THE original Forester proved wildly successful for Subaru. Debuting Down Under in 1997, it sold in big numbers until the end of its life cycle five years later. The turbocharged GT flagship was a hit with buyers wanting sports car performance from their suburban off-roader, and - along with the Impreza WRX - played a major role in re-establishing the marque after a grim period during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The new Forester may look a lot like the original, but that's a result of the evolutionary way Subaru goes about its new models. Underneath the revised exterior are plenty of improvements and refinements to keep Forester fresh, from its improved new Impreza-based chassis, to a new interior and the larger, 2.5-litre boxer engine.