For decades now, the yeoman qualities of Subarus have been much appreciated by workers on the land and owners on the roads in general writes Syd Taylor.

Utterly tough and reliable , eschewing flashy style for sensible solidity, these cars say as much about the good sense of their owners as the good quality of their engineering.

There can be no doubt about what the Subaru name stands for. In the world of international rallying it is a byword for dependability and success in the most gruelling conditions i­maginable – and the marque’s heritage is supported by numerous victories over the years.

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It’s no wonder then that the Forester is a car which makes real driving adventure accessible as well as offering the sound practicality that your better judgement tells you to go for.

Renowned 4×4 technology imparts leech-like grip, tenacious versatility and ‘go-anywhere’, do-anything confidence.

There’s no ‘clever clever’ trickery here: just good honest ‘fit for purpose’ utility with all the added comforts one might desire, but not necessarily expect, in a car of this class.

The 2.0 D XS Nav Plus at £28,995 comes with sat nav, a reversing camera, leather seats and a host of other comfort features that you would expect in a car costing this much.

Presenting the styling blend of a purposeful off-roader and the smooth lines of a modern estate, it’s as ‘at home’ in the most elegant settings as well as the ‘great outdoors’.

As we’ve come to expect from niche market manufacturer Subaru, quality is as good as it gets. Subarus are built to last and you only have to look to the ‘still living’ Subaru’s of yesteryear, suffering and surviving thrashings by farmers – who give them no quarter and treat them with the same heavy handedness as they afford their tractor!

Tough though the new Forester certainly is, it’s marshmallow on the inside and packed with thoughtful touches. Warm, spacious and inviting, there’s all the ambience and quality of a luxury car, but there’s no unnecessary adornment or excess.

With lots of room for five strapping adults and their luggage, intelligent use is made of every bit of space – and the flexibility offered by permutations of ‘seats up/down/half up or down’, means that you can change from luxury cruise liner to cargo ship in an instant.

You’ll always be safe, of course, because six airbags are there just in case – and the rigid structure of this Subaru is not so far off Challenger Tank strength.

But how does the Forester feel behind the wheel? You sit tall and enjoy good visibility – and the range of seat adjustment lets anyone from a delicate princess to Jethro the farm labourer, get comfortable.

Cars like this often wallow when the roads are twisty – but not the Forester.The handling is surprisingly agile, with the added security offered by the four wheel drive. And if you load it to the gunwhales, the self-levelling suspension is a boon.

Powered by a 147 bhp 2.0 litre 4 cylinder horizontally opposed diesel engine that is smooth despite being a real workhorse, it gives you the best of both worlds, being ‘torquey’ as well as free-revving.

You can tow that heavy trailer or zip along through the gears in a sporty manner. The Forester will reach 115mph so you always have plenty of performance available.

The only ‘downside’ – if it can be called that – is the gearchange which is not the fastest and slickest in town: but I have to say, this only adds to that solid, unbreakable feel. Those used to fairy-like changes might find it rather heavy but I found that throttle coordination and judicious pressure on the stick made for really easy cog swopping.

Surprisingly, this substantial car returned nearly 49mpg overall during a week of merciless testing: the makers modestly claim just 44.8mpg.

This seems to reflect the whole ethos of the Subaru marque.

Where other manufacturers make economy claims of millions of miles per gallon thanks to a following hurricane, Subaru are straight and true.

It’s a ‘Robin Hood and Little John rolled into one’ motor car: a vehicle which will have Friar Tuck dimensioned competitors rolling in its wake. And its poise and assurance is guaranteed to bring a twinkle to the eyes of Maid Marian herself.

It is a Forester after all!