2009 Subaru Forester first drive

It’s a lucrative market, and Subaru wants a bigger slice of it for their Forester – the vehicle that pioneered the segment as a crossover 10 years ago.

Forester has sold 105,000 here in that time, but apart from a stint as leader in 2006 has mostly been the bridesmaid while competitors like RAV4 take the sales trophy.

Exchange rates, platform sharing with Impreza and volume — with Australia until recently being the second largest market for Forester behind the US, before being overtaken by Japan with the newcomer — mean that various spec levels will arrive between $1000-$2500 cheaper than the outgoing models.

Pricing

The base model Forester X has shed $1500, priced now at $30,490 for the five-speed manual (four-speed autos are $2000 more across the range). The XS is $1000 lower at $33,990, as is the XS Premium at $37,490. The manual XT drops $2000 at $38,990, while the auto is $2500 less than the predecessor at $40,990. The top-level XT Premium has trimmed $2400 to hit the market in manual version at $44,990 while the auto is down $2990 at $46,990.

Packaging

With a more pronounced grille and strongly styled fascia, the new arrival leans more towards SUV cues than the previous wagon-like Foresters.

And the strengthened body has also answered the customers’ call for more space. It’s 110mm taller, 60mm wider and 75mm longer on a 90mm larger wheelbase – most of which as been given to the rear passenger and cargo area, while larger openings make for easier access.

Overhangs have been shortened slightly for better manoeuvrability and ground clearance has been raised by 20mm to take the X and XS to 220mm and the XT to 225mm, which gives a smidge more leeway but still keeps the Forester in the light offroading category.

Drivetrains

The 2.5-litre boxer four in the X and XS models brings a 4.1 per cent power boost with 126kW at 6000rpm and a slight rise in torque with 229Nm at 4400rpm.

Outputs for the WRX-sourced 2.5-litre DOHC turbocharged four in the XT models – which Subaru is positioning as a `stealth Rex for lad dads’ — remain unchanged with169kW at 5200rpm, but the 320Nm of torque kicks in 800 revs earlier at 2800rpm.

There’s no sign of a diesel in the new generation, and while one will arrive in the new Outback next year there are no plans for it to move across to the Australian Forester line-up.

It’s a Suby, so drive goes to all four corners and is infinitely variable: changing from 95-front/5-rear bias to 50/50 depending on throttle, load and speed inputs.

Transmission choices are a four-speed sequential auto or a five-speed manual with a low range option. A five-speed auto is not available here yet – and there’s no firm word on its future – but Subaru says the four-speed is “significantly different, with improved shift response and timing”.

Equipment

The base model gets four-speaker audio with controls on the steering wheel, 16” steel wheels with full-size spare and the usual electric bits.

Standard safety equipment includes Vehicle Dynamics Control, anti-skid brakes with assistive systems for extreme braking, hill start assist, and front, side and curtain airbags – which inflate even in an offset collision to protect your noggin from rebound off the side windows. So while the bar for crash test stars is rising, the Forester still scores five for occupant safety and three for pedestrian.

On the creature comfort lists, XS adds front foggies, 16” alloy wheels, automatic airconditioning, stacker and two more speakers with the MP3 audio system and a retractable rear tray with cupholders.

The XT gets bonnet scoop, integrated rear spoiler, 17” alloys and auto-levelling xenon headlights with pop-up washers.

Premium packs on XS adds leather upholstery with eight-way power on the driver’s seat and sunroof while on the XT you also get touchscreen nav system with DVD/CD player and Bluetooth compatability.

Workload

The weight penalty is 80kg more on the X and XS models, while the XT has gained between 30-35kg depending on fit-out.

This has probably undermined fuel economy improvements, but the manual turbo still manages a significant 7.8 per cent benefit (and the auto 5.4 per cent) at 10.5L/100km each while the base engine with manual trims 3.1 per cent at 9.3L and the auto comes down 1 per cent at 9.6L.

Towing capacity remains at 1400kg, which is still useful for a lot of boaties and horse people. And the larger cargo ability could be attractive for the active family vote that Subaru is bidding for.

The Forester’s best month ever was 1688 in June 2005 – around the time a deal was done with Europcar — but it generally averages about 1000 per month, which they’d like to see lift to 1100 with the new model.

On the road

The interior is noticeable larger, with the cargo bay and rear seat leg squeeze that plagued previous models having been pretty well solved, and back passengers are treated even more with reclining seats.

The swooping dash lines that are spreading across the Subaru range smarten up the cabin, but while the gunmetal version of the alloy-look plastics looks okay – as long as it wears well – the paler one a poor imitation, and the mock woodgrain/taupe leather combination is well outside the stated `young families’ target market.

They’re more likely to appreciate the cobalt and purple graphics on the instruments, especially under the vodka bar blue ambient lighting.

There’s good visibility, particularly to the rear – a rarity with most vehicles in the SUV category – and its now much easier to find a comfortable driving position with reach joining the tilt adjustment on the steering column.

The versatile centre console in the auto versions can be switched around for a range of storage needs, and can happily take large drink bottles – although normal sized ones tended to rattle around in the caddy.

While the turbo (as expected) spat out plenty of energy for the job with a flat torque delivery across the range, the natural breather was no slouch either when hitched to the five-speed manual.

Smaller wing mirrors mean less wind rush, although one of the test cars developed an irritating whistle in the passenger side mirror. There’s also less wind noise from the redesigned roof rails and around the A-pillars, making for a quieter cabin overall.

Despite being larger and heavier, the dynamics are still there. It doesn’t behave exactly like a sedan, but the slug-like personality of the true SUV never appears.

Lower-mounted engines and transmissions give a better centre of gravity and what you get is signature Subaru grip and balance.

The ESP appeared a lot earlier in the auto XT model — stepping in every few minutes over a gravel road, while the manual XS over the same stretch only coaxed it out twice — which Subaru says is down to differences in suspension bushing and tyres.

We didn’t encounter any terrain that begged for the low range offered with manual transmission, but the previous model was always capable on a beach fishing track and the like. And the compact SUV is these days more of an urban dweller anyway.

Inside View

Subaru Forester
Price: from $30, 490
Engines: 2.5-litre horizontally opposed boxer four-cylinder (126kW@6000rpm, 229Nm@4400rpm) 2.5 litre DOHC turbocharged four-cylinder (169kW@5200rpm, 320Nm@2800) 
Transmissions: five-speed manual with low range, four-speed sequential automatic
Drive: constant all-wheel-drive, input-variable from 95-front/5-rear to 50/50