Subaru Forester 2019 News

Australia's best new cars are now one step closer to being announced, with judges finalising the Top 10 models for each 2019 CarsGuide Car of the Year award.

Subaru's Forester and XV SUVs will be the brand's first hybrid vehicles, with both set to get mild-hybrid powertrain options in Q1, 2020.The vehicles were initially tipped to arrive toward the end of 2019, but their arrival has been pushed back slightly,

A hybrid variant of the Subaru Forester SUV is due for Australian sales before the end of 2019.Using a 110kW/188Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a 10kW/65Nm 13.5kWh lithium ion battery pack and the brand’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system and CVT auto transmission, the Subaru Forester e-Boxer hybrid is said to offer fuel economy benefits of about 25 per cent over the regular model.The Forester e-Boxer hybrid is rated at 5.3L/100km on the Japanese fuel consumption cycle, versus 6.7L/100km for the 2.5-litre petrol Forester. While a 1.5L/100km improvement may not seem all that much, in urban driving the difference is likely to be much larger with hybrid engines benefiting economy more in city driving.The Japanese fuel test cycle is traditionally more lenient than international testing, so expect higher figures when the car goes on sale in Australia, but we’re expecting a combined fuel consumption rating of around 6.0L/100km - an improvement of the regular model’s 7.4L/100km combined rating.Because the battery is located on the rear axle, according to Subaru, the Forester e-Boxer has better weight distribution and a lower centre of gravity, which should improve the ride and handling balance. It's not yet clear if there will be any impact on interior space or the fitment of a full size spare wheel.While some hybrid variants of cars are styled vastly differently to seperate them from the pack, the Forester hybrid features just a couple of e-Boxer badges to differentiate it from non-hybrid variants.Local pricing, specifications and exact timing are yet to be confirmed but we understand the Subaru Forester e-Boxer will be on sale locally in the last quarter of 2019.Once it's here, the Forester e-Boxer is likely to compete with the Toyota RAV4 hybrid and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. 

If you've got a Subaru on backorder, be prepared to wait a little longer. Because one of the Japanese brand's two global production facilities has been frozen after a suspected faulty in a power-steering part was discovered.

Subaru Australia has confirmed details of its new-generation Forester SUV with improved drivetrain, safety and a simplified range of variants.The 2019 Forester range will be powered only by a 2.5-litre petrol engine mated to a CVT auto across four variants, with the 2.0-litre base petrol, diesel 2.0d and turbo XT variants dumped.There is also no longer a manual gearbox option. The new starting price for the 2019 Forester is $33,490 for the base-spec 2.5i, representing a $3250 price hike over the current base-spec 2.0i-L manual.Subaru says the 2.5-litre four-cylinder direct-injection boxer engine is "90 per cent new" and boosts power from 126kW/235Nm to 136kW/239Nm. The CVT auto also now has a seven-speed 'manual' mode.Due to a raft of drivetrain improvements, the service schedule has been pushed out to 12 months from six to match the Impreza and XV.The claimed combined cycle fuel usage figure is improved over the previous 2.5-litre Forester's, dropping to 7.4L/100km from 8.1.Subaru’s 'EyeSight' safety suite is standard across all Forester variants and now features lane-keeping assist up to 120km/h, improved pedestrian avoidance and pre-collision braking assist, as well as improved adaptive cruise control which can detect brake lights.All Forester variants also now have torque vectoring as part of the AWD system, electronic parking brakes, and a blind-spot monitoring system.The 2.5i-L, 2.5i Premium and 2.5i-S variants, above the base 2.5i, also now score front and side view cameras to assist reversing, AEB that works in reverse, and a driver attention monitoring system.The standard feature list for the entry-level $33,490 2.5i now includes, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, tail-lights and DRLs, a rear-view camera, 6.5-inch multimedia screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and digital radio (DAB+) support, dual zone climate control, harmon/kardon six-speaker audio system, puddle lamps, a stop-start system and tyre pressure monitoring.Stepping up to the $35,490 2.5i-L adds driver attention alert, memory functions for the multimedia system and climate control, and the aforementioned enhanced safety suite.Next up, the $38,490 2.5i Premium adds to the list, auto-dipping door mirrors that are also auto folding, six-way power adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, electrically powered folding rear seats, built-in sat-nav, powered tailgate, Subaru’s 'SI-Drive' enhanced AWD system, two extra USB ports for front passengers, a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen, 18-inch alloy wheels and a slew of aesthetic touches inside and out.The top-spec $41,490 2.5i-S adds an electric sunroof, LED fog lights, premium nine-speaker audio system, and leather seat trim, as well as more significant aesthetic upgrades inside and out.Subaru Forester 2.5i CVT auto AWD - $33,490Subaru Forester 2.5i-L CVT auto AWD - $35,490Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium CVT auto AWD - $38,490Subaru Forester 2.5i-S CVT auto AWD - $41,490

The all-new Subaru Forester range won't have turbocharged diesel or petrol variants, but a hybrid model is on its way.