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Subaru Forester
SUV or sedan? Drive either with what could be the ultimate crossover vehicle

Named after a cluster of stars high above our sunroof, Subarus have always been different. With a history of World War II aircraft manufacturing, this company now dabbles in rocket technology and helps build some of the fastest trains on the planet. And its SUV, the Forester we were driving, is everything you would expect a Subaru to be.

Key features of the Forester will win you over. On roads increasingly crowded with cars and SUVs that look, feel and perform like each other, this Subaru sticks out like a thumb. These are the reasons you'd head to the dealer now:

Crossover concept
In the 1990s, the North American market went crazy over the concept of using 4WD truck-like vehicles for ferrying families around. Traditionally the bread and butter of farmers and explorers, this class was tamed and packaged as the SUV, or sport utility vehicle. The irony – and tragedy – of this generation is that most SUVs never go further off the road than over a pavement. So why does someone buy something that can cross rivers and deserts, only to ferry the kids to school? First, there's the image of roughing it out and making your own road. Secondly, most feel safer within an SUV's generous dimensions, and love its high commanding driving position that sits you above everyone else. But more traditional street cars often brake faster and are more stable around corners with their lower centre of gravity. They're also generally cheaper to buy and run, and consume fuel more efficiently.

Bridging the divide, crossover vehicles look like SUVs but are built on car-based platforms. You have the best of both worlds – enough car for the road, and not overkill for weekend trips out of the city. And the Forester might just be the ultimate crossover concept. Get in and you'll think you're in a car, sitting low, arms stretched out in semi-race style. Hit the pedal and you'll never want to let go – you will adore its response, acceleration, handling. This Subaru drives like water flowing over tarmac. Such superlative ride quality more than makes up for its rather uninspired looks.

Horizontally opposed boxer
Under all that is an engine that sets all Subarus apart from the rest. It is horizontally laid out, or a boxer. This means that it is lower than others, translating into a lower hood (better visibility and aerodynamics) and lower centre of gravity (more stability). Subaru has been fine-tuning this concept for more than 30 years now, and they've done wonders with it. Pistons have been made slightly barrel-shaped for less friction, vibration and noise, while its contact wall with the cylinder, the skirt, was made shorter and thinner to reduce weight. The gap between the head of the piston and the inside cylinder wall was made smaller, allowing less unburned compressed leftover gas to accumulate, increasing fuel economy.

All wheel drive
This is another Subaru characteristic, a signature across their entire range of vehicles. While most people think of all-wheel-drive or 4WD terms as related to off-road vehicles, it simply means that all four wheels are powered, instead of just two.

In rear wheel drive, the back wheels are powered, while front wheels control the direction. The car can turn sharply, but with less stability. In front wheel drive, the first two wheels are powered and provide direction, while the rear wheels just help support the car and turn along. The car cannot turn as sharply but is more stable. All wheel drive combines the advantages of both types, with a uniform transmission of power to all four tyres.