New Subaru Forester goes on sale in April
A new Forester goes on sale in April offering more space, a smoother ride, greater ground clearance yet even more agile handling. The new Forester is Subaru’s third generation of crossover SUVs but now occupies a similar silhouette to the Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail or Honda CR-V.
Based on the platform of the new Impreza, the Forester features a new multi-link rear suspension, fuel-saving electric power steering, standard Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control, self-levelling rear suspension, engine efficiency improvements and a revised automatic transmission offering ‘normal’, ‘sports’ or ‘manual’ mode.
The completely new Forester is 75 mm longer, 45 mm wider and gains 110 mm in height. Rear legroom grows by 95 mm, the driver’s eye-line is 30 mm higher, while the load space is now 450 litres with the rear seat up – 63 litres more than the previous model.
It also enjoys enhanced fuel economy and driveability thanks to an improved 2.0 litre petrol ‘boxer’ engine which – having its cylinders horizontally-opposed – gives the car a lower centre of gravity for improved grip, reduced body roll and more precise steering response.
This is further aided by the engine and transmission now being placed 10 mm lower in the platform.
The Forester 2.0X and 2.0XS petrol models are available from April costing £17,995 and £21,895 on-the-road respectively in manual form. Expected to be the bigger sellers, automatic versions add a £1,000 premium.
The entry-level Forester 2.0X features symmetrical all-wheel drive; Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control; self-levelling rear suspension; fuel-saving electric power steering; front, side and curtain airbags; four electric windows; 60/40-split rear seats with reclining back-rests; climate-control air-conditioning; radio/CD player; front fog lamps; vehicle information display; height and reach-adjustment steering wheel; heated front seats, mirrors and windscreen wipers plus cruise-control. Manual models feature a dual-range transmission.
The higher-spec Forester 2.0XS adds alloy wheels; leather seats, steering wheel, gear-lever and handbrake; premium audio system featuring a six-stacker CD-player and seven speakers; HID headlamps; sun-roof; electrically-powered driver’s seat; retractable rear seat tray with cup-holder; engine starter button and ‘smart’ entry.
Other premium touches include a gas strut-assisted bonnet, flowing fascia design, double-stitched seat cloth, metallic interior decoration and padded armrest cushions.
The new Forester 2.0X and XS enjoy substantial revisions to their 2.0 litre ‘boxer’ engines which result in stronger low and mid-range pulling power, enhanced flexibility and improved fuel economy with lower exhaust emissions.
Power is now 150 PS at 6,000 rpm while torque is 7.4 lb ft (10 Nm) greater, recording 144.6 lb ft at 3,200 rpm. The result is an improvement of more than 3 mpg on the Combined cycle for the automatic, with exhaust emissions down by 21 g/km.
Urban/Extra Urban and Combined fuel consumption are now 25.2/40.9 and 33.6 mpg for the Forester 2.0 X and XS automatic with a CO2 reading of 199 g/km. This compares favourably with the petrol automatic competition. The new Forester is 4 mpg better than the Nissan X-Trail and 2 mpg ahead of the Toyota RAV4 while emitting significantly less CO2.
The 0-60 mph is 12.3 seconds with a maximum speed of 115 mph while improved torque allows higher gearing for improved refinement and economy with no sacrifice in engine response.
Manual versions of the new Forester show similar improvements with Urban/Extra Urban and Combined figures of 25.9/40.4 and 33.6 mpg with a low CO2 rating of 198 g/km. Top speed for the manual Forester is 114 mph with a 0-60 mph time of 10.6 seconds.
The new Forester features twin overhead camshafts per bank (DOHC), four valves per cylinder and an Active Valve Control System (AVCS) which is a form of variable valve timing. This enhances both low-speed torque and high-rev power.
In addition, the combustion chambers have been redesigned for increased tumble gas flow for reduced fuel consumption. Also for improved efficiency are a revised intake system, cooling system and catalytic converters.
The new 2.0 litre four-cam ‘boxer’ engine retains the same 92 mm bore and 75 mm stroke as before but with a lower 10.2:1 compression ratio.
The new Forester’s four-speed automatic transmission provides smoother changes with greater sensitivity to the driver’s wishes. It is more efficient, saving fuel, because a slip lock-up device reduces wasted engine revs. In addition, advanced electronics – linked to an electronic throttle – match engine speed with the best gear for any given situation.
A new feature is ‘Sports Shift’ which allows the driver to select from ‘normal’, ‘sports’ or ‘manual’ control, allowing him or her to ‘tap-shift’ gears at will.
As with previous models, the full-time all-wheel drive transmission features a 60/40 Active Torque-Split on the automatic. However, the split varies according to changing conditions.
Both automatic and manual versions of the new Forester now benefit from Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control as standard. This advanced system uses sophisticated sensors to detect side to side and front to rear slip plus sudden steering movements. It controls oversteer/understeer and potential loss of control by braking individual wheels and cutting engine revs – all in milliseconds.
As with previous models, dual-range transmission is standard on manual cars providing, effectively, 10 speeds. Dual range is selected by depressing the clutch and raising a small lever next to the gear-shift. This can be done on the move.
Low-ratio advantages include extra control through enhanced engine braking in slippery conditions. This could be while driving down a snow-lined street littered with abandoned cars or while pulling a caravan off a rain-soaked field.
The Forester’s quick-thinking full-time AWD system on manual models splits power 50/50 front to rear. However, as soon as slip is detected, the centre differential with its viscous-coupling distributes torque to the axle with the most grip. This happens in milliseconds.
Curtain and side airbags are now fitted to all models together with driver and passenger airbags. The front seatbelts have pre-tensioners, anti-whiplash front head restraints are standard and the front seats have energy-absorbing backs.
The brake pedal is energy-absorbing, being designed to snap away under severe impact, protecting the driver’s lower limbs. In the rear seat are two ISOFIX-compatible child seat mountings.
The passenger airbag is dual-stage which provides progressive protection matched to the severity of the impact and the standard anti-lock brakes (ABS) come with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD). This juggles the braking force between front and rear wheels according to load shifts during deceleration. Unlike the previous model, the new Forester has front ventilated disc brakes and solid rear discs.
The rear of the bonnet compresses easily and the cowl ahead of the windscreen is designed to dissipate collision energy. A new shock-absorbing plate has been installed ahead of the front bumper beam to reduce pedestrian leg injuries.
All Foresters marketed by Subaru (UK) Limited come with the reassurance of a three year or 60,000 mile warranty plus 12 year anti-corrosion cover and three year paintwork warranty. This is in addition to three years’ membership of Subaru Assistance.
Prices start at £17,995 for the Forester 2.0X manual.
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