Subaru Forester

Subaru Forester 4 at a glance

The Forester has been Subaru's best-known SUV since 1997. The SJ generation grew slightly in every direction compared with its predecessor, gained a more upright, rugged look and kept Subaru's formula of a horizontally opposed engine and symmetrical all-wheel drive. It was Motor Trend's SUV of the Year for 2014 and was built at Ōta in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, and from February 2016 also assembled in Malaysia by Tan Chong Motor for Southeast Asia. Subaru's background is told in the history of Subaru.

Subaru Forester generations

Boxer engines: petrol, turbo and diesel

All engines are horizontally opposed four-cylinder boxers with double overhead camshafts, 16 valves and variable valve timing (AVCS).

According to factory data, the 2.0i reaches 100 km/h in 11.8 seconds and 192 km/h, with combined consumption of 7.9 L/100 km (29.8 mpg US). The 2.5i takes 9.9 seconds and uses 8.2 L/100 km. The 2.0 XT turbo is the fastest Forester of this generation and is sold only with the CVT, which offers simulated steps in sport mode.

All-wheel drive and X-Mode

Every European Forester has permanent all-wheel drive. With the Lineartronic CVT, an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch normally splits torque about 60:40 between the front and rear axles and changes the split as grip changes. Higher CVT versions add X-Mode: at speeds below about 40 km/h it monitors wheel slip, brakes spinning wheels and adjusts engine and gearbox for snow, mud or loose surfaces, and it includes hill descent control.

With 220 mm of ground clearance, the Forester goes further off-road than most compact SUVs, although it is not a full off-roader with low range.

Chassis, steering and the 2016 facelift

Suspension uses MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link rear suspension, with electric power steering and disc brakes all round, ventilated at the front. The body uses more high-strength steel than before, which kept weight in check as the car grew.

Subaru revealed the facelift in October 2015, before the Tokyo Motor Show, and sales of the updated car began in 2016. Changes included:

• New grille, bumpers and LED headlights with steering-responsive cornering and automatic high beam on top versions.
• Quicker steering, with the ratio reduced from 15.5:1 to 14.0:1.
• Stiffer anti-roll bar mounts, dampers and bushes, and a thicker rear subframe for less noise and better comfort.
• Thicker side glass and a quieter CVT.
• A 6-inch multimedia screen, a Harman Kardon audio option with 8 speakers and 440 W, and heated rear seats on many versions.

Forester 4 size, cabin and boot

The cabin is functional rather than luxurious, with soft-touch plastics on the upper dashboard, dual-zone climate control and, on top versions, leather seats with a 10-way electric driver's seat and memory. Large door openings make getting in easy, and the rear seat has a reclining backrest and a folding armrest. The boot floor is almost flat with the seats folded, and the spare wheel sits underneath.

Safety: EyeSight and crash tests

Euro NCAP tested the Forester 2.0i in 2012 and awarded it five stars, with 91% for adult occupants, 91% for child occupants, 73% for pedestrians and 86% for safety assist. In the US, the 2014 model was rated Good in all IIHS crashworthiness tests, including the small-overlap front test, after structural changes, and earned Top Safety Pick+.

Standard protection includes front, side and curtain airbags and a driver's knee airbag, with pretensioning seat belts and seats designed to reduce whiplash injuries. On the safety side, Subaru's EyeSight system uses stereo cameras for pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control and lane departure and sway warnings; availability depended on market and trim.

Rivals: how the Forester compares

The Forester competed with the Toyota RAV4, the Honda CR-V, the Mitsubishi Outlander and the Nissan X-Trail. It offered more ground clearance and permanent AWD on every version, but less refinement and a smaller dealer network in Europe. Within the brand, it sits alongside the Subaru Outback and the Subaru Impreza-based XV. More models are listed among Japanese SUVs.