Subaru Forester powers incredible snowsport first
A pair of Subaru Foresters helped make British snowsport history recently by supporting a unique challenge – to ski in both the south of England and the north of Scotland on the same day, and travelling between locations using a single tank of fuel.
The Forester’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive made light work of the severe snowy conditions encountered up in the Highlands of Scotland, and the SUV finished the test with ample diesel to spare, averaging an impressive 45mpg during the entire 480-mile trip – even when overflowing with kit and sitting at the national motorway speed limit.
After taking to the slopes of the SnoZone indoor ski centre at Xscape, Milton Keynes, at 4.00am, the intrepid ski team then set off for the Cairngorm Mountain Resort. Arriving at 2.25pm in fine fettle after a comfortable and largely traffic-free cruise, they then hit the pistes once again to complete their incredible feat.
During the nine-hour journey north, the 2.0-litre ‘Boxer’ diesel Foresters used in the challenge both averaged around their official claimed extra-urban mpg figure, while sitting at the national speed limit. One of them even returned a petrol-pump-dodging 57.6mpg.
The revised suspension of the 2010-model year Foresters – incorporating uprated springs and dampers – eased away the motorway miles, and kept the drivers entertained when the route north took in some twisty A and B roads.
The Foresters also made short work of stowing all the required skis, boots and poles, thanks to a commodious 1610-litres of luggage space with the rear seats folded. Accessing this is now even easier, as the rear seats in the latest top-spec Foresters can be dropped forward quickly and easily with the pull of a small lever located in the boot.
Kenyon Neads, Subaru UK’s Marketing and PR Director, added: “We had no doubts that the Forester would be the perfect support vehicle for this snowy challenge. It is one of the cleanest and most fuel-efficient SUV’s available, has ample space for passengers and luggage, and its All-Wheel-Drive capability and revised suspension make light work of all road surfaces – from motorways to icy country lanes.”
The 2010 Model Year Forester range costs from £19,995. The 2.0D XS NavPlus models used in the snowsport challenge cost £27,745 and boast 17-inch alloy wheels, sat-nav, heated leather seats, cruise control and roof rails as standard.
