This particular compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) had its SEA debut during the 37th Bangkok International Motor Show (2016), which means that the likes of the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and the Mitsubishi ASX need to take heed.
But for this excursion, it's the 2.0i-P costing RM9,540 more than 2.0i, but RM57,240-less than the 2.0 XT at RM153,700 on-the-road including GST that we'll be looking at.
With the 2.0i-P being the middle child, it gets additional kit over the standard 2.0i, but not all the bells and whistles of the 2.0 XT.
Other additional items include centre-mounted multi-info colour display, height-adjustable powered tail-gate, aluminium pedals, steering-wheel cruise control function, paddle-shifters, exhaust mufflers, front fog lamps and LED wing mirrors.
However, it misses out on the panoramic roof, Alcantara upholstery, Harmann Kardon sound system, Siri eyes free with voice recognition command and twin-tipped exhaust mufflers as well as that turbocharged boxer flat-four engine in the 2.0 XT.
During the drive, the Forester 2.0i-P at highway speeds pleasantly revealed a quiet cabin thanks to the provision of thicker windows to quell the wind noise coming off the large wing mirrors. And the addition of sound proofing materials around the base of the chassis and wheel arches that house the 17-inch wheels with 225/60 series tyres added to that effect.
In essence, the Forester has itself a quiet comfortable drive.
Furthermore, the cabin's leather-wrapped power adjustable seats felt plush and there was a good amount of thigh and lumbar support, which came with the convenience of driver-side memory function.
In terms of engine performance, powering off the line from standstill or putting the power down from a rolling start was dulled by the apparent lack of abruptness - leaving the Forester 2.0i-P to be perceived as more prey than predator, but at least when it comes to braking, it'll come biting as hard as the foot demands.
We stopped off at Udom Potchana for lunch, where the group would split into two, with the first half (us) headed for the decommissioned Pran Buri South Airfield Hard Surface where a slalom and Moose test course awaited and the other half convened at the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park for some “dirt-time”.
It'll also need to getting used to when it comes to its degree of suspension travel, but it'll be able to take sudden directional changes well while the rear-end keeps up without loosing much of its footing.
To maintain the Forester's poise through the slalom, drivers need to go against initial reactions and keep feathering the throttle rather than lifting the foot off and by doing so, it brings about the onset of understeer.
The Forester's front-rear weight balance will feel more front-hefty under heavy braking and that's only natural with a set of soft comfort-oriented suspension, but the low centre-of-gravity seemed to allow us to man-handle it through the slalom before jinking it through the Moose test rather compliantly.
At our second venue, it was time to get this Japanese compact SUV well and truly soiled by literally throwing the Forester through a short course of loose dirt.
It's just too calm and collected for that at low engine-speeds and the driver really needs to keep the engine revving high to put down the brunt of the engine's power.
But that's just going to take too much fun out of the drive, but once we disengaged the vehicle dynamics control (VDC) programme, the level of driver-engagement simply took to the skies and the rear-end seemed to enjoy loosing its footing.
We admit the Forester isn't a particularly good-looking car, picking up where it's predecessor left-off more like it, and the 2.0-litre NA engine may not seem like the most exhilarating to drive with.
However, owning one does have its promise of spaciousness, four-wheel traction, handling, a commanding view, nearly a pick-up truck's ride-height at 220mm and 505 (1,564 expanded) litres of cargo space.
