In order to better comply with CO2 regulations, Subaru is saying goodbye to the diesel engine in the all-new Forester. The brand is introducing hybrid technology for the first time. Admittedly mild, but still. Is this sports utility well served?
The Subaru Forester is new from front to rear and has become a lot more mature in all respects. It is remarkable that the diesel engine is no longer part of this SUV that is so popular as a caravan tractor. Despite its favorable CO2 emissions, this technology is out of favor with the general public (and at Subaru for 90 percent the private market) and thus disappeared from the menu for the Forester. To reduce CO2 emissions, Subaru now presents its new SUV with a mild hybrid powertrain. Remarkable, because the brand with the six stars never had an electric motor in the powertrain. Thus, the model now listens fully to the name Forester 2.0i e-Boxer, where the 2.0i indicates that the boxer engine has a cylinder capacity of 2.0 liters; there is no question of downsizing yet.
Function over form
The Forester is at the top of the midi SUV segment. It is slightly larger than, for example, the Nissan Qashqai. The fifth generation of the Forester has grown in every respect and that provides extra interior space. There was little cause for complaint in the front, because the three centimeters greater distance between the front and rear axle largely benefits the legroom of the rear passengers. Under the floor of the 505 liter Subaru trunk we find, except for a compartment for the detachable towbar and a tire repair kit, no extra storage space. This is because the battery of the hybrid system has been placed right above the driven rear axle. For those who want to take more than what fits in the trunk, it is good to know that the Subaru can tow a trailer of 1,870 kg. The battery is therefore clearly not in the way of mounting a towbar.
With neat brown leather and neat stitches, Subaru tries to give the interior of the car some cachet. However, it cannot hide that the designers at Subaru allow function to prevail over form. While the dashboard in the Forester doesn’t have a premium look, it looks like it was purposefully designed to last. Everything we touch or grab feels solid and solid. The cockpit consists of a nice, well-arranged set of instruments, which lacks a large digital display. Here ‘just’ a clearly readable speedometer, flanked by a large rev counter, although we wonder what the use of the latter instrument is, because after all, you don’t have to switch yourself. Subaru clearly saw a challenge in getting rid of as many buttons on the steering wheel as possible. Fine, at least they are well visible. A plus of the conservative dashboard layout is that the control of the air conditioning is not hidden away in the multimedia system, but simply works with physical buttons, just like the volume control of the audio system. The operation in the Forester is smooth and logical and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also supported.
A bit lumpy
Subaru offers only one powertrain in the Forester, so there is no choice. We are talking about a 150 hp boxer engine and a 16.7 hp electric motor, which drive all four wheels via a central heating system. The electric motor was originally conceived to assist the combustion engine in the run-up to maximum torque or maximum power. The peaks are not getting any higher, but it is mainly about improving the response to the throttle. Or vice versa: try to achieve the same performance with less petrol. The result is a drivetrain that responds a little lumpy; it doesn’t really sparkle. An advantage of the electrical support is that the CVT does not have to speed the boxer engine immediately when you accelerate a little more, although driving with such a transmission still requires some caution. In the middle area, the addition of the electric motor directly contributes to the comfort. With its 150 hp, the heavy Forester is by no means a sports car. Its four-wheel drive is at its best on the Dutch road network under winter conditions. On the other hand, the 4WD system immediately proves its usefulness off the beaten track. Partly thanks to the electronics, the Forester off-road comes further than expected.
The springs and dampers under the Subaru can handle short bumps well, which also results in a more comfortable whole on poorer pavement. Although the boxer engine is housed in front of the front axle, the Forester is still fairly neutral and steady around the corner. Four-wheel drive or not, in an emergency the Subaru needs a relatively long braking distance. When measuring for the emergency stop from 100 km / h to zero, the Forester only stops after 39.9 meters. On the other hand, prevention is better than cure. Subaru provides the Forester (depending on the version) generously with safety and assistance systems. From the second of the four trim levels, it comes with standard safety features such as fatigue detection, reversing monitor (which can independently perform braking) and high beam assist. And for caravan tractors: a trailer stability system is standard on all equipment variants.