Local specs emerge for MY22 Subaru Forester

THE facelifted Subaru Forester medium SUV could launch in Australia as soon as September with upgraded safety technology, gesture-controlled air-conditioning and bigger touchscreens plus more USB sockets for lower-spec variants – but carryover drivetrains.

 

Revealed in Japan last month headlined by new looks, suspension refinements and the latest generation of Subaru’s camera-based EyeSight safety and driver-assist suite, a leaked dealer bulletin obtained by GoAutoreveals full specifications of the Australia-bound MY22 Foresters which will commence production next month.

 

Published shipping schedules show that transporting cars from Japan to Port Kembla near Sydney takes around 15 days. Add another couple of weeks for customs or quarantine delays and the first facelifted Foresters could arrive between September and October.

 

A Subaru Australia spokesperson confirmed to GoAutothat official MY22 Forester details were “imminent” but otherwise declined to comment.

 

Pricing was not included in the leaked bulletin, though an uptick is expected over the outgoing model’s $34,690-$45,990 before on-road costs due to the increase in standard equipment.

 

The Forester Sport will return among the same seven-variant line-up as before, sitting between the mid-spec Premium and flagship S variants in a range that also includes the base and L grades, while the hybrid will continue to be offered with L and S trim levels.

 

Base, L and L hybrid variants all upgrade to an 8.0-inch touchscreen – previously 6.5 inches – and join higher grades in having two USB sockets instead of one.

 

All variants will get the upgraded EyeSight suite as standard, which adds lane-keeping, lane departure prevention and autonomous emergency steering to the comprehensive list of pre-existing features, with a wider field of view for its stereo cameras and what GoAutounderstands is quicker-thinking hardware and software.

 

Only the base model will go without the new gesture-controlled temperature adjustment function for the air-con and heater, according to the bulletin.

 

The top-spec S hybrid gains e-Active Shift Control first seen on the updated XV hybrid that launched last October, and is claimed to optimise engine revs for improved acceleration response plus enhanced downhill engine braking by using data from accelerometers.

 

Curiously, the one-touch electric folding rear seat mechanism appears to have been deleted from the L hybrid.

 

Subaru has carried over the pre-facelift Forester’s 2.5-litre flat-four petrol engine, which according to the bulletin still produces 136kW of power and 239Nm of torque, likewise the hybrid’s 110kW/196Nm 2.0L petrol boxer that is supplemented by a 12.3kW/66Nm electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack.

 

Combined fuel consumption remains rated at 7.4 litres per 100km for the petrols and 6.7L/100km for the hybrids. The Forester has lengthened 15mm as part of the update to 4640mm, while weight has increased by up to 3.0kg depending on variant.

 

The upgraded 1800kg braked towing capacity introduced last September on petrol models has been maintained, as has the 1200kg braked trailer limit for hybrids.

 

A new Cascade Green Silica colour option will be added, with other paint changes comprising the replacement of Sepia Bronze with Brilliant Bronze Metallic and Autumn Green Metallic supplanting Jasper Green.

 

Silver roof rails replace black with silver inserts on both hybrids and the top-spec S petrol, as shown in the reveal images published last month.

 

At the time, Subaru said the updated Forester’s suspension had “improved for all grades.”

 

“We have achieved both suppleness and sportiness at a high level,” the press release said.

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