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An All-New, Tech-Laden Subaru Forester Arrives on the Scene

By Gerard
.
March 29, 2018

A few weeks back, Subaru teased the world with a photo that announced the coming of the all-new, fifth-generation Forester.  Well, the wait is finally over as the new model makes its debut at this year's New York Auto Show.

As with its smaller sibling, the XV, this new compact SUV makes a more evolutionary leap forward in terms of styling.  Yes, the grille is now larger, there are more shapely fenders, you see those large air intakes up front,  and the rear quarter window is more upswept. Yet overall, it retains the clean styling of its prdecssprs--which is not exactly a bad thing.

Subaru also says that the rear hatch door opening is now wider and the load floor is flatter. The rear doors likewise open wider. All these aid in easier cargo loading and ingress/egress, respectively. 

What did change is what;s underneath. In this case, the new Forester rides on the Subaru Global Platform that likewise underpins the Impreza and XV. It allows the car to grow in length, width, and provides a longer wheelbase for improved interior room.   

As for that cabin, it gets an update in the form of a new electronic parking brake, a standard 6.5-inch infotainment display with Android Auto and AppleCarPlay, and revised seat design. Buyers can specify an 8-inch infotainment head unit and gain navigation that goes perfectly with the optinal Wi-Fi hotspot.

Another change can be found under the hood. The new Forester gets a tweaked 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer mill that now puts out 182hp and 238Nm. Mated to a Continuously Variable Transmssion, the new Forester is said to be more fuel efficient. This, though, is made possible thanks to things like Active Grille Shutters that help improve aerodynamic efficiency at speed.

Unfortunately, Subaru doesn't seem to mention anything about a turbo option. What it did say, however, was that the CUV will come standard with  its vaunted EyeSight suite of safety systems. This gives it stuff like Adaptive Cruise Control, lane keep assist, pre-collison braking, and reverse braking, jsut to name a few. A new feature making its debut in the Forester is Driver Focus--Subaru's take on Attention Assist that is seen on most high-end models.

Sure, the new Forester may not look much different from its predecesspr. Yet it does offer more tech features that should make it appealing to SUV shoppers.  The 2019 Subaru Forester will go on sale later this year. We can likewise expect to see it arrive here late this year or early next year. 

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About the Author

Mr. Gerard Jude Castillo
Gerard has been a self-confessed car nut ever since he was a little boy. As a grown-up, he indulges in his passion by collecting toy cars (which he started since childhood) and reading up on the latest cars out there.  As Associate Editor, he will ensure that you get your fill of the latest cars in the market, as well as a load of automotive features.