I confess. I’ve been a fan of the compact Subaru Forester ever since it came on the scene as a very car-like sport-utility vehicle (SUV) back in 1997. That was long before “crossover” became the definition of car-based SUVs.

It’s consistently scored high marks as well from the members of the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) in its annual SUV of the Year event, Mudfest, which pits all the new SUVs against each other in the nation’s premier, head-to-head on and off-road competition. The Forester has not only held its own, but won its class more than once.

When my daughter became a mother last year and needed a vehicle to transport her, my new grandson, and all the necessary baby gear, I suggested she consider a Forester. She said, “I’m not ready for a minivan or a station wagon.” When I told her it was an SUV, she answered, “No it isn’t. It’s a station wagon.” It’s all in your perspective I guess, but it’s her loss — the Forester suits her needs perfectly.

Walkaround: The Forester, which comes standard with all-wheel drive, was nicely redone in 2003, with updated styling and added room, along with numerous refinements in comfort and safety. The 2005 version is similar in most respects.

There are two basic models, the standard Forester and the 2.5 XT. Both look like a cross between a wagon and SUV. It’s got a high, SUV-like roofline, which means lots of headroom inside, and a lot of glass for excellent visibility. A common sight at high-altitude ski areas as well as shopping malls, the Forester is basically utilitarian — nothing fancy or daring, just useful. However the 2.5 XT does have a distinctive look, including an aluminum hood with functional scoop, body color side cladding and door handles, brushed aluminum roof rails, unique 16-inch alloy wheels with six spokes, chromed tailpipe tip and special badging.

Interior: The Forester’s interior does have a sporty, upscale feel courtesy of special black flat-woven upholstery with vinyl trim and chromed gauge trim. There’s also a leather-covered steering wheel, shifter and parking brake handle. A Premium option package is available that offers leather upholstery and Subaru’s especially large power sunroof.

Instrumentation is analog and easily read at a glance, with light green illumination. The audio and climate controls are simple to comprehend and easy to reach. Standard safety items on all Foresters include anti-lock brakes, front side air bags, and a version of Subaru’s Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Frame body structure.

All Foresters boast lots of standard equipment, including a 7-speaker AM/FM/CD sound system, illuminated power window switches on all doors, chrome interior door handles, assist grips for outboard seating positions and aluminum front door sill plate covers. But the 2.5 XT offers exceptional value in the equipment department, with power windows, door locks with remote keyless entry, foldable mirrors. air conditioning with automatic climate control, heated front seats, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, rear wiper-washer and defogger, and reclining rear seatbacks.

Our most recent test vehicle was the 2.5 XT, L.L. Bean edition, which also included a buff-colored leather interior package and premium sound in addition to the dark green exterior.

Legroom and headroom are excellent front and rear — especially for a vehicle this size. Handy storage pockets are found in the front doors. The large cargo area has a low, wide opening and rear seatbacks flip forward and sit flat to significantly increase cargo capacity. The hatch has a large interior pull-down handle to close it. There’s a rubber floor mat over the carpet in the cargo area as well as a compartmentalized, removable tray that I found exceptionally useful for holding things like plastic shopping bags.

Under The Hood: A 165 horsepower, 2.5-liter 4-banger is standard. The optional powerplant is a 210-horse, inter-cooled turbocharged version that debuted in 2004, giving the Forester notably higher performance levels while boosting Subaru’s youth image. The beefed-up turbo also boasts variable valve timing and an electronic throttle control system for excellent responsiveness. The 2.5 XT Forester joins Subaru’s hot competition-style WRX turbocharged lineup that includes the sedan and the Baja compact crossover pickup.

The hood scoop of the 2.5 XT forces air into the engine, which utilizes a horizontally opposed piston design like Porsche, so it sits low in the frame, to enhance handling.

The 165 horse version stickers between $20,895 and $25,695. The 210-horsepower 2.5 XT has a base price of $24,970 with Subaru’s slick 5-speed manual gearbox, and $25,770 with a 4-speed automatic transmission. The automatic transmission version is offered for $27,520 with the Premium option package.

 Behind The Wheel: The Forester is fun to drive. I experienced virtually no turbo-lag in the 2.5 XT, which performs like a small, potent, non-turbo V6, and it maneuvered both city and rural traffic with ease. Our test model had the automatic, but I’ve talked to other writers who swear the stick version delivers the best acceleration. The stick also comes with Subaru’s Hill Holder clutch that makes starting off on an incline — like a downtown Seattle hill — easier and safer when the clutch pedal is depressed.

Because of the positioning of the engine, handling is exceptional — especially when you consider this IS an SUV. There’s none of that top-heavy feeling on tight curves — and although you’ll never confuse it with a Porsche, the Forester handles more like a sports car than SUV.

I also had the opportunity to drive the Forester on NASCAR’s famed high-bank oval at Talladega awhile back. Even at 100+ mph, I simply wasn’t any more afraid of this vehicle than I was on the hilly, winding two-lane blacktops of the Alabama countryside.

Whines: In spite of the 2.5 Turbo, the Forester delivers only average highway passing ability. I’ve also been told by other writers that the standard engine’s high altitude performance seems questionable, but the inter-cooled, turbocharged 2.5 XT solves that problem. I expected better fuel economy than the estimated 18/city and 21/highway for the turbo. The standard engine is rated at 21/city and 27 on highways. Bright sunlight can make the gauges difficult to read.

Bottom Line: The Forester is practical and user-friendly, and the new 2.5 XT delivers considerable driving fun. While the crowd buys big, hulking, “look at me” SUVs adorned with tons of chrome, sensible folks who don’t need to be the center of attention will find plenty to like in the Forester. It’s just a sensible SUV — sensibly sized, sensibly priced and sensibly equipped. There’s no gaudy styling, no gimmicks and no intimidation factor. It simply fits the northwest lifestyle like a glove.