As Subaru’s global line-up continually evolves to adapt to an ever-changing world, the Forester has become the brand’s ‘old reliable’ among enthusiasts; a familiar and beloved package, with ever so slight, though welcomed, improvements year-over-year. The same could be said about this new, 6th-generation Subaru Forester, which is destined to arrive in UK showrooms soon, with a rather appealing price tag starting at £38,995. However, with the SUV market brimming with countless fantastic and featureful options at that price bracket, are the 6th-gen Forester’s updates and enhancements really enough to entice old and new customers back to Subaru?
What Is The Subaru Forester Touring About?
If you’re not familiar with Subarus, you could be forgiven for thinking that this all-new 6th-gen Forester doesn’t really look all too different from the outgoing model. Indeed, you’re not totally wrong here, as this new Forester adopts an iterative design rather than something more revolutionary. You can probably easily spot some of the familiar styling cues adapted from the old Forester, like the blocky silhouette and its upright, squared-off shape, in addition to the large, imposing front end. It’s a pretty conservative exercise in automotive design, but the old Forester looked handsome enough to my eyes, so this new one is unsurprisingly just as good-looking, too.
The matured and modernised look of this new Subaru Forester does have some eye-catching touches to it, and it’s more noticeable with this ‘Touring’ trim that you see here, the highest trim level available for us here in the UK. For instance, the Touring spec offers you a set of 19-inch alloy wheels compared to the 18’s on the ‘Limited’ and ‘Field’ editions. You’ll also get a lot of gloss black exterior trim on the Touring, most notably on its roof rails, as well as the side mirror caps and that big front grille. Across all trim packages, the new Forester still retains the rugged, off-road-ready appearance of the old model, which is both functional and visually fitting.
One noteworthy example is the abundance of black plastic cladding and hardy lower body panels, which ought to give you a bit more protection should you want to go off-roading. Nevertheless, while the exterior design of the 6th-generation Subaru Forester might not inspire too much excitement, it’s when you get under the bonnet that it gets really interesting. It now sits on a revised chassis, which isn’t just 10% more rigid than the outgoing model, but combined with a vast array of improvements across the bodywork and platform underneath, it also helps with improving comfort, as well. Though, some of this has to do with changes to the interior, mind.
How Does It Drive?
Subaru claims that this new 6th-gen Forester offers 44% less head-swaying and 39% less cabin sound pressure, which, in practice, as I’ll discuss a bit more later, does make a huge difference. And, for all you off-roading fans out there, you’ll also be glad to hear that this new Forester has class-leading ground clearance – all 220 mm of it. – in addition to an updated and enhanced version of Subaru’s X-MODE terrain management system. On that note, the latter of which could even provide you with a ‘motor assist’ function – basically, letting that hybrid (more on that later) help a bit while you’re off-roading – available when you’re going forward or in reverse.
Yet, there is even more superb news for off-roading enthusiasts, overlanders, and campers who might want to consider going off the beaten path in this new 6th-gen Forester. For one, it has an impressive approach (20.4°), ramp breakover (25.7°), and departure angles (21.0°) to go with it. While the Forester is not a do-it-all, hardcore off-roader along the lines of the Toyota Land Cruiser or Land Rover Defender, it can go places where your usual metropolitan SUVs and crossovers can’t. Another thing that the new Forester could do where its rivals typically fall short on is towing, as you could easily tow a lot of stuff with the new Forester’s substantial 1,870kg towing capacity.
And, of course, this being a Subaru, the new 6th-gen Forester is still fitted with their oh-so-popular Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (S-AWD) system. Best of all, this permanent AWD system comes as standard across all editions, including the entry-level Limited and Field models, and you can find it paired with Subaru’s e-BOXER mild-hybrid (MHEV) powertrain. This particular powerplant is essentially a marriage between a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated boxer-4 and an electric motor that’s sandwiched with the Forester’s Lineartronic CVT transmission. This setup doesn’t just offer better MPGs (combined; mid-30s) but also smoother acceleration and responsive torque.
Speaking of, all trim levels have the same specs on paper: a very modest 136PS of power and 182Nm of torque, achieving a 0-62mph sprint in around 12.2 seconds and onto a top speed of 116mph. On top of that, because it is a mild hybrid, this means that you can enjoy driving the new Forester with one of three drive modes. 1) There is engine-only mode, usually for when there’s no need to turn on the motor or if there’s not enough juice in that lithium-ion battery. 2) Next up, there’s an electric-only mode; it’s basically an EV at this point, though only for short-distance driving. 3) And then there’s hybrid mode, thus letting the Forester’s powertrain best decide when to use the electric motor to supplement the engine, either for more performance or for better fuel economy.
If that wasn’t enough, we should also mention that this new, 6th-generation Subaru Forester here has a revised dual-pinion electric power steering rack. This new set-up and tuning does feel a bit more direct, sharper, and it’s more precise now, with a more natural steering feel. What’s more, combined with the bodywork that is styled to equally offer better aerodynamics, you get a Forester that is now more capable of coping with reduced lift and improved stability at motorway speeds. So, whether you’re driving it on or off-road, overall, this new 6th-gen Subaru Forester does offer more competent driveability and performance than its outgoing predecessor.
Now, as you might imagine, even with a lovely set of Bridgestone Turanza tyres, the Forester is not a sporty SUV by any means. Behind the wheel, I’ve found it a tiny bit underpowered, though unsurprisingly so, given that it’s a pretty huge SUV and you are lugging around a good bit of weight. That said, for all your regular daily commutes and day-to-day driving, it has more than an adequate amount of power to move you along. Moreover, for all the rural or adventurous, outgoing, and outdoorsy folks here, the Forester – old and new – is easily way more capable than a lot of other SUVs in its class, thanks to Subaru’s exceptional AWD system and proper off-roading ability.
What Is It Like Inside?
Step inside, and the interior of the all-new 6th-generation Subaru Forester is another area where you would find a tonne more changes, too. It’s quite clear that Subaru spent a lot of time trying to improve upon the old Forester’s ride quality, comfort, and NVH levels, as it becomes readily apparent as soon as you start driving. The new one is definitely quieter, with less road noise and engine noise intruding into the cabin, as well as cabin sound pressure, allowing internal sound to be dampened further. Aside from that, we need to talk about these new seats, as the Forester features a redesigned set of seats for the front passengers, with more engineering than I had expected.
There is head-shaking prevention tech made to lessen back pain and neck pain on those longer drives, and while that might sound like marketing nonsense… It actually works! They’re rigid, and between the good use of materials and that great driving position, too, they’re easily some of the nicest seats of any car that I’ve sat in (at this price tag). Furthermore, with their aggressive bolstering, these seats hold you quite nicely, as well. Elsewhere, the 6th-gen Forester is complemented with a lot of practicality – undoubtedly a key selling point for the Forester, old and new – such as the pretty sizeable boot in the pack (this Touring model even comes with a hands-free tailgate).
Besides all the space you’d really need back there, the Forester’s spacious rear seats afford you lots of legroom, headroom, and knee-room for your fellow passengers. Another welcomed change from the old Forester is all the tech that you get inside, as this was arguably one of the weaker points of the outgoing model. You may be able to spot right away the new infotainment system in this 6th-gen Forester, which is 11.6 inches large, and it’s a properly nice, sharp 1080p screen, too! Naturally, this system will support wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as is the default these days, in addition to an improved satnav that supports, by default, what3words.
Compared to that old system, this new bit of kit is a joy to use… Gone is the split-screen unit in that old Forester, with this massive display that’s far easier to use and more intuitive, and with nice physical switches and buttons. Notice the climate control functions, which are now part of the infotainment system. However, at least it’s a permanent part of the UI that stays on the screen all of the time. On the bright side, the rest of the interior is typical Subaru, with just how much emphasis has been placed on it being uber-practical and utilitarian. For instance, you’ll still get physical buttons on the steering wheel for pretty much every function you’d want.
Besides that, instead of opting for a digital gauge cluster, this new Forester gets you some analogue dials and a tiny screen, which might lack in customisability and wow factor compared to some other SUVs, but it is easier to read and just as functional. We then get to the upholstery and use of materials throughout the cabin, which, like every other Subaru I’ve been in, might not feel as posh as what other SUVs in its class might offer. Nevertheless, they are fantastically hard-wearing and durable; they are certainly good for longevity or if you’re planning to use it as a family runabout. You’ll even get a wireless charging pad, as well as USB ports for front and rear passengers.
The Experience
One of Subaru’s most prized USP is their EyeSight suite of driver assist tech, and that has seen a wave of updates in this new Forester. Of note, in particular, you get no less than 15 ADAS functions, with 7 of them being improved systems that we previously got in older Subarus, as well as 5 brand-new ones. This is in part thanks to a new wide-angle camera and new front radar, which altogether gives the Forester and its ever-more capable EyeSight system a wider field of view around your car. With a sharper set of eyes, it’s worth talking about the 360-degree surround-view camera system, with 4 cameras offering you a bird’s eye view, letting you get a clearer look at obstructions around you.
Plus, those cameras work wonders by allowing me to spot what’s in my blind spots, making manoeuvring and parking this new Forester a breeze! Some of those fancy driver aids include the Emergency Driving Stop System, which could automatically decelerate the car if it detects that you’re no longer able to operate it safely due to a medical emergency. It would then flash your hazard lights to alert other motorists before unlocking your doors and engaging the parking brake. Another potential lifesaver would be the Driver Monitoring System, which will recognise if you’re drowsy or if you aren’t paying enough attention while you’re behind the wheel.
This system even features custom profiles now, and with more than a handful of configurable options to make it more or less sensitive. Otherwise, Subaru’s new EyeSight 4.0 includes most of the usual systems that you’ll get in other cars, though with a few notable performance improvements and refinement compared to the old EyeSight systems that I’ve experienced in the past. These include adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-centre function, lane-departure warning, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and more. I quite like that all of these systems come as standard, not locked as options.
Subaru Forester Touring Cost
While the new 6th-generation Subaru Forester starts from £38,995 (this will get you the entry-level Limited trim), the mid-range Field trim starts from £40,440, while the flagship Touring spec that I have here has a starting price of £42,995. That’s not cheap, but you do get a lot for your money with this new Forester… All those driver aids do come as standard, as is the interior tech and gadgetry, not to mention the new and improved mild-hybrid engine and Subaru’s legendary AWD system, and more. With that in mind, as far as bang-for-buck is concerned, this all-new Forester is exceptionally great value, which I’m confident will remain fairly reliable for a long while, too.
Verdict
With strong demand from the Subaru faithful and the car-buying audience who are yearning for the ultimate do-everything sort of SUV (for a budget price), there are plenty of reasons to be excited about this new Subaru Forester and what it offers. Subaru has managed to take all the things that we love from the old Forester, to then refine them and make an even better and more lovable car overall. It’s practical, comfortable, and no less versatile or easy-going to drive, with an attractive price tag to match. Despite the more conventional and conservative vibes of the new Subaru Forester, it’s still a top-notch SUV for those of us who value maximal function over form.
Specification
Subaru Forester Touring Specs
- Price: £42,995
- Engine: 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated boxer-4 MHEV
- Power: 136PS
- Torque: 182Nm
- Transmission: Lineartronic CVT
- 0-62mph: 12.2 seconds
- Top speed: 116mph
- Weight: 1,732kg
- Economy combined: 34.9 mpg
- CO2: 183g/km