11/08/2008 17:38. Fittingly, the new Subaru Forester SUV has just been voted Moms Taxi of the Year in the NedBank Women on Wheels 2008 Car of the Year competition.

But its more than just a taxi: its a mobile dream-mobile, like most Subarus that roll off this manufacturers showrooms floors.

Safe, good-looking, comfortable and amazingly spacious.

How safe it is and just how effective the cars famed symmetrical all-wheel-drive system is was put to the test the day I took delivery of the Forester.

I was barrelling along in the fast lane of Durbans N2 when I heard an odd thunk and assumed a stone had flown up and hit my lower left front somewhere
. One Inspector Naidoo of the SAPS took out the spare, jacked up the car, changed the tyre and replaced the flat in my boot in a matter of minutes move over,... // Motoring