Subaru Forester 2018 revealed in New York

Single engine set for Aussie Forester when it lands later in 2018

Subaru has revealed its fifth-generation Forester at the New York Motor Show. Built on the company’s latest billion-dollar global platform that also underpins the Impreza and the XV, the new Forester is 15mm longer, 20mm wider, 5mm taller and 30mm longer in the wheelbase than the current version. The Forester has sold almost 240,000 units locally since its debut in 2007, and the latest version brings all of Subaru’s finest elements to the fore, including its EyeSight safety system, all-wheel-drivetrain and the stronger, stiffer platform that is set to sit underneath all Subarus coming down the pipe. 

The whole range will be the 2.5-litre direct injection engine.

However, fans of the turbocharged Forester XT will be disappointed, as Subaru Australia managing director Colin Christie has confirmed that the only powertrain on offer will be an overhauled version of the company’s 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine. As well, the base 2.0-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engines will also disappear. 

"There will be no diesel, and at this point in time there’s no turbo version. The whole range will be the 2.5-litre direct injection engine," Mr Christie told journos at the New York show, confirming that the XT moniker will actually disappear. 

A new 2.4-litre turbocharged engine is fitted to the US-only Ascent SUV, but Mr Christie confirmed that there were no plans to use it at present. 

The Forester is very likely to follow the same model line-up as the Impreza and XV.

"We are always talking to the factory about what we can use, but at this stage there are no plans to use it," he said. 

However, Mr Christie said that a hybrid powertrain for the XV and the Forester is on the way. 

"We don’t know what form that will take, but we do know those models will offer a hybrid drivetrain in the next couple of years," he said.

Final prices and specs for the Forester will be revealed closer to the car’s launch in the last quarter of 2018, but Mr Christie confirmed that the Forester is very likely to follow the same model line-up as the Impreza and XV. 

A new safety system known as Driver Monitoring System will debut in the Forester.

The US version offers 136kW and 239Nm from the overhauled engine, which has 90 per cent new parts. However, as with the Impreza and XV, the manual gearbox option has been deleted. A new safety system known as Driver Monitoring System will debut in the Forester, working with the EyeSight system to monitor a driver’s actions and reactions – for example, turning around to face the rear seat, or taking their eyes off the road – and warn them accordingly. This will arguably be the first deployment of such a system in Australia. Rear cross traffic emergency braking will also be added to the Eyesight safety suite.

Forester sales have slipped over the years, and it now sits seventh in the medium SUV segment, but Mr Christie says that the more powerful car should do a better job.

"I’ve been fortunate to drive it, and it’s really good," he said.

Check out all 2018 Subaru Forester price and spec info here.

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