Along with driver and passenger airbags the Forester also gets curtain and side airbags as standard while electronic brakeforce distribution is also included. This balances the braking force between front and rear wheels according to road conditions to compensate for any load shifting when stopping. A new shock absorbing plate has been fitted at the front to reduce pedestrian leg injuries to help with overall Subaru Forester safety levels.

The Subaru Forester has achieved strong results in Euro NCAP tests, attaining a five-star overall rating with high scores for both adult and child occupant protection.

The light steering makes parking and tight manoeuvres a doddle while the vast expanse of glass and thin windscreen pillars mean visibility is good. Rear passenger space is excellent with bags of leg and headroom while up front there’s decent stowage with good door pockets and a large central cubby. The wide boot opening makes loading wide objects easy as does the absence of a boot lip, but it’s a shame there are no underfloor storage areas.