Along with its Toyota RAV-4 and Honda CR-V contemporaries, the Subaru Forester has endured changing SUV tastes since its launch in the 1990s. While nameplates like Freelander fell by the wayside, the Japanese offerings have continued for more than a quarter of a century. Perhaps never the trendiest SUVs, they must be offering something to have survived this long. Now Subaru has confirmed that the sixth generation Forester will make it to the UK, following more than five million global sales of the previous five generations. It will launch in the spring.
Subaru being Subaru, the Forester doesn’t really follow the crowd when it comes to mechanical spec. Power comes from a mild-hybrid, naturally aspirated 2.0-litre boxer four, with power reaching all four wheels via a seven-speed Lineartronic transmission. Don’t expect the new Forester to be tremendously fast; do expect it to go on for many decades. Subaru in the US suggests that 1.5m of the 1.6m Foresters sold over there in the past 10 years remain on the road. And surely none will have enjoyed easy use.
The new Forester is underpinned by the Subaru Global Platform, which will make it lighter and a bit more rigid than before. Subaru calls the four-wheel drive system X-MODE, which uses the mild hybrid boost to help with reversing off-road. Despite less butch looks than some alternatives, expect the Forester to be more than capable in the rough stuff thanks to 220mm of ground clearance and ‘ample’ approach and departure angles. You don’t get Subaru’s reputation (or the Forester’s, for that matter) without being tough. The towing capacity remains at 1,870kg.
The sixth generation will also come with a fresh look and upgraded driver assistance tech; probably not the reasons most people buy a Forester, but nice to have. Those after the most fashionable SUV will still be looking elsewhere. Those that are intrigued can expect additional information, including spec and price, closer to the spring launch. For now, there are new versions of the current car available for £35k plus, of course, a few STI-badged mad things in the classifieds: both this original and second generation Forester look a lot of fun indeed. Those after something more modern with a bit of pep can get a 240hp turbo fourth-gen for £10k.
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