The Subaru Forester, along with the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, is considered one of the founders of the SUV vehicle category, which has already conquered every market on the planet. However, while its old and new competitors have adapted to the times with hybrid electric powertrains, Subaru has preferred a conservative approach with minimal changes.
This is even more evident in the new and sixth generation of the model that recently landed in Israel, based on the same platform and with the same old gasoline engine from the outgoing Forester. As usual, it’s offered with a raised body and permanent all-wheel drive, making it popular in the winter-prone regions of North America and Europe.
One of the Forester's strengths is its adherence to the unique formula that has brought it success for 27 years, without its competitors managing to threaten its dominance. With each passing generation, the model slightly updates its design and various systems but fundamentally remains the same familiar Forester.
The same is true here as well. The model’s appearance is as tough as ever, the on-road driving qualities remain the same, the off-road capability has not been compromised, and if anything, it has fewer competitors than before. For long-time customers, this was what Subaru needed to provide. But that isn’t the whole story.
The other side of the conservative coin is seen well, and not always for the better. Mainly because of the model’s powertrain with its lukewarm performance and higher-than-usual fuel consumption, and a driver's environment that feels outdated compared to other competitors.
Therefore, it seems the Forester will continue to appeal to those who want an SUV capable of venturing a little off-road. Other customers will look for a more robust vehicle.
Better visuals and equipment
The model’s exterior design has undergone slight visual bolstering with more angular and aggressive lines. The front has a larger grille and lighting units, while the wheel arches have been expanded and now have larger black protective strips. The rear lighting units are also different, and the model’s name is now embossed across the rear.
The main update in the driver’s environment is a larger and vertical touch screen (11.6 inches compared to 8 inches), with the possibility of personalizing its upper and lower parts. Buttons for the audio system and climate control are also included, but unfortunately, most operations are done via the screen itself.
Unlike most models, the instrument panel remains analog, and strangely, only the driver's window has an automatic open-close mechanism.
The material quality used in the new Forester is better than before, with soft and pleasant-to-the-touch trim materials. As usual with Subaru, the driving position is high while large windows provide an excellent field of vision.
The seats offer better comfort and support than before, and in the test vehicle were also electrically adjustable with height adjustment for the passenger seat as well. The side mirrors, on the other hand, are small, suffer from blind spots — as is common in American-standard cars — and aren’t electrically foldable.
The model’s dimensions remain almost unchanged, with the same wheelbase as the outgoing model (267 cm or 105 inches). Consequently, the rear passengers’ leg space remains similar and quite accommodating, as before, with separate air vents and a pair of USB sockets.
The trunk has a wider opening and a light strip at the top, making it easier to unload equipment at night. It’s also slightly larger (by 17 liters or 0.6 cubic feet according to the American standard), but it only includes a temporary spare tire as in the past.
The test vehicle’s equipment list included leather upholstery, electric adjustment and heating for the front seats, a wireless charging pad, an electric tailgate, and a very large sunroof. Notably absent are a 360-degree parking camera and front parking sensors.
Safety devices include autonomous braking, lane-keeping, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot warning.
The Forester will eventually also present a hybrid version, but for now, it uses the same (very) old gasoline engine in a boxer configuration, with 4 cylinders, a 2.5-liter capacity, and 180 hp. Power availability has been slightly improved with peak torque available at a lower rpm than before, and the continuously variable transmission now includes an 8-speed pre-set ratio (7 in older models).
Lackluster performance
Its performance is sadly only reasonable, without the brisk feeling present in competitors using turbocharging or electric aid. This is noticeable in acceleration from a standstill (0-100 km/h or 0-62 mph in 9.4 seconds) and in intermediate accelerations, due to slow gearbox responses.
The transmission itself feels like a regular automatic gearbox during routine driving, but under load, the engine soars to very high rpm producing a lot of noise. Fuel consumption wasn’t impressive either, with an average test figure of 9.4 km per liter (22 mpg).
According to Subaru, the model’s body is slightly stiffer than before, and the suspension has been recalibrated with widened axle tracks (by 0.5 cm or 0.2 inches). Accordingly, its dynamic ability is better with reduced body roll.
Ride comfort is one of the best in the category, especially at cruising speed, and wind and road noise insulation has been significantly improved.
However, the test vehicle was equipped with 18-inch wheels with low-profile tires, making it difficult to absorb small bumps noticeable in urban driving.
Finally, the Forester's big advantage is its superior off-road capability compared to its competitors, thanks to an all-wheel-drive system and a suitable ground clearance (22 cm or 8.7 inches).
The new model has two off-road driving modes, one for light snow conditions and the other for deep snow and sand driving.
These allow efficient power delivery to the gripping wheel and successful handling of axle articulation. The departure angle remains similar (24.6 degrees), but the approach angle is reduced by one degree (19 degrees), requiring extra caution off-road.
The model’s “Wilderness” version further improves off-road capability thanks to better body angles and shorter gear ratios but is only available in the U.S. and Australia.