Road test review: Subaru Forester X Sport
Sunday, 13 March 2022
SUBARU FORESTER X SPORT
Base price: $47,990
Powertrain and economy: 2.5-litre petrol horizontally-opposed four-cylinder, 136kW/239Nm, continuously variable transmission, AWD, combined economy 7.4L/100km, CO2 170g/km (source: RightCar).
Vital statistics: 4625mm long, 1815mm wide, 1730mm high, 2670mm wheelbase, luggage capacity 498 litres, 18-inch alloy wheels.
Safety: Five stars (ANCAP, tested 2019)
We like: Still one of the best medium SUVs on the market
We don't like: Not much of a fan of the orange accents…
The Subaru Forester has been given a mid-cycle facelift and while the changes are minimal, small improvements are still improvements, especially in today’s cutthroat market.
OUTSIDE
Exterior changes include a fresh grille, front bumper and headlights, giving the front end a more aggressive look than before. The Forester was always a smart looker, and now it has a bit more edge to it.
**READ MORE:
* Sunday Drive: Subaru Outback X
* Road test review: Subaru Outback Touring
* Sunday Drive: Subaru Forester X Sport
* Why the Subaru Forester is our Top Medium SUV of 2018
**
Otherwise, it’s business as usual. This is the X Sport model, so it gets orange tweaks around the lower edge of the front bumper, side sills, and rear bumper, as well as on the roof rails. It also has 18-inch black alloy wheels, steering responsive headlights, heated door mirrors, rain-sensing windscreen wipers and a powered rear tailgate.
INSIDE
Just like the exterior, the X-Sport has similar orange highlights as last year’s model dotting the interior. Orange stitching, plastic trim on the steering wheel, gear selector, and drive mode knob are all present, along with water-repellent seat fabric – it’s not fully water-resistant, mind. And the orange bits aren’t quite as in-your-face last the pre-facelift X-Sport. Everything feels fantastic though, very high quality.
Other additional features include an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a new-look instrument panel, a Driver Monitoring System that now has gesture-controlled temperature adjustment – a first for Subaru – and improved Eyesight safety functionality.
UNDER THE BONNET
The engine is the same as it was before, being a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder making 136kW/239Nm. It’s paired with a CVT and consumes a claimed 7.4L/100km. Real-world, you’re looking at around 8.5L/100km.
It’s not a bad engine either, despite lacking a turbocharger. Would it be better with forced induction? Probably, but this is still one of the better naturally-aspirated engines on the market.
As for Eyesight, it now has lane centring, lane departure prevention, autonomous emergency steering as standard, along with all of its other bits and pieces. Towing is still rated at 1800kg braked.
ON THE ROAD
Subaru has retuned the front suspension coil springs and dampers to improve ride comfort, steering responsiveness and handling, while the new aluminium engine mount bracket reduces vibrations and noise.
That means general driving is improved with more comfort through the shocks and more refined steering. Body roll is pretty minimal for an SUV like this, and Subaru’s AWD system is as good as it’s ever been. Better, in fact, because X-Mode (Subaru’s deep snow/mud modes) now automatically re-engages at speeds below 35kmh.
VERDICT
Beyond the changes listed here, Subaru has given the eight-inch screen to every model, including the base Forester and e-Boxer Hybrid, and added array headlights to every model above the entry.
Subaru’s Forester was already one of the best medium SUVs on the market, and the latest updates only improve its standing.