The Subaru Forester has undergone a facelift for 2016. The all-wheel drive Forester range now sports a refined yet robust new look, offering a quieter more comfortable cabin as well as an instrumentation overhaul.
Subaru Australia Managing Director, Nick Senior, said: “With this latest list of enhancements Forester will maintain its appeal as the flexible, fun family wagon that stands out as having genuine All-Wheel Drive credentials in a crowd of two-wheel drive triers.”
The exterior design expresses Sports Utility Vehicle power and character, combined with cutting-edge technology.
The classic Subaru hexagonal grille has been revised, together with the re-profiled front bumper, along with fog light surrounds. The headlights are now comprised of compact LED’s and are responsive to steering input. The headlights also integrate a set of daytime running lights with a C-shaped motif provide hawk-eyed forward visibility along with a wide angle. The rear lights are now also LED based and follow a similar headlight design with a 3D c-shaped motif.
Also distinguishing the new model year are fresh design 17 and 18-inch alloy wheels, as well as a fresh new Sepia Bronze Metallic paint option.
Aerodynamic performance is refined via several measures, including the shape of the engine under-cover and reduced air resistance from the new pattern alloy wheels.
In Forester 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre normally aspirated variants, a cover is added to the engine oil removal hole, for improved aerodynamic performance.
The interior design features typical Forester functionality, combined with a high quality, refined feel. The overall design of the instrument panel is clean, with a silver frame and high gloss black decorative panel in range-topping variants. The driver’s instrument panel has a colour LCD multi-information display for excellent visibility.
The door grips and the central pillars of the instrument panel, are wrapped in well-textured rugged material. In leather trim Foresters, quilting is added to the door arm rest, for added visual appeal, while the seats use thicker underside cushioning for greater comfort and support. Seat fabric in entry-level variants has a stronger contrast for greater visual appeal.
A silver frame is incorporated into the spoke section of the steering wheel for a powerful yet functional design and the hand brake lever button now has chrome-type finish.
It is estimated that interior cabin noise is approximately 5.0 per cent lower than that of the previous model year. Vibration and noise are reduced through a variety of measures including thicker door glass and a redesigned door seal structure.
Body structure is also strategically revised, while damping and sound absorbing materials are strengthened, making Forester significantly quieter and more comfortable.
Driving stability and ride comfort is improved through suspension innovations including a new steering gear box, developed to improve feel. Steering wheel angle is also reduced, for improved handling.
Stability during straight driving is enhanced too, with rear wheel suspension alignment revised, with tread, camber angle and toe-in volume all changed.
Subaru Forester Feature breakdown and specifications:
FORESTER 2.0i-L:
SAFETY
- ABS anti-lock brakes with four-wheel discs (ventilated front, solid rear), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist
- Child seat anchor points x 3
- Curtain airbags – full length (front and rear)
- Driver’s knee airbag
- Dual front airbags
- Dual side airbags
- Fog lamp integrated daytime running lights
- Front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters
- Front adjustable seatbelt anchorages
- Height adjustable seatbelt anchors
- ISOFIX child seat anchorages (two rear seats)
- Rear door child lock
- Reversing camera
- Safety pedals – shock absorbing brake and clutch pedals
- Seatbelt indicator lights – all seats
- Side intrusion bars
- Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
- Three-point A/ELR rear centre seatbelt
- Vehicle Dynamics Control
INTERIOR
- 7-inch touchscreen entertainment with Pandora compatibility – steering wheel controls
- Auto Stop Start
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Bottle holders in each door + two cup holders in centre consoles
- Cargo area light
- Cargo hooks (four)
- Cargo security blind
- Central locking – remote
- Chrome-type inner door handles
- Cruise control – steering wheel buttons
- Driver’s footrest
- Dual zone climate control air conditioning
- Front puddle lamps
- Height and reach adjustable steering column
- Height adjustable driver’s seat
- Immobiliser security system
- Leather steering wheel and gearshift
- Luggage hooks (four)
- Luminescent gauges
- Map lights (2)
- Multi-Function Display
- Overhead console
- Power steering, mirrors and windows
- Rear privacy glass
- Rear seat centre armrest
- Rear seat recline
- Remote fuel lid release – tethered fuel cap
- Seatback pockets
- Security blind
- Steering wheel audio, phone, cruise and Multi Information Display (MID) controls
- Two remote central locking keys
- USB connection x 2
- Vanity mirror
- 60/40 split/fold rear seat
- 12V/120W power jacks (three)
EXTERIOR
- 17-inch alloy wheels – full size alloy spare
- Chrome-highlight grille
- Colour-coded door mirrors with indicators
- Rear roof mounted sharkfin radio antenna
- Rear spoiler
- Rear wiper
- Roof rails
OTHER FEATURES
- Auto hatch unlock on key
- DataDot security technology
- Electronic Throttle Control (ETC)
- Manual six-speed gearbox
- SI-Drive (two-mode)
- Three-year unlimited kilometre warranty
- 2.0 litre DOHC horizontally opposed Boxer engine produces 110 Kilowatts of power at 6200 rpm and 198 Newtonmetres of torque at 4200 rpm.
FORESTER 2.5i-L ADDS:
- Automatic transmission lock-out – need foot on brake, key in ignition “on” position, to release lever
- Paddleshift Lineartronic™ Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT)
- Sliding centre console
- X-Mode
- 2.5 litre DOHC horizontally opposed boxer engine. 126 kW/5800 rpm, 235 Nm/4100 rpm
FORESTER 2.5i-S ADDS (TO 2.5i-L SPECIFICATION):
- Automatic cargo door
- Eight-way adjustable power driver’s and front passenger seat
- Electric sunroof
- EyeSight® driver assist with adaptive cruise control
- Front wiper de-icer
- Heated fronts seats and door mirrors
- Steering Responsive LED dusk-sensing headlights with integrated Daytime Running Lights and pop-up washers
- Leather trim, including steering wheel and gearshift
- Rain sensing wipers
- Satellite navigation – factory-fitted
- Smart key and push button start
- 18-inch alloy wheels
FORESTER 2.0 XT ADDS (does not include EyeSight or Auto Stop Start):
- Engine cover
- Three-mode SI-Drive
- Sports pedals
- Unique front bumper profile
- 2.0 litre direct injection turbocharged horizontally opposed Boxer engine produces 177 Kilowatts of power at 5600 rpm and 350 Newtonmetres of torque at 2400-3600 rpm
FORESTER 2.0 XT PREMIUM ADDS:
- Automatic cargo door
- Automatic dusk sensing headlights
- Factory-fitted satellite navigation
- Eight-way adjustable power driver’s and front passenger seat
- EyeSight® driver assist system, with steering wheel controls
- Front wipers with de-icers
- harman kardon® speaker system – eight speakers
- Heated door mirrors
- Heated front seats
- Leather trim
- Push-button start with smart key entry
- Rain sensing front wipers
FORESTER 2.0D-L (ADDS TO FORESTER 2.0i-L SPECIFICATION. Does not include X-Mode, paddleshift or HID headlights in manual variants; does not include Auto Stop-Start or SI-Drive in any diesel variants):
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- 2.0 litre DOHC turbocharged horizontally opposed diesel Boxer engine. 108 kW/3600 rpm, 350 Nm/1600-2400 rpm
FORESTER 2.0D-S ADDS (TO 2.0D-L SPECIFICATION):
- Automatic cargo door
- Electric sunroof
- Front wiper de-icer
- Heated front seats and door mirrors
- Xenon low-beam dusk-sensing headlights with pop-up washers
- Leather trim
- Push-button start with smart key entry
- Powered driver and front passenger seat (eight-way adjustable)
- Rain sensing front wipers
- Satellite navigation – factory-fitted
- 18-inch alloy wheels
Forester 2016 Pricing:
VARIANT MLP
Forester 2.0i-L manual $29,990
Forester 2.5i-L auto $32,990
Forester 2.5i-S auto $39,490
Forester 2.0D-L manual $33,490
Forester 2.0D-L auto $35,490
Forester 2.0D-S manual $39,490
Forester 2.0D-S auto $41,490
Forester 2.0XT auto $40,990
Forester 2.0XT Premium auto $47,990