Bologna, Italy. mobile.bg team from the event site.
We drove the new Subaru Forester, which is a serious update of the model launched in 2019. Externally, the changes are not many, but the Japanese, as always, pay attention to more important things for them, such as cross-country ability and versatility. However, the new Subaru Forester impressed us with a much more attractive exterior design, but most of all with important improvements in comfort and multimedia, while keeping its off-road qualities intact and even upgrading them. And the latter are those that surpass all those who fight in this segment.
Subaru has been selling the Forester since 1997, and even after so many years on the market, this model is still not a very familiar car to us. Now the sixth generation of this model is on the way. And we tested it, as is usual for this brand, not only on asphalt, but also in quite serious off-road terrain. And we came back pleasantly surprised. The Japanese are betting on the formula: What is reliable is better not to change, but simply to improve, and that is exactly what they have done with the new Forester.
Exterior and interior
This car retains its dimensions, changing only two of them: the Forester is 25 mm wider and 30 mm longer. The most notable, however, is its ground clearance of 220 mm, which positions this Forester as the best in its category. As for the design, we have already mentioned that the changes are not many, but we see a new darkened and larger radiator grille, which is joined by a new headlight design. Continuing on the side, we can see a new chrome-free protective strip, which is much more practical.
From the back, you can see how the word Forester covers almost the entire length of the door, a trend that is materializing in many of the latest models launched by all car brands. Inside, the Forester still feels old school, with lots of buttons, which we definitely liked. However, most of the buttons have been integrated into the steering wheel and removed from the left side of the dashboard.
The automatic transmission lever, surprisingly, is still located in the middle and the way we are used to seeing it, and has not been replaced by the modern joysticks lately - all things that we are sure that many customers will appreciate and like. The same ones who will continue to appreciate the dashboard with the analog tachometer and speedometer and small digital information in the center. On the other hand, the central screen is new and larger, having gone from 8 inches to 11.6”.
But above all, the change is in the layout of this screen, which is now vertical. Almost all functions are controlled by touch, although two physical controllers (one for the volume and one for the radio station) and two buttons for adjusting the temperature on each side are also supported. The seats are ergonomic and quite comfortable, and the quality of the materials, although it does not look luxurious, is extremely good, as is the assembly in the cabin.
In these cars, designed for families and adventures, the trunk plays a major role. Here it has a volume of 525 liters up to the tray, which can easily be increased if the seats are folded, reaching an impressive 1,731 liters. In other words, the new Forester is similar to the previous one, with the Japanese making only the necessary precise adjustments to make it look better and be more comfortable and functional.
Engine and driving characteristics
Subaru is known for its e-boxer engine, which is a four-cylinder gasoline engine with an added electric motor to show the ECO label. It achieves a maximum power of 136 horsepower and a torque of 182 Nm. An electric motor has been added to the classic four-cylinder naturally aspirated boxer, which has a power of 16.7 horsepower. The power is not much, but the car's dynamics are good and the lack of traction begins to be felt only at high revs.
Many other SUVs in this segment offer four-wheel drive as an extra or option available only for the highest trim levels, something that doesn't happen here. All models of the Japanese brand offer standard AWD traction. In this sixth generation, the Japanese claim to have improved up to 24 points of their iconic 4x4 drive to achieve less weight of the car, as well as more efficient and higher performance of the car off-road.
And as we found out after getting into a rough area with sticky mud, Subaru engineers did a great job. This otherwise slightly boring car for driving on asphalt turns into a great off-roader. Some interpret the name Forester as "forest ranger", but the truth is that this car was not designed to stay in the shade of trees. This is a car for those who dare to go out with it on snow, mud or sandy terrain; and above all, who are not afraid.
With the traditional Subaru X-Mode, the car adapts even more to the terrain according to its three modes. Another thing that sets it apart from the competition is that this excellent cross-country ability is also available when driving in reverse, something that true off-roaders will appreciate highly, because they know that in rough terrain a lot of maneuvers are required. In other words, the appearance of this car does not at all suggest its capabilities off-road. This is what makes the new Forester superior to all others in this class.
The car naturally has its drawbacks. What struck us is that although the Japanese brand claims to have managed to reduce cabin noise by up to 39%, the truth is that we still think it could be improved, especially when driving fast on the highway. The other thing that struck us is that in situations like overtaking or starting from a standstill, there is a bit more power missing.
But all these shortcomings relate to the movement of the car on asphalt, and we covered a route of almost two hours, filled with many obstacles: mud, stones, bumps... The car demonstrated exceptional behavior throughout, with off-road capabilities that other SUVs on the market do not have. It is true that consumption increases in rough terrain, which is logical, and in normal conditions the car consumed between 8 and 9 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers of mileage.
This is a car that is also distinguished by being very safe, and this is another of Subaru's strong points. The cars of this brand have the so-called EyeSight system, which has added interesting features such as adaptive cruise control, a sign recognition function or a new wide-angle monocular camera and a new front radar. So, if you want an SUV for more than just everyday tasks and dare to drive it off-road, this is an option worth considering.
Prices
Unlike many of its competitors, Subaru, and specifically the new Forester, has seen a minimal price increase compared to the previous generation. The base price of the new Forester starts at 79,940 leva, and in the highest level of equipment it reaches 92,940 with VAT. However, the first customers of this model receive a rather serious bonus of 10,000 leva from the importer in our country, and this unique promotion is valid until the end of March 2025. So, if you want to own the most passable SUV, then definitely check out the new Forester.