SUBARU has unveiled a surprise contender in the expanding compact sports utility sector. The Impreza-based Forester will provide unexpected competition for Honda's CR-V and Range Rover's recently revealed Freelander in a niche which looks set to get increasingly crowded.

With styling queues taken from the Streega concept car, the Japanese version of the Forester has 250 PS available from its 2.0-litre turbo engine. Due to go on sale in the UK this autumn, the European-specification vehicle has a more sedate naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine developing around 120bhp, full-time four wheel drive and a split ratio gearbox.

The Forester is slightly wider and lower, and 13 inches longer than a Toyota RAV4, and Subaru is promising best-in-class handling and road-holding. Further details will be announced nearer the on-sale date, but expect high specification and sharp pricing.