NEW SUBARU FORESTER HYBRID

Subaru is the world’s biggest producer of all-wheel drive vehicles and ranks near the top of the industry for profitability. And its loyal customer base makes it the envy of many automotive rivals. The staples in the range promise a sense of adventure with no-nonsense capability. Core values are typified by the new Forester SUV, the sixth generation of a nameplate favoured by traditionalists and the first to feature Subaru’s hybrid technology. In fact, the new Forester line-up comprises three hybrid and three petrol-only variants.

Generations of owners have bought Foresters for the traction, 220mm ground clearance, and advanced safety features. A sharper design cloaks familiar mechanicals making Forester a more eye-catching proposition inside and out. The entry-level model has gained a significant boost in specification and airy cabins are slightly bigger and notably quieter with large glass areas boosted by thin pillars. The fascia is dominated by a large 11.6-inch touchscreen and the Surround View Monitor provides increased visibility and confidence when driving off-road.
In the hybrids, the ‘e-Boxer’ system combines a 2.5-litre petrol engine with a 90kW electric motor and 1.1kWh battery, delivering a 32 per cent increase in power and greater low-down response. It’s a much smoother powertrain, too, and offers a potential driving range of over 1,000km per tank. We didn’t get close to depleting our Hybrid Touring’s tank during a week of mixed driving.

The Forester’s rear-seat space is excellent for a mid-sized SUV and the outward view is great from any seat. However accommodating the hybrid hardware leads to small compromises in the load space and there’s no spare wheel, just a repair kit.

Subaru’s safety-first approach deserves some emphasis. In an age where five-star safety ratings are commonplace, the brand is pushing to enhance the safety performance of its cars from every perspective with the goal being to achieve zero fatal traffic accidents in its vehicles by 2030.

In 2022, Subaru’s assisted driving suite EyeSight evolved into a ‘three-eyed’ system with stereo cameras plus an ultra-wide-angle camera with a single lens. The resulting wider field of view enables collision damage reduction through pre-crash braking for situations where pedestrians and cyclists, often at higher risk of accidents at intersections, might emerge from a driver’s blind spots.

EyeSight is now standard across all Subaru models and has gained five new facilities for Forester alone, taking the total to 15. There’s a sophisticated Driver Monitoring System, a 360-degree Surround View Monitor and a new Emergency Driving Stop system. In terms of passive safety, nine airbags strengthen occupant protection.