Subaru Forester gains diesel auto and sharper value

The Subaru Forester range has been updated for 2015, with the diesel variants now offered with automatic transmission for the first time.

Price reduction across the entire Forester line-up is set to further boost the SUV’s appeal in this highly competitive segment, with Subaru slashing up to $3,500 off the Forester’s sticker, in addition to January’s announcement of $1,000 savings on every Forester as a result of Australia’s free trade agreement with Japan.

The revised 2015 Forester range now starts with the Forester 2.0i-L, priced from $29,990 excluding on-roads, a further saving of $2,500 over the superseded variant.

The newly introduced Forester 2.0D-L diesel with Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) receives a sticker of $35,490, while the upper spec 2.0D-S is $41,490.

Subaru says adding the Lineartronic™ CVT option to the turbocharged Forester 2.0D line-up offers a new level of frugal long-range driving, underpinned by the sure-footed benefits of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and five-star occupant safety.

The 2015 Forester also benefits from an improved interior. The contrasting silver/piano black colour scheme adorn the updated cabin, while the Multi-Function Display gets a more intuitive user operation for various media playback and information access functions.

The 2.0-litre horizontally-opposed turbo diesel has been extensively tweaked to offer improved refinement and fuel economy. It produces 108 kW at 3600 rpm and 350 Nm from 1600 to 2400 rpm, with key updates to its fuel delivery system, injectors, timing chain and turbochargers.

2015 Subaru Forester pricing (excluding on roads)

Forester 2.0i-L manual              $29,990 (-$2500 or 7.7 per cent)
Forester 2.5i-L auto                     $32,990 (-$2000 or 5.7 per cent)
Forester 2.5i-S auto                     $39,490 (-$3500, or 8.1 per cent)

Forester 2.0D-L manual            $33,490 (-$3000 or 8.2 per cent)
Forester 2.0D-L auto                  $35,490
Forester 2.0D-S manual            $39,490 (-$3500 or 8.1 per cent)
Forester 2.0D-S auto                  $42,490

Forester 2.0XT auto                    $40,990 (-$1500 or 3.5 per cent)
Forester 2.0XT Premium auto $47,990 (-$1500 or 3.0 per cent)