ADAS systems as standard, too.
Subaru’s new consummate family SUV, the Forester, has just touched down in Australia in its 5th iteration, and promises to offer greater family-car credentials and capabilities than ever before. In a segment where advanced driver assistance systems can make or break a sale, the Forester’s come up good, offering Subaru’s trademark EyeSight ADAS systems as standard across the range.
The 2019 Subaru Forester will be available in our market in four guises, namely the 2.5i, 2.5i-L, 2.5i Premium, and the 2.5i-S. Prices start at $33,490 for the entry-level car and top out at $41,490, but all four models are motivated by the same “90% new” updated and revised 2.5-litre flat-four petrol mill, putting out 136kW and 239Nm, with power going to all-four wheels via a CVT automatic transmission and Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system.
The range kicks off with the 2.5i which, despite being the entry-level model, is not specced like a Turkish prison. You get 17-inch alloys and a full-sized spare (handy for those who actually venture off sealed surfaces), keyless entry & go, heated & electrically-folding exterior mirrors, adaptive-LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, automatic wipers, dual-zone climate control, rear air-vents, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone mirroring and digital radio, paired to a 6-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system. Not bad, right?
As we said earlier, Subaru EyeSight gets lobbed on as standard, so the 2.5i gets things like autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and intelligent cruise control included in the price.
But if you pay a little more for the 2.5i-L, the EyeSight system gains a few more tricks. In the 2.5i-L it’ll include things like driver drowsiness monitoring, automatic high-beam, reverse-AEB, as well as front-facing and sidewards cameras (VisionAssist, they call it).
The 2.5i Premium gets even more kit for its $3000 premium over the L model, but with it it gets things like upgraded fabric upholstery, upgraded dash trim, alloy pedals, reverse-dipping passenger-side mirror, a smarter 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment screen with sat-nav, one-touch folding second-row seats, a larger set of 18-inch alloys (still with a full-size spare), a powered tailgate, front fog-lights, and eight-way power-adjustable front seats with memory function.
But all the bells and whistles are reserved for the 2.5i-S, which throws in things like LED fog lights, “premium” dash & door trims, an electric sunroof, a piano-black front grille with chrome accents, silver door mirror caps, plenty of chrome and silver about the place, an 8-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system (with a subwoofer), and of course, leather upholstery.
| Model & Grade | Price |
| Forester 2.5i | $33,490 |
| Forester 2.5i-L | $35,490 |
| Forester 2.5i-Premium | $38,490 |
| Forester 2.5i-S | $41,490 |
*All prices exclude on-road costs, taxes, and dealer fees.
Overall, the Forester is a more tamed animal than it used to be, with “multiple refinements” expected to prove greater response to drivers and lower overall NVH levels for passengers. Practicality-wise the Forester is rated at 498L of space behind the rear seats, but a total of 1060L can be freed up by folding the second row. All new Foresters are covered by Subaru’s three-year/unlimited-KM warranty, with scheduled servicing slated every 12-months or 12,500km.
But for the very best deals on a new Subaru, check out our Showroom.
