- New sixth-gen Subaru Forester unveiled
- Still a go-anywhere workhorse for rural folks
- Subtle tweaks to exterior styling
- Better road-going refinement and comfort
Adventure lovers and rural folk take note - because this is the all-new, sixth generation Subaru Forester.
If you’ve got a horse box to tow or camping kit to transport to the wilds of Scotland, the Forester could be the lease car for you.
The basic Forester ingredients remain the same as before - you get Subaru’s go-anywhere ‘S-AWD’ all-wheel drive system as standard and the firm’s trademark e-BOXER hybrid powertrain.
But now a raft of improvements to comfort levels and road-going refinement should ensure the Forester is even easier to live with.
The exterior remains pretty much unchanged but there are subtle tweaks to the front in particular, where there’s a broader front grille and bumper and slimmer headlights.
That refreshed front end also houses the Forester’s upgraded ‘EyeSight Driver Assist Technology’, which features a wide-angle camera and radar to aid functions like the new ‘Emergency Driving Stop System’ which activates if the driver becomes incapacitated.
The Forester has grown slightly in length - up by 30mm to 4.67 metres - yet it’s still a relatively compact SUV, similar in proportion to rivals like the Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson.
The big changes, Subaru tells us, can be found when you look at the way the new Forester hugs the road and how cosseting the cabin is.
Subaru points to an expanded use of structural adhesive, with the coated length between spot-weld areas extended from 8m to approximately 27m. That, along with increased rigidity at suspension mounting points, delivers a 10% improvement in chassis torsional rigidity compared to its predecessor.
What does that all actually mean? Better handling and a more serene environment all round, with Subaru also boasting how cabin noise has been reduced by 39%. New front seats should also improve comfort on long trips.
The Subaru Forester is powered by a 2.0-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine that’s allied to Permanent Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.
There’s a new dual-pinion electric power steering system (EPS) for better responsiveness and more feedback, which is crucial when you’re heading off the beaten track.
To that effect, you get 220mm of ground clearance and impressive approach, ramp breakover, and departure angles (20.4°, 25.7°, and 21.0° respectively) as well as a 1,870 kg towing capacity.
There are three trim levels for you to mull over - Limited, Field and Touring - with prices beginning at a reasonable £38,995.
The entry-level Limited grade brings you 18-inch alloys, wireless charging, heated seats, a 360-degree surround view camera and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Field models add extras like privacy glass, a heated steering wheel, powered gesture tailgate, and in-built sat nav.
Range-topping Touring models boast larger 19-inch alloys, heated rear seats, a sliding panoramic roof, and black leather upholstery.
We’ll bring you lease deals for the Subaru Forester as soon as they arrive.
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