IT was a case of third time lucky when I got behind the wheel of the Forester.

You see I'd driven it twice before in the last year or so and on each occasion was highly unimpressed.

The first one wouldn't let me in and the second bucked more than a rodeo horse. Both were saddled with a somewhat gutless petrol engine.

Imagine my unbridled joy then when after taking delivery of this XSn specced model, I firstly discovered there was no troublesome key, secondly found they seemed to have sorted out some of the problems with the ride and thirdly, and perhaps, most importantly, this one had a diesel powerplant.

I had always liked the Forester from the outside, the way it was neither an estate, nor a fully-fledged off-roader, rather something in between.

The diesel was even more to my liking, possessing as it does a huge bonnet scoop that appeals to my macho tendencies.

Add to that a smart set of 17ins alloys and some roof bars and you have a car that would impress a great many of the country set.

Whereas the previous Forester came with an old-fashioned key that wouldn't have looked out of place in your nan's back door, the new one has gone all hi-tech, opting for a remote control and stop-start button.

I like the instrument panel, which is bathed in blue, and the controls, while not the classiest in appearance, are all where you would want them to be and in easy reach of the driver.

The CD player is somewhat unusual in that you have to tilt the display panel to put them in and take them out. The navigation system, meanwhile, is easy to use and comes with the option of male and female and British and American voices - daft, I know, but something that amused me.

In addition, you also get climate control, heated and electrically adjustable seats to name but a few things.

The leather seats in this, the top of the range model were supportive and there was plenty of room in the front for myself and my other half, while the kids had more than enough space for themselves, their child seats and the plethora of toys and other things they insist on taking everywhere.

The boot, as you might expect, can cope with almost anything you want to throw at it and you can increase the volume still further by dropping the backrests.

The car's weak link is the gearbox, which does not inspire confidence as to just which of the six gears you are in and whether it will remain in its chosen station.

I was able to forgive this flaw, however, for the improvement that the addition of the diesel unit brings.

You get power throughout the range, but it remains impressively smooth in the way it gets there. It's also quick off the mark, relatively speaking, for a car of its size, reaching 60mph in ten seconds and on to a top speed of 115mph. Whereas the petrol is a thirsty old beast, you can get a mid-40 return from the diesel.

The Forester can bounce you around, but I still find it handled much better than the previous models I had had and any improvement, no matter how small, was a definite bonus.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again, as they say.

Price, as tested, £25,495