Subaru Forester XT | Spotted

Now this is what you call a sports utility vehicle

It’s probably fair to say that the entire SUV class has become a bit silly now. You might argue that the idea was always a bit daft, that a 4x4 was always compromised as a performance car, but that would be to deny some very impressive machines from the past quarter of a century or so. The problem we have now is that there are huge off-roaders capable of lapping at sports car speed, but which are so massive they barely fit on the public highway.

Or we have those fast and family-focused 4x4s that have become so large the car parks have no chance - let alone the green lanes. Even those somewhere between Waitrose Express and ‘ring record breaker are larger, heavier, and more expensive than ever. So they don’t ride properly, there’s more to go wrong, and you’re less likely to test their abilities anyway, because they’re worth so much.

Phew, it feels good to get things off your chest sometimes. The continued bloating of everything about family 4x4s doesn’t half make something like a Subaru Forester look appealing. It too can seat five people, tackle a muddy car park and take the dog in the boot, which is all most SUVs seem to be used for. But this one is sensibly sized, rides on fairly modest 17-inch wheels, and costs just £5k.

The Forester was always an anti-SUV sort of SUV. Even at a time of the Toyota RAV4 with its jazzy seat fabrics and fun-loving adverts, the Subaru was there just to get the job done. Part estate, part 4x4 and part Impreza, it wasn’t ever like anything else, though that didn’t stop it from winning a dedicated legion of fans. Even now, the Forester is ploughing its own furrow, with an electrified 2.0-litre petrol flat four.

This second-generation XT looks just the ticket. With Foresters of all shapes and sizes having been around for 30 years now, and been jolly handy throughout, good ones are hard to find. If the rust didn’t get them, simply being run into the ground would. And this is PH, of course - we’re not that interested in autos and non-turbos. So this is a manual Forester, with 211hp from the EJ25 boxer turbo. It’s had just three previous owners and, for a car with 150k and 21 years to its name, looks remarkably good. A subtler take on blue with gold scrubs up nicely, the super shiny leather is unmarked, and there looks to be some sturdy (Subaru-branded!) boot protection in place. This is the sort of condition you expect to see old Impreza Turbos in; Foresters, not so much.

There’s said to be a huge history file with it, which seems believable; as a niche SUV choice, the Forester has surely always been picked up by those committed to the cause. Subframe rust has just been addressed for a fault-free MOT into ‘27, and pre-’06 will make it less punishing to tax. For £5,495. Think of all the spare cash that could go to the holiday fund or doing up the spare room, while you get a cool flat-four Scoob. The whole family’s happy with a Forester…

SPECIFICATION | SUBARU FORESTER XT

Engine: 2,457cc, flat-four turbo
Transmission: 5-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 211@5,600rpm
Torque (lb ft): 236@3,600rpm
MPG: 25.7
CO2: 261g/km
Year registered: 2005
Recorded mileage: 148,423
Price new: £24,695
Yours for: £5,495

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Oliver Quartly

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105 months