2006 Subaru Forester 2.5XT (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123)

I was expecting a stiff ride with the 2.5XT to go along with its high-performance demeanour, but I was surprised at how compliant the suspension is. You have to keep in mind that it isn't a sports car, though, so the ones you embarrassed at the stoplight back there will probably catch up when the road starts to curve.

Visually, the Forester is unfortunately not very attractive. Its long front and rear overhangs and huge mud guards give it a strange look, but the worst styling goof is the redesigned front fascia. As Subaru is giving its other products their "winged nostril" look, which we can find on the B9 Tribeca and new Impreza, the Forester's nose looks like neither of them. In fact, it doesn't even look Japanese. I think this car looks Chinese with its anonymous front grille. Oh well, you don't see it when your sitting behind the wheel, so that's good. You do see the hood scoop, however, which actually gathers air for the intercooler.

You can always expect some sort of weirdness with Subarus. For example, the 2.5XT includes Xenon headlights as standard equipment. That feature is optional on an $85,000 Mercedes E500, by the way...

2006 Subaru Forester 2.5XT (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123)

Inside, you'll find a rather odd mix of colours. The top portion of the dash is black, and bottom portion is grey, and the centre console is silver. The dash also has a covered storage bin located in the centre of the dash, right on top, but is only big enough to store a pack of cigarettes or so. The climate control system works well and keeps a constant selected temperature, but selecting the automatic mode doesn't allow air in fast enough, so it becomes stuffy in the cockpit after a while. However, this type of system has the same drawback in any car I've sat in, so maybe I'm just picky. The 6-CD sound system sounds pretty good, but for the XT's price, I was expecting MP3 playback, which it didn't have.

The optional leather seating adds cowhide on the door armrests. You sit comfortably in front seats that are supportive, and the driver's side is power-adjustable. Space is sufficient for everyone, front or back. You can fold down the rear seats and remove the cargo cover for maximum carrying capacity. Unfortunately, the rear occupants' windows only open halfway, which is higher than most cars.

I've got to say, this Forester is quite a winter car. Useful touches abound, such as defrosters for the windshield wipers, defrosters for the rear

2006 Subaru Forester 2.5XT (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123)

window and rear quarter windows, heated seats with 2 different settings and, of course, a sophisticated four-wheel drive system.

As for hauling the kids, I lament the location of the child seat tether hooks, which are found right above the rear hatch. The tether strap on my daughter's seat wasn't long enough, so I couldn't reach the hook. I do applaud offering retracting seatbelts for both outside passengers, which makes life easier for strapping more than one child seat and gives an extra sense of security for parents with young kids.