THE CAR IN FACTS
technology and improved fuel economy are among the improvements. One of the biggest steps forward for the Forester model is the introduction of a 2.0-litre petrol/electric hybrid engine.
The hybrid set-up pairs a 150bhp boxer petrol engine with a lithium-ion battery unit to facilitate around a mile of Ev-only driving at speeds of up to 25mph as well as improved performance at medium speeds.
The battery unit also has benefits for off-road driving and towing, providing additional torque in X-mode, Subaru’s selectable driver assistance mode, for extreme conditions.
No such conditions presented themselves while I was testing it but some damp conditions and quiet roads were no impediment to putting the car through a mix of uses testing the accuracy of the claimed 34.7mpg combined consumption.
With only a mile or so of Evonly range, buyers shouldn’t expect the e-boxer engine to have a huge impact on their fuel bills. During the test I averaged 32.4mpg - an eight per cent improvement over the petrol-powered Forester I test drove last year.
The ride is much improved. It’s still supple and soaks up lumps and bumps with ease, but the wicked lean in the corners has been replaced by balance, stability and excellent grip.
While you get very little time in Ev-only mode, the hybrid system changes mode seamlessly and power distribution feels smooth, if a little pedestria on the motorway.
The cabin is a quantum leap forward. The usual unburstable Subaru build quality is still there, now though, the plastics and other materials match the quality of the ironmongery fixing the dashboard to the chassis. We’re not talking BMW or Mercedes quality, but the e-forester stands up very well against high-spec Japanese and Korean rivals.
The hybrid powerplant isn’t the only thing that’s high-tech about the e-forester and the
● Subaru Forester e-boxer XE
● Price: £32,810
● Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, petrol with ISG motor
● Power: 150bhp
● Torque: 145lb/ft
● Transmission: CVT automatic
● Top speed: 117mph
● 0-62mph: 11.8 seconds
● Economy: 34.7mpg
● CO2 emissions: 185g/km
car is packed full of driver assist and convenience technology. The addition of a wing mirror-mounted, kerb-angled parking camera is a particular highlight.
The driver monitoring system chirps a warning if it detects the driver looking away from the road for more than a few seconds and helps guard against distraction or the risk of falling asleep at the wheel.
Taken in isolation the e-forester is the best new Subaru in some time, but the investment in hybrid technology that only yields an extra four miles to the gallon over the standard petrol feels like an awfully conservative step. For that reason the e-forester, like many a Subaru before it will likely remain a niche concern.