I needed to replace my LR Discovery 3 HSE auto, which was the best car I had ever owned, but age and running costs were no longer on its side.

To cut a long story short, I wanted a large, AWD drive estate car to replace and it was a choice for me between the Subaru Outback or Skoda Superb 4x4 estate. I looked at the Volvo XC70, having had a V70 before, but it's high price and poor dynamics meant it was discounted. The Audi Allroad was just too expensive.

We have a petrol Subaru Forester as a second car which has been superbly reliable and easy to live with and I had previously owned the old version of the Outback in 3.0R spec.

For some reason though, after having read such rave reviews and a good test drive, I opted for a maunal, petrol Superb 4x4 estate in Elegance specification, seeing it as a sort of cut-rice Audi A4/A6 Quattro and which came at a price and specification that outgunned the Outback.

But despite being well equipped and a decent drive, it soon became apparent as the miles increased that I just could not get comfortable in this car.

The driver's set comfort was appalling and made it impossible to live with. I really had no choice but to either persevere with it or change it at a considerable loss.

So, I changed it for the petrol, auto Outback - the car I now know I should have bought in the first place. The petrol doesn't have the torque of the diesel, but the CVT transmission is very smooth and it is so easy and relaxing to drive that the contrast to the Superb couldn't be more marked. Not fast, but - like the LR - that means you don't hurry anywhere.

If you want a driver's car, this probably isn't for you. Dynamically, it doesn't like being hustled along too fast or thrown into corners, the 2.5i engine and CVT transmission making their prescence felt vocally if you push it too hard on it's high-profile tyres and long suspension.

But if you want a very spacious & refined, practical, comfortable, airy, tough, reliable, all-weather, estate car, then I can't recommend it enough now after several thousand miles of driving. The cabin is very roomy, the seats are supremely comfortable and it has pretty much everything I would want in a car - tough, soft leather seat facings, reclining rear seats, big sunroof, big folding mirrors, reversing camera, heated memory front seats, bluetooth, full size spare, decent sat nav and stereo. Sitting that little bit higher, it's easy to get in and out of and rides very well over broken services.

It's averaging 33mpg and nothing has gone wrong. My 57 plate BMW 520d auto leaked water, blew its turbo and never managed more than 40mpg and rode terribly on anything other than motorways, even on its 17" wheels.

The Outback shares many of the qualities of my old Disco and my old V70: easy driving comfort. I read the same "me-too" reviews about the Outback being horrifically ugly, dull, sterile and boring to drive and I get exasperated: try for yourself and then decide. I only get compliments about it, and its rarity is a bonus.

It's worth saying that the Subaru dealer experience is excellent. Small, personalised service where they can't do enough for you. The Skoda dealer couldn't hold a candle to them.

It's just a shame Subaru don't make an auto version of the diesel, as that would be even better.

But don't discount one until you have tried one. The reviews you read don't do it justice.