Great news for active young families who have grown to love the Subaru Forester – the all-new third generation models have discarded the ‘dowdy’ exterior styling and are very pleasing to the eye.
Globally Subaru is one of the world’s most acclaimed automotive brands and the local division is one of our most successful importers. Good product is certainly easy to sell and Subaru has rolled-out some great cars for a number of years.
While the high performance Impreza model has enjoyed incredible rally success and captured headlines for the brand, the all-wheel-drive Forester hasn’t exactly been a shrinking violet for Subaru – it is the company’s best-selling model and has gained an enviable reputation as a lifestyle vehicle, particularly with young families. More than 105,000 Foresters have been sold here since 1997.
Safety has been a long-term lynchpin for Subaru and it should come as no surprise that the all-new Forester has already secured both a five-star crash test result and three-star pedestrian safety rating from the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).
The new Forester offers more space, refinement, efficiency and comfort. Pricing starts at $30,490 for the entry level Forester X with five-speed manual transmission.
Two engines are available – a naturally-aspirated single overhead camshaft 2.5-litre delivering 126kW of power and 229Nm of torque or a turbocharged double overhead camshaft version offering 169kW and 320Nm. Significantly, refinements to both engines mean they are more fuel-efficient than the superseded powerplants – up to 7.8 per cent better with the entry level version.
Two transmissions are offered – a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. Hill Start Assist is standard in all manual Foresters – this prevents the car rolling backwards on a hill when first gear is engaged and the clutch depressed or forwards when reverse gear is engaged and the clutch depressed.
Outside, compared to the car it replaces, the new Forester is 75mm longer, 60mm wider, 110mm taller and has a 90mm longer wheelbase.
Inside, those extra dimensions translate into a more spacious cabin – an area of criticism with previous Foresters – in fact the new model boasts great head, leg and shoulder room plus enhanced load capacity (higher and wider). Even the doors open wider (68 degrees front, 75 degrees rear) for easier entry and exit (and easier child seat fitment/access).
A handy new feature sure to be appreciated by all rear seat passengers in XS and XT models is an ingenious retractable rear tray with dual cup holders that actually folds into the centre seat cushion when not in use.
Owners of current Foresters will also note the side doors now have top window frames and double seals – this delivers improved air-conditioning efficiency and reduced noise intrusion. The Forester also gains a new double wishbone rear suspension design for enhanced ride and handling plus improved ground clearance – up to 225mm on XT models.
Subaru Forester continues to enjoy great popularity with Australian families – major contributing factors to its reputation are reliability, low whole-of-life costs and excellent resale value.
