AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 139S
ubaru’s fi fth generation
Forester is the biggest yet
and a genuine family-sized SUV.
The four-model range kicks
off at $33,840 for the 2.5i. The
2.5iL is $35,890, the Premium
is $38,890 and the 2.5iS is
$41,940. All are powered by a
136kW/239Nm 2.5-litre four-
cylinder petrol engine, in Subaru’s
signature boxer layout, with a CVT
transmission and all-wheel drive.
The headline tech -- a hidden
infrared LED camera in the
dashboard that monitors eye
movement and beeps when the
driver isn’t watching the road or
is glancing at their phone -- is
standard on 2.5iL and above.
It’s so effective it ought to be
compulsory in every new vehicle.
On Premium and 2.5iS the same
tiny camera uses facial recognition
technology to match the position
of the seats, side mirrors and air-
conditioning settings for up to fi ve
individual drivers.
All new Foresters also come
with forward-facing twin cameras
that can detect cars, cyclists
and pedestrians and slam on the
brakes if the driver isn’t paying
attention. It can avoid a collision
up to about 50km/h and mitigates
crashes above that speed.
This “Eyesight” tech also
knows when the car in front has
moved ahead in traffi c. If you’re
distracted, it beeps at you to get
a wriggle on.
Other advanced safety aids
-- optional on most rivals --
such as blind zone warning,
rear cross-traffi c alert and tyre
pressure monitors are standard
on all grades.
Rear automatic emergency
braking and a 360-degree camera
are standard on 2.5iL and above.
Apple Car Play, Android Auto
and digital radio are standard
on all grades.
However, the 2.5i and 2.5iL
only get a 6.5-inch touchscreen
-- small by current standards
-- whereas Premium and 2.5iS
have 8-inch touchscreens and
navigation.
There are more power points
than there are seats: USB and
12V sockets under the dash,
12V outlets in the centreconsole and cargo hold and, in
a fi rst for Forester, two USB
ports for second-row seats,
above the air vents.
From behind the wheel the
Subaru has unrestricted, clear
vision in all directions, a rarity
as cars get sleeker designs with
thicker front pillars.
It’s also roomy for a car with a
relatively compact footprint.
Headroom and legroom in the
front and back are enormous;
the boot is so wide it can
accommodate a large golf bag
across ways rather than at an
angle A full-size spare is under
the boot fl oor.
The dash is the same as the
XV and Impreza, a mix of high
quality soft-touch materials up
top and hard plastics below the
cabin’s ‘waistline’. Small sun
visors now have extenders to
block side glare.
Although not the punchiest
engine in the class, the 2.5-litre
four-cylinder has adequate
performance, delivered in a
refi ned, responsive manner,
largely thanks to a newcontinuously variable automatic
(CVT) transmission. Fuel
consumption is reasonable, and
91 octane is recommended.
Cornering grip is good due
to sticky Bridgestone tyres and
permanent all-wheel-drive.
The suspension is a bit busy on
backroads -- on both the 17-
and 18-inch wheels -- but the
supple tyres takes much of the
edge off the bumps.
Brake performance is ok,
though it’s worth noting the two
cheaper models get smaller
front discs to fi t behind the 17-
inch wheels. Models equipped
with 18-inch wheels have more
stopping power.
Overall, though, the
2019 Forester is a polished,
sophisticated package in a class
full of pretenders and faux-
wheel-drives.By Joshua DowlingS SUBARU FORESTER FROM $33,840
THINGS WE LIKE
Spacious, stylish, comfortable
cabin
Class leading safety specifi cation
CVT extracts reasonable perfor-
mance from the 2.5
All wheel drive gives it more off
bitumen ability than most SUVs
Tidy handling and a comfortable
ride
High resale values
THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
Expensive servicing
Small infotainment screen on 2.5i
and 2.5iL
Slightly underdamped suspension
SPEX (2.5i)
Made in Japan
2.5-litre four cylinder petrol/CVT/
all-wheel drive
136kW of power at
5800rpm/239Nm of torque at
4400rpm
0-100km/h in 9.1 seconds
(claimed)
6.3L/100km highway; 9.3L/100km
city; 91 octane; CO2 emissions are
168gkm
Warranty: Five years/unlimited km
Standard: Seven airbags, stability
control, AEB, Eyesight, adaptive
cruise, blind spot monitoring,
6.5-inch infotainment screen, Ap-
ple CarPlay, Android Auto, digital
radio, Bluetooth, dual zone air, 17-
inch alloys, Data Dot identifi cation
Redbook future values: 3yr: 56%;
5yr: 44%Safety
ANCAP
PerformanceHandlingQuality and reliabilityComfort and refi nementValue for money
Overall
STARS
compare with ...
Ford Escape, Honda CRV, Hyundai
Tucson, Mazda CX5, Toyota RAV4,
VW Tiguan