impressed with how responsive the cog swops were when we mucked around with the paddle shifters.
Across the city and highways, the car does a fantastic job by absorbing impact from portholes and speed bumps the way microfibre cloths absorb water. Suspension tune-ups comprising a stiffer front cross member, and enhanced coils and dampers mean that a balance of comfortable ride quality and agile handling is struck.
Under the supervision of Subaru's professional drivers, we abused the Forester in all ways imaginable - to test the car's enhanced all-wheel drive system and revered X-Mode.
Here's the best bit. Underneath all these comfort-focused refinements, the Forester is still the mud-mashing mechanical beast that it was built to be.
The 2.0i-P model we tested may not have the brawns of its turbocharged XT sibling but the 147bhp and 198Nm of torque generated by its naturally aspirated 2.0-litre FB20 Boxer Engine was enough for the 1,495kg Subaru to pick up speed with pace and grace, on both tarmac and sludge-filled thickets.
Transferring power from the engine is Subaru's Lineartronic CVT and although this sort of transmission isn't exactly our cup of tea, we were impressed with how responsive the cog swops were when we mucked around with the paddle shifters.
Across the city and highways, the car does a fantastic job by absorbing impact from portholes and speed bumps the way microfibre cloths absorb water. Suspension tune-ups comprising a stiffer front cross member, and enhanced coils and dampers mean that a balance of comfortable ride quality and agile handling is struck.
Under the supervision of Subaru's professional drivers, we abused the Forester in all ways imaginable - to test the car's enhanced all-wheel drive system and revered X-Mode.
Like a well-oiled and brilliantly engineered machine, the Forester held its own against Mother Nature's proving grounds. No mud, sand or gravel could faze the Subaru's X-Mode, as it optimised control of the drivetrain and brakes, helping the Forester get out of muddy situations even when one or more wheels got stuck.
In one of our many foolish attempts to lose control of the vehicle, we went full-throttle on a sand-filled chicane but the X-Mode together with the Forester's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive kept things in check, with the differentials working overtime.
Fundamentally, X-Mode is there to prevent even the stupidest of drivers from spinning out or rolling over the vehicle, and eventually killing themselves.
Conclusion
With improved handling dynamics, innovative technologies, and aesthetic upgrades and attention to detail, the Forester hasn't simply moved a step upmarket but made quite the leap for Subaru.
In our time spent with the car, there was almost nothing that the Forester couldn't handle and we sure are looking forward to another candle on the Forester's cake.
