There’s much to hate about hare coursers, but they do know a good 4×4 when they see one – and the Subaru Forester’s tolerance for abuse is almost unmatched.

While it might cede style points to suburbanite SUVs of German and Korean origin, none come close to matching it for sheer durability.

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After all, Forester owners are a merciless bunch, whether they’re illegally marauding across stubble fields or, on more licit duties, loading them with whiffy gun dogs and clattering their way along Britain’s pothole-ridden rural road network with gay abandon.

Real-world testing gets no better.

And here we are with a new generation, the sixth in a storied line of workaday 4x4s stretching back to 1997. It remains one of Subaru’s bestsellers – 5m globally, and 400,000 in Europe.

What’s new?

The focus is on aesthetics and comfort, neither of which have been Forester fortes hitherto.

It’s sleeker on the outside, with curves replacing corners, broader shoulders, and headlights that flow seamlessly into the grille.

Those humble, gawky looks of old – best paired with a liberal coat of filth – are long gone.

But some of its substance-over-style personality has been lost in the evolution, such that it’s at risk of melting into an SUV hinterland.

Subaru’s top brass thinks otherwise, reckoning these changes will strengthen its hand against the Volkswagen Tiguan, Mazda’s solid but bland CX-5 and the popular Hyundai Tucson.

To improve its chances in this shoot-out, the Japanese firm has also revamped the Forester’s dated interior.

Tweaks feel more meaningful than those to the now identikit exterior, with the old hotch-potchy mix of materials refined into a something far more befitting a £40k car.

As is the way these days, this includes a hulking new 11.6in touchscreen that replaces most of the physical controls.

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They will doubtless be missed by some of Subaru’s more conservative customers, though the company has at least resisted the temptation of computerised dash read-outs in favour of conventional binnacles.

Also standard is an Eyesight driver assist system – the firm’s digital version of a back-seat mother-in-law.

It will keenly point out the slightest misdemeanour, whether it’s straying over white lines through bends or paying less attention to the road and more to what’s going on over the neighbour’s hedge.

To keep the vehicle on the straight and narrow, handling has been improved through increased torsional rigidity, achieved by lathering the frame with stacks of structural adhesive, and a more responsive dual-pinion electronic power steering system. Less lean, more couth.

But best of all are the new seats, adorned with chunkier side bolsters that hug drivers’ wobbly bits and better lower back support that apparently reduces head sway and the resulting fatigue.

There are also wins for ears and eyes, the former thanks to extra sound-soaking material that’s been stuffed in the roof to subdue the waspish buzz of the engine at high revs and the drone of tyres and wind along A-roads.

Visibility, already excellent, is even better, thanks to a lower belt line and enlarged quarter glass that makes for an interior bright and airy enough to grow a crop of tomatoes.

The boot has shrunk a smidge, but not enough to upset the dogs.

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Power cut

Mild hybrid powertrain hardware is unchanged from the previous edition, but Subaru has clipped the Forester’s wings.

On-paper output drops from 148hp/196Nm to 136hp/182Nm, though it’s not particularly noticeable from the seat. It wasn’t pokey before and it isn’t now.

Providing that propulsion is the hybrid e-Boxer, an electrically enhanced version of its famed 2-litre flat-four petrol that fires its horizontally opposed pistons with the slickness of a prime Naseem Hamed.

It’s compact and lightweight, allowing for a useful 220mm of ground clearance, but, sadly, it doesn’t have the Sheffield man’s box-office power.

The “e” element of this setup comprises a small electric motor sat between the engine and transmission. Mild it most definitely is.

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Ostensibly an acceleration assistant, it beavers anonymously in the background while failing to add much detectable zest, or save any valuable petrol.

In theory, the engine should turn off when the battery is fully charged, but seldom does it slip into pure EV mode, except for a few seconds of very slow driving.

The penalty for this underwhelming combination is 35mpg, and any buyers switching from a diesel vehicle will feel it more acutely given the fuel tank can only hold 48 litres.

What about the transmission?

The lack of performance is partly due to Subaru’s loyalty to its Lineartronic transmission.

Acceleration is creamy smooth but glacially slow as the CVT catches up with the engine, resulting in a less than flattering 0-62mph time of 12.2sec that will leave it floundering behind plenty of pickups.

Fortunately, very few Forester owners buy their car for on-road performance.

What they will like is the Audi Quattro-style symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, with a multi-plate clutch distributing the power to the four wheels more evenly than a Haldex-type automatic 4×4 setup.

There is also Subaru’s so-called X-Mode, which tames the throttle to deliver torque gradually to the wheels with grip, holds the transmission in a lower gear, and enhances the sensitivity of the traction control system.

Farmers Weekly verdict

Lethargic and uneconomical drivetrain aside, there’s not much to dislike about this reliable servant of rural Britain.

It’s relatively cheap to buy, there’s plenty of space for people and dogs, and buyers can no longer feel short-changed on interior finish.

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Plus, it’s one of the few true off-roaders on the market.

Whether you like it or not, you may well be seeing one in a field near you…