Subarusuba Forester

New boxerbo engine as chunky crossover gets fresh look

AN all-new Subaru Forester landed at last week’s New York Motor Show. It has the Mazda CX-5 in its sights and is expected to go on sale in the UK before the end of the year.

The brand claims the newcomer mixes the toughness of an SUV with functionality, while the design takes cues from the Impreza hatch as well as the Visiv Future concept, first seen at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. Similar to other recent Subaru launches, such as the XV it sits above in the range, the new design is evolutionary, rather than a radical redesign.

Under the skin, the new Forester is based on the latest Subaru Global platform (SGP), which it shares with models such as the XV and Impreza. A 180bhp 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer engine is the standout feature; Subaru claims this is 90 per cent new compared with the previous 2.5-litre motor.

The SGP platform can accommodate petrol and hybrid powertrains, and will underpin Subaru’s upcoming all-electric vehicle, which is slated to arrive in 2021. Some hybridisation is also likely to appear in the Forester; Subaru will not offer a diesel engine and plans to end diesel production completely in 2019.

As with the XV, it will feature Subaru’s CVT gearbox across the line-up, because this is the only transmission that can be combined with the brand’s range-wide Eyesight camera-based safety system.

All-wheel drive is standard, while Subaru’s new Driver Monitoring System makes its debut in the Forester. It’s the marque’s first use of the tech, which can alert drivers to signs of drowsiness or distraction on the road, as well as automatically adjusting settings such as seat position, door mirror angles and air-conditioning preferences.

An eight-inch infotainment system is now an option, while Apple Carplay and Android Auto are available.

The new Forester will go on sale in the US in the autumn, with European models likely to arrive before the end of the year. Subaru has not revealed any prices, but the newcomer will occupy a similar position in the market to the current car, so expect a slight increase.

● Subaru reveals new SUV with fresh petrol; diesel on way out