Subaru Forester review

Subaru's interior designers have learned to calm down. The old Forester had an over-excited mix of shapes, materials and textures. The new one is more subdued and cohesive, a better match for the car's character. And some of the materials are novel, especially the honeycomb-patterned pad ahead of the passenger.

Another novelty is the driver's instrument screen, which contains two wonderful circular clock-like dials displaying revs and speed. Why did no other manufacturer ever think of this? It's wonderfully clear and aesthetically pleasing compared with the flashing digital graphics used by the rest of the industry.

The steering wheel takes an equally unconventional form. Circular. It's a very satisfying shape for negotiating corners.

Sadly Subaru sticks to industry norms by covering the centre dash with a vertical tablet screen. The lower portion is permanently given over to the climate controls. Their permanence is a good thing, but why not just reduce the screen size and make them hardware knobs?

At least the temperature and demist buttons are actual not virtual, as is the entertainment volume and tune/track. The steering wheel also has a good set of controls.

There are two further strips of shortcuts on the screen, one containing a lane assist button – hurrah – and the other an area that's swipeable between entertainment, trip computer, AWD traction mode and next nav instruction.

Overall then a pretty usable set of displays and controls, albeit one that's a grating to our typographic eyes. For no apparent reason there are at least half a dozen different fonts in the dash. When you start up, a whizzy 'Subaru Starlink' graphic pulsates across the screen. Does Elon know?

What about seats and space?

The front chairs, electrically adjusted as standard, are terrific: supportive for the long haul but also holding you in place when you're rocking down an unmade track. Seat heating is standard but surprisingly weak. We expected serious bum toasters in such a foul-weather car.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with a wireless charger are standard, plus USB ports (A- and C-) front and rear. There's inbuilt navigation except on the base spec.

The back seat is roomy, with plenty of leg, foot and head space. It's a true family car. Top spec gets heated outer rear seats, and adding to the general glassiness, a tilt/slide glass sunroof.

But the boot, while big in floor area, is shallow. The hybrid battery lives under part of its floor, though a shoebox size bin hidden below the main floor helps a bit. No spare wheel though; not ideal in an adventurous car.