Subaru’s Forester has enjoyed enviable and diverse global popularity for six model generations. It’s rugged, reliable, and easy to drive, with ample space to take all the troops wherever you may roam; be it the shopping centre carpark or the family road trip.
In previous generations it’s seen trackwork in STI guise, while in other ownership cases it’s ventured further off-road than any all-wheel drive SUV should be able to. It’s certainly no one trick pony, and a vast range ensures a model to suit most requirements and tastes.
The subject of our week long road test, Hybrid Sport, is perched midway in the line-up, bringing bespoke design elements inside and out. The most noticeable and divisive elements are hard to miss, with bronze-coloured highlights across the bumpers.
These adorn the side skirts and wheels too, and are not so much striking as they are jarring, particularly when cast against the River Rock Pearl paintwork on our example. It’s a lovely metallic, but it just doesn’t work against the bronze highlights.
Thankfully, their are other hues. The remaining design elements are unmistakably Forester. This is no bad thing, with a high roof and conservative lines that are accentuated by gloss black in areas such as the grille. It’s far more commanding than previous generations.
That’s flanked by large automatic LED headlights that self-level, responding to steering inputs. The lights are supported by quite effective front cornering lamps. Down the side, 19-inch wheels specific to the Sport model are wrapped in 235/50 highway-biased rubber.
Despite the 220mm ground clearance on offer and off-road driving modes, the tyres and a lack of a spare in this hybrid model (a repair kit is offered) were enough of a deterrent from any off road antics during our time with the car.
The design is rounded off with a large electric tailgate, which opens with wave of a foot under the bumper, a much-appreciated feature. It reveals a fantastically large space that proved handy when transporting a load of party gear.
Official measurements are 484-litres with the seats up, but with the pull of a couple of levers to drop the 60/40 split back row, this extends out to a cavernous 1655-litres up to the ceiling.
The benefits of that tall roofline continue into the cabin, and in concert with a large single-pane sunroof, results in a feeling of airy spaciousness. The front row gets comfortable heated pews which are covered in water repelling synthetic leather.
These come complete with bronze stitching in continuation of exterior theme. Initially it felt as though the seat was too high in the cabin, but we soon found that low windowsills and a large glasshouse meant unparalleled visibility when driving.
There’s a good-sized steering wheel, although given the rest of the surfaces around it, the leather covering feels a little cheap and uninviting. While it’s covered in various soft touch materials we couldn’t help but feel the dash was a little busy and dated in design.
In its centre sits a 11.6-inch vertical touch infotainment screen, which is supplemented by a 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster. Each of these screens felt a little compromised with quality, both in output and feel.
The operating system behind the infotainment is a little unintuitive, taking a lot of thought to get the outcomes required. Oddly, Apple CarPlay is only cord-free, with Android Auto both wired and wireless. Connecting was a bit of an arduous task though.
Once we worked out Bluetooth, we were able to enjoy the excellent Harman Kardon sound system, which consists of 10-speakers, including a boot mounted sub-woofer. Rear row passengers access a centre fold-out armrest with cupholders.
They also get air conditioning vents and USB-C ports to keep devices topped up. Two adults could travel for extended trips in comfort. Being a hybrid, the starter button results in silence in most circumstances.
When called on though, the 4-cylinder 2.5-litre naturally aspirated boxer will fire up, with only the lightest throbbing perceivable when at a standstill. Able to muster up 121kW and 212Nm, it’s mated to a 90kW electric motor which can provide drive to all four wheels.
It’s a gearbox mounted unit and the combination is largely enough, but feels underpowered for the chassis. It’s backed by a CVT, which does a fine job given its purpose and only results in noise and harshness when all of the combined 145kW is being asked for.
Around town we were impressed by how much the electric motor could do without ICE intervention, and the cutovers were smooth and refined. What we weren’t as impressed with was a fuel consumption of 7.2-litres/100km against a claimed 6.2-litres/100km.
It’s worth noting that our tested example just clicked over 1000km, so we wonder if things would improve over time. Nonetheless, the Forester proved to be comfortable and effortless, if a little nondescript in the way it went about its duties.
The suspension proved to be compliant enough to feel plush, with good composure to keep the 1717kg shell in control through pockmarks, undulations, and twisties, alike. The model scores a five-star ANCAP safety rating too.
A vast array of safety gear is standard and most are unobtrusive and intuitive, although we did find an overzealous streak in the forward collision assist. We also couldn’t get the front parking sensors to work despite the system saying they were on.
At $54,990 plus on-roads it’s on the higher side when compared to rivals, but for the entry fee this iteration of Subaru’s Forester continues to provide a solid and approachable vehicle to live with day-to-day, with ample utility across anything one could throw at it.
You can find out more from the Subaru Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One. To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was provided by Subaru Australia for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia was not paid to review this vehicle.
