New special-edition entry-level Forester joins the Subaru Australia stable

Subaru Australia has announced a special-edition Forester that provides alternatives to the multimedia features of its entry-level Forester 2.5i.

The new variant, the Subaru Forester 2.5X, is priced at the same point as the 2.5i, that’s $37,890 before on-road costs, but features a different set of options for the multimedia and connectivity of the car.

The first change is that, instead of the 8.0-inch touchscreen of the 2.5i, the X (as we’ll call it) gets a smaller 7.0-inch Alpine screen and audio head unit. 

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However, instead of requiring a wired connection for phone mirroring connectivity such as Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the X’s multimedia system is capable of wireless connection.

To accommodate this, the CD player in the Forester is removed, as are other elements like the ability for the system to be updated over the air (OTA), as is its voice command recognition.

The X also loses one of the USB-A connections that the 2.5i has, bringing it down to only one port.

It does however retain the auxiliary cable plug, plus its compatibility with Apple’s Siri system and its digital radio.

Despite the model featuring only a few multimedia changes, its matched entry-level pricing with the 2.5i means Subaru Australia managing director Blair Read hopes it will provide another useful option for customers.

"Subaru Forester is one of our most popular high-volume vehicles, with Australians opting to own this car due to its all-around capability, excellent visibility, comfort and reliable drivability,” Mr Read said.

He’s of course correct about its popularity - the Forester is Subaru’s most popular model, even ahead of the new-gen Outback. Forester leads sales of its stablemate this year so far 7547 to 7194.

The new Forester 2.5X gets a smaller 7.0-inch Alpine screen and audio head unit. 

In the medium SUV segment, however, the Forester is overshadowed by the immense popularity of the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, and the Mitsubishi Outlander.

"We're delighted to bring the Subaru Forester 2.5X AWD to the Australian market and offer another great choice for Subaru customers."

Subaru says the Forester 2.5X is available in Crystal White, Ice Silver, Horizon Blue, Magnetite Grey, Crimson Red, and Brilliant Bronze.

Mechanically, the X has the same engine that the rest of the non-hybrid Forester range uses: a 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine, mated to a continuous variable transmission and producing 136kW/239Nm.

The Forester 2.5X retains the same features such as the safety suite from the 2.5i, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, as well as a reversing camera, rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring.

Subaru Australia says first deliveries of the Forester 2.5X should arrive before Christmas 2022, with orders open now.