Here’s a party trick: Name Subaru's biggest-selling model in Australia. Impreza? No. Liberty? Nope. It's the trusty and worthy Forester, a leading player in what has become an important market segment in new-vehicle sales in Australia - the compact SUV.
Until this new Forester, the model sneaked under the radar. It did not look much like a four-wheel-drive but rather passed as a station-wagon version of a small/medium car, albeit with all-wheel drive. The latest model Forester, however, has gained some height and more of the appearance of an SUV. But going on the first full month of sales, that hasn't hurt it.
Vfacts figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries show 1107 new Foresters found owners last month, beaten only by the 1191 Toyota RAV-4s from Australia's most popular brand. Next were the Mitsubishi Outlander on 824, Nissan X-Trail on 757 and Honda CR-V on 578. Anything that almost doubles the sales of the Honda CR-V must be hitting the spot.
Apart from the new styling and being 75mm longer and 11cm taller, the new Forester is more spacious inside, especially in the back seat where leg room is 11cm greater. This will make it more appealing for owners who carry long-legged teenagers or adults in the rear for more than short trips.
Subaru has stuck with the 2.5-litre, horizontally opposed four-cylinder petrol engine (it must surely be looking to a turbodiesel now that Nissan will offer that option in the X-Trail).
Subaru engineers have tweaked the motor to gain a few extra kilowatts of power and Newton metres of torque - now 126kW at 6000rm and 229Nm at 4400rpm.
The new Forester is quite tractable. It will happily run from 1500rpm in higher gears. A four-cylinder petrol engine needs plenty of revs to pull its 1.5 tonnes up a hill at speed, of course, but for quieter driving this engine does well with the gearing of the five-speed manual.
The manual transmission comes with a low-range transfer box for off-bitumen driving (the automatic is only four-speed and does not get this feature). However, gearing is little reduced by the transfer ratio of only 1.196:1.
Off bitumen, it rates well among the soft-roaders. Wheel travel is limited, as expected in a compact SUV, but if the surface is fairly dry and solid, it copes with a bumpy track very well, helped by a good 220mm ground clearance.
The standard highway-bias tyre treads soon fill with mud, affecting traction, another sign this is not a serious off-roader.
But it is a good family and holiday car, having a quiet engine for a four-cylinder, little wind noise and only a bit of suspension thump from road imperfections.
The clutch is light and, if anything, the steering too light, disconnecting the driver slightly from the road-wheel action.
Forester does not have an engine temperature gauge. And although the exterior mirrors are narrower than before, they are still set in a position that requires drivers to check around them for obscured pedestrians or bike riders.
Fuel economy on test was excellent. The official figure is 9.3 litres/100km but quiet suburban driving betters that and I averaged 8.4 litres/100km by throwing in a country trip.
The MacPherson strut front and new double-wishbone rear suspension gives a no-fuss ride, including on bumpy dirt tracks, but transfers some vertical motion to the passengers.
All Foresters boast five-star ANCAP crash test scores and have stability control, airconditioning, height and telescopic adjustable steering and rear seat recline. They start at a competitive $30,490 for the Forester X. Tested was the XS which for $33,990 adds self-levelling rear suspension, front fog lights, alloy wheels, climate-control airconditioning, fold-down rear cup holders, six-stack CD and six speakers and privacy glass. Autos are $2000 more.
The hot-rod, turbocharged Forester XT is from $38,990. Premium packs of extra goodies are optional.
Snapshot
Subaru Forester XS
Price: from $33,990
Engine: Four-cylinder, horizontally opposed, sohc, 16-valve, 2457cc.
Power: 126kW at 6000rpm.
Torque: 229Nm at 4400rpm.
Transmission: Five-speed manual, all-wheel drive, low-range transfer box. Four-speed automatic (no low range). Stability control.
Brakes: Front ventilated discs, rear solid discs.
Fuel consumption: Claimed 9.3 litres/100km. On test 8.4 litres/100km. Tank capacity 60 litres.
Emissions: 220g/km.
Dimensions: 4560mm long, 1795mm wide, 1700mm tall (including roof rails), 2615mm wheelbase, 220mm ground clearance, 450 litres cargo space (with rear seat up). Weight 1465kg.
Performance: 0-100km/h 10.4 seconds. Claimed top speed 184km/h.
In its class:
Nissan X-Trail ST-L, $35,990.
Toyota RAV-4 CV, $31,990.
Mitsubishi Outlander LS, $31,490.
Suzuki Grand Vitara (V6), $30,990.
Related stories
2009 Subaru Forester: first drive
Subaru Forester 2008: XS Luxury
| Engine Type | Inline 4, 2.5L |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Unleaded Petrol |
| Fuel Efficiency | 9.6L/100km (combined) |
| Seating | 5 |
| Price From | $5,610 - $7,920 |
Pricing Guides
.png)
.jpg)
