It’s getting ever more advanced.
That’s why Subaru has given its sixth-generation Forester a fresher look and a range of mechanical improvements.
Leading the way is a brand new hybrid system, which pairs Subaru’s trademark 2.5-litre four-cylinder ‘boxer’ petrol engine with electric motor tech. However, it still has the all-wheel-drive layout that’s made the Forester so popular with Aussie buyers.
Our first drive of the new Forester comes from its UK launch in the English Midlands, so this is a review of a British-specs model with a European-focused 2.0-litre engine that’s not expected to make it to Australia.
However, the basics and the technology stay pretty much the same, and we’ve put it to the test on fast country roads, as well as highways and city streets, plus a bit of light off-roading, before the new Forester’s release in Australia later this year.
What is the price of a Subaru Forester?
In North America, the new Forester Hybrid is priced from US$34,995 (A$55,400), which makes it noticeably more expensive than the cheapest Mazda CX-5, but the Subaru does come with the hybrid system as standard.
Fair dinkum, the standard gear is pretty generous, with even the basic Premium model getting a powered tailgate, digital dash cluster and the new multimedia touchscreen.
So, when it comes to value for money, the Forester Hybrid doesn’t fall behind its competitors too much. Even though Subaru Australia hasn’t officially announced the price yet, we’re tipping it to be priced in line with the others.
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What’s the interior of the Subaru Forester like?
The Forester’s interior cabin hasn’t been the most premium, and the new Forester Hybrid doesn’t do much to change that. The cabin is basically the same as the standard model’s, with a portrait-orientated infotainment touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster.
The technology is fairly straightforward to use, but it doesn’t look all that flash. The graphics are quite blocky, and the colour scheme is a bit old-fashioned, which isn’t necessarily a major issue for those upgrading their existing Subaru.
But if you’re looking at a Volkswagen Tiguan, RAV4 or CX-5, which is also about to be updated, the Forester’s screen looks a bit behind the times.
Some of the interior bits are pretty solid and put together well, but they don’t exactly feel real. There’s some pretty dodgy-feeling plastics lying around, and even the steering wheel’s upholstery feels a bit disappointing.
Pair the dull colours and switchgear that’s not exactly impressive, and the Forester doesn’t feel as modern as a lot of its competitors. Even the RAV4, which isn’t exactly the most comfortable car, feels more luxurious than the Subaru inside.
Although the Forester may not be the most stylish contender in this extremely competitive market segment, it does have plenty of space.
The boot space is bigger than 500 litres, which is roughly the same as most other cars in this class. The back seat area is also quite spacious, with plenty of room for legs and head. The seats are comfy all round, and it’s standard to find mounts for child seats on the back seats on the sides.
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What’s under the bonnet?
For Australia, the new Forester Hybrid will pair a 2.5-litre flat four-cylinder petrol engine producing 121kW with two integrated electric motor generators capable of producing up to 88kW. The system will then power all four wheels through a ‘Lineartronic’ continuously variable transmission and Subaru’s tried-and-tested ‘symmetrical’ all-wheel drive system.
The combination gives the Forester Hybrid a total output of 145kW – up from the 136kW of the standard Forester – and Subaru claims it’s up to 40 per cent more efficient than the standard model in the city.
The official fuel consumption figure of 6.7L/100km is higher than the RAV4 Hybrid’s, but it’s an improvement on the petrol-only Foresters’ 7.4L/100km.
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What’s the Subaru Forester’s driving experience like?
The Forester’s got a reputation for being tough and capable off-road, and Subaru’s made sure to keep that reputation intact with the new Forester Hybrid.
With 220 millimetres of ground clearance and Subaru’s trademark all-wheel-drive system underneath, the Forester has heaps of grip and, although we only did some very light off-roading during our first drive, it handled it all with ease.
It didn’t miss a beat in the muddy tracks, and apart from some squirming from the front wheels, you’d barely have known you weren’t on a much better gripping surface.
Our Australian-spec test vehicle used a 100kW 2.0-litre hybrid system, whereas we’ll get a 2.5-litre system in Australia. But in terms of the concept, it’s largely the same and it’s very proactive, shutting down the engine and using electric power whenever it doesn’t have to work too hard.
And so, Subaru has aimed to make it even more refined than before, so the whole system is now more polished than the outgoing Forester Hybrid.
Fair dinkum, when we really pushed our 2.0-litre test car, it made a fair racket and didn’t have a lot of grunt, but then 100kW is nowhere near the 145kW that Aussie buyers will get.
That should also help on the refinement front because it won’t be necessary to push the engine as you have to push the 2.0-litre car to make anything approaching brisk progress.
But the powertrain’s not the only thing Subaru’s updated. They’ve made a bunch of structural changes, like adding more welding to the bodywork, which makes the car stiffer and supposedly more refined and agile.
In practice, the Forester is a bit more comfortable, with a slightly softer suspension that makes the ride more bearable than before over longer undulations. It’s too soft over sharper surface imperfections, but on longer trips it feels noticeably more compliant than its predecessor.
The driving experience isn’t much better. The steering is quite light and a bit vague, which doesn’t give you heaps of confidence when cornering, where there’s also a fair bit of body roll – likely a result of the soft suspension and the way the axles move as you drive on rough terrain.
But it means the car is pretty easy to handle in the city, and the sheer amount of glass above the dashboard means you get a good view of the road. And the Forester still does a better job than most of its rivals when it comes to handling rough terrain.
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What do you get?
Subaru Australia hasn’t officially confirmed the final specifications for the new Forester Hybrid, but some information has been uncovered. We’re anticipating that three or four different model grades will be made available.
* Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist system
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- EyeSight driver assistance technology
- Driving modes
- Reversing camera
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Air-conditioning
- Satellite navigation
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Is the Subaru Forester a safe vehicle?
The new-look Forester Hybrid hasn’t been assessed by ANCAP yet, but the 2.0-litre model passed Euro NCAP testing with flying colours, earning the top five-star safety rating from the independent European safety watchdog.
Subaru has been working hard to upgrade its EyeSight camera-driven safety tech to reduce the chances you’ll need to put its crash safety features to the test. Most of the features of that system can be easily accessed through the touchscreen, making it simple to turn the systems you need on and off in no time.
Safety equipment includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Lane-keeping assistance
- Parking sensors
- Pre-collision throttle management
- Automatic emergency steering
- Adaptive cruise control
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How much does it cost to run a Subaru Forester?
Subaru Australia currently offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty on all new vehicles, and the new Forester is included in this offer.
On the road, the 2.5-litre Forester Hybrid is said to burn 6.7L of fuel per 100km, which is a step up from petrol-powered versions and a bit more efficient than the previous hybrid model.
On longer trips, the car isn’t as fuel-efficient as it could be due to its permanent four-wheel drive system, but the electric motor helps take the load off the engine when driving in town, which improves its fuel efficiency in urban areas.
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Fair dinkum, the Subaru Forester is a ripper of a car. I reckon it’s a top pick for those lookin’ for a reliable and practical vehicle. The Forester’s got a solid reputation for bein’ a safe and capable performer on unsealed roads, thanks to its all-wheel drive system. It’s also got a pretty good fuel economy, especially when you’re cruisin’ around the bush. The interior’s not too flash, but it’s got all the essentials and is pretty easy to navigate.
If you reckon a car that’s tough, dependable and can handle rough terrain is the top priority, the Forester is still the one for you.
It’s now looking better and more comfortable than before, but if you’re not fussed on venturing off the bitumen and just after a family SUV that feels semi-luxurious and a pleasure to drive, there are better and more refined options available.
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