Theres nothing like a long-distance road trip to get to know a new car. I drive the new Subaru Forester out to the Kruger Park.
New Subaru Forester 2.5XS Premium Lineartronic CVT Review by David Taylor
Despite the rally and performance credentials, Subarus Forester and Outback vehicles offer practical and sensible motoring. 2013 sees the launch of the new Subaru Forester which promises more refinement and practicality. The new model also offers a lot more interior space.
An all-new face for the new Subaru Forester
The new Subaru Forester will never win any design competitions and to be fair, it does look rather ordinary. That said, the looks may be average but theres no denying the Foresters engineering and mechanical ability. There are new visual upgrades though. There are new headlights with daytime running lights, tail lamps and redesigned front end. Some new alloy wheels are also thrown into the mix.
Enhanced practicality and space
The interior and practicality were under the spotlight as I and my day job colleagues set off on a road trip from Johannesburg to the Kruger Park. The requirements were simple. We needed a vehicle that could swallow four sets of golf clubs, four suitcases and four golfers. Despite the four of us packing light, that was still a lot of gear and with some careful thought, it all fitted into the new Subaru Forester. I did notice that the materials in the cabin felt a lot more upmarket than its predecessor and theres an LCD readout in the centre of the dash pinched from the smaller Subaru XV.
Subaru’s all-new engine and offroad tech
Powering the new Subaru Forester is a 2.5-litre flat four with 126kW and 235Nm. Power goes to all four wheels and this is what Subaru is famous for. Coupled with a smart electronic system called X-Mode and excellent ground clearance, the Forester is something special when you take it off the tarmac. While I didnt get to really take the vehicle onto serious terrain to try out X-Mode, I could feel it working when driving briskly on a dirt road. The cars computer senses the slippery conditions and balances the traction control, accelerator and hill-descent to ensure that the Forester stays glued to the road.
Forester is loaded with features
The new Subaru Forester has a Lineartronic CVT gearbox (like an auto) for the non-technical folk. It changes gears rather smoothly and only under hard acceleration does the box sound a little strained. Once youre cruising its rather refined with the added bonus of good fuel consumption. At the end of my trip, my Forester had 8.2L/100km on the read-out, which is great considering the extra cargo. The car also features nice touches like a panoramic sunroof, power-assisted boot operation, start/stop technology, reverse camera and smart Bluetooth/USB connectivity to the cars audio system.
Comfortable over long distances
Considering that the entire round trip was around 800km, it was a perfect opportunity to evaluate ride quality. Despite the many clever features offered by car companies, few people realise that a cars most important attribute is its ride. Driving an uncomfortable car would be ultimately pointless. In the Foresters case, Im happy to say that the seats and ride are exceptionally comfortable, and youre able to cover good distances without your body complaining.
New Subaru Forester 2.5XS Premium Lineartronic CVT – Conclusion
The Forester has always been an underrated vehicle and despite the best efforts of the motoring media, will be snubbed in favour of more fashionable alternatives. Subaru owners will be heading to the dealerships in their droves to check out the new arrival and rightly so, the new Subaru Forester is a great piece of kit that should be considered if youre in the market for a light SUV. It is strong offroad, has class-leading interior space and you feel that Subaru has fixed the faults of the previous generation.
New Subaru Forester 2.5XS Premium Lineartronic CVT – Price
Subaru Forester 2.5XS Premium Lineartronic CVT – R429 000
- Why you should: Excellent spec, solid off-road ability, mechanically flawless, interior space and practicality.
- Why you shouldnt: Image (brand isnt as prestigious as the German offroaders), engine may feel underpowered for some. No diesel model available yet.
- It would be better if: The design team got a little more adventurous with their pens. The diesel would arrive ASAP.
- View the Subaru Forester: New / Used
- Competitors worth checking out: Honda CR-V, Volkswagen Tiguan, Hyundai IX35, Kia Sportage, Nissan X-trail
