I have to admit, every time I drive the Subaru Forester, I like it a little more. It’s just a great little car that’s more like a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and less of the station wagon it appears to be, than you might imagine.

Redesigned for 2003, with new standard features including an upgraded interior and a new Hill Holder clutch, the second-generation Forester doesn’t generate a lot of attention from other drivers, but it certainly got mine, as well as that of 20 professional automotive writers from the Northwest and other places around the nation. The group picked the Forester as the hands-down, under $30,000 class winner at Mudfest, the Northwest Automotive Press Association’s nationally recognized annual SUV competition.

There’s a reason they did. The Forester is a great little vehicle, that with standard all wheel drive and a heavy-duty raised suspension, can go almost anywhere on or off road. That, and with a suggested retail price around $21,000, Subaru continues to build on its already solid reputation as a durable, smartly sized SUV with a car-like ride and extraordinary value.

The Forester doesn’t tower over other vehicles like some SUVs, instead opting for a modest size that is shorter overall in length and height than the Honda CR-V or Saturn VUE.

However, it’s extremely maneuverable with a turning radius of just 34.8 feet vs. 38 feet for the VUE, and the CR-V’s 33.8 feet. The Forester handles city traffic with ease and slips in and out of compact parking spaces in the city without a thought.

I found the Forester’s ride to be surprisingly comfortable for a vehicle this size with front seats that offered a bit more bolstering than they did in previous models. I could feel some slight road vibrations, which are amplified the worse the road surface becomes. As with any vehicle this size, road noise is a fact of life, as well as some engine noise during acceleration. However, wind noise is reduced from earlier models, but if you order the delightfully huge, optional moonroof, you’ll hear wind noise from the roof rack crossbars.

The Forester’s interior has been nicely updated, utilizing a durable rubberized plastic surface in many places and carpet that looks plusher. Plus, another small touch, the power window buttons are now illuminated at night.

The Forester is actually a little larger than it appears. Getting in and out isn’t a problem, even for a guy my size. The front door has no window frame pillar, much like a convertible, which makes it easier, and the rear doors are good size as well. The rear hatch opens easily and wide to reveal a respectable cargo area.

There’s also more front- and rear-seat legroom than in previous models and the 43.7 inches of front legroom in the 2003 Forester beats the 41.3 inches for both the CR-V and VUE.

For 2004, the Forester offers two powerplant choices — both married to a five-speed manual transmission. There’s a 2.5-liter single overhead cam horizontally opposed four-cylinder, which is the same engine used in previous models and generates the same 165 horses as before, with the same 66 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. It’s adequate for around town driving but lacks a little on the highway.

However, Subaru recently added a 210-horse turbocharged and inter-cooled 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine that solves that problem. It calls the new model the Forester 2.5 XT, and the added performance is definitely worth the extra bucks.

The Forester’s five-speed manual felt a little notchy to me, but it includes the nifty little Hill Holder feature used in earlier Subarus. Hill Holder helps keep the Forester stopped on hills and makes hillside start-ups easier. Once the clutch and brake have been engaged fully at a hilly stop, the driver can step off the brake pedal — leaving the clutch in — without rolling backward. It releases as the driver lifts up on the clutch and is a good solution for drivers who worry about whether they can be quick enough on the pedals when stopped on hilly city streets.

Whines: The Forester will never win any awards for adventuresome styling. It’s basically little more than a box on wheels. Off-road ground clearance off road leaves a little to be desired.

Bottom Line: The Subaru’s Forester is a very sensible choice for sensible people who need a utilitarian vehicle but want an SUV. It’s sensibly priced, sensibly sized, and comes sensibly equipped. There are absolutely no gimmicks and unlike many larger SUVs, there’s no intimidation factor. And that’s a sensible way to sell vehicles to sensible people.