I think this review says it all...more pictures at this link http://brisbanetimes.drive.com.au/mo...202-1acrv.html

WRX-like version of Australia's top-selling compact SUV quickly carves itself a new niche.

Subaru's S-Edition Forester is something of an android - it has the body of an SUV and the heart of a performance car.

The fastest Forester is designed to be a fun car to drive - and with an engine from a WRX and revised suspension gadgetry, it promises exactly that.

The $50,990 (plus on-road costs) S-Edition is a terrific idea on paper - a very handy and capable SUV powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder 'boxer' (horizontally opposed) engine producing a large-for-its-category 193kW of power and 347Nm of torque, which still manages a claimed average fuel consumption of 10.5L/100km. And it can sprint from 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.5 seconds.

The Forester S-Edition rounds out an already diverse range of models, sitting above the previous top-end turbocharged XT Premium - a car some would profess was already sporty enough.

But the S-Edition takes sporty to another level.
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The WRX-sourced engine is a cracker. It's got plenty of grunt with loads of mid-range pulling power, and it's also acoustically pleasing, with a nice whirring coming from under the bonnet accompanied by the rumbly tone of the turbocharged 2.5-litre boxer (though it sounds a bit whiney mated to the auto box). And it's never intrusively loud.

Yet the engine is let down by the same five-speeder that was fitted last year to the WRX STI. The S-Edition's gearchanges are overly slow, taking too long to shift when the driver needs or wants it most.

When trying to power out of corners or climb steep sections of road, the S-Edition's shuffles through a couple of gears before finding the right one. There's also a mild whine, while the gearchanges aren't very pronounced, which could be a good thing if you want smooth motoring.

Sending power to all four wheels is a clever centre differential that distributes torque at ratios between 45 per cent front and 55 per cent rear and 50:50, depending on the circumstances.

The S-Edition's steering offers a direct, connected feel, and through twisty, corrugated bends proved communicative, with good driver involvement despite some minor steering wheel kickback over bumps.

However, while WRXs are known for agility and ability on the tight and twisties, Subaru's performance SUV doesn't offer the same level of confidence. The Forester's height - from the higher-riding suspension - means there's noticeable body roll, or leaning, through corners.

When pushed, the tyres show their weakness, with the 17-inch Yokohama's squealing during only moderate cornering. Dive too hard into a corner and the rear-end can temporarily step out, although the stability control kicks in to take over.

The trade-off is that the hot Forester can tackle dirt tracks and mild off-roading without fear of scraping its underbelly, and there's also a decent ride (for a performance model), with only some slight harshness over bumps around town, and bigger bumps were taken well at highway speeds. There was some noticeable road-roar from the low-profile tyres as the speedo needle crept higher.

The S-Edition's brakes are carried over from the less powerful XT and despite the extra power, they managed the stopping job without issue.

Inside, the blue-hue theme looks the goods, with part-leather part-alcantara seats front and rear (the fronts are electrically controlled), though they aren't quite as body-hugging as they need to be thanks to its tendency to roll about through corners. It also gets blue footwell lights, touch-screen sat-nav with reversing camera, Bluetooth (with audio streaming capability) and an audio visual input for connecting a DVD player or game console.

There's a sliding sunroof and good storage throughout, and the rear boasts above average leg- and shoulder-room for a compact soft-roader and good head-room, and rear passengers get air vents too. It has a good sized boot as well.

However, despite Subaru's claims of new "soft-feel" dashboard material, it's still fairly hard and unwelcoming.

Subaru said they wanted the S-Edition to be a fun car to drive - and it is, despite being compromised in a few key areas due to the high-riding nature of the Forester.

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Funny looking German Subaru