Who else was a fan of the racing game Gran Turismo when it was released on PlayStation back in the day?
There were always a couple of cars that were a lot of fun to drive on the different courses. One of those cars that guaranteed fun was the Subaru Forester. It wasn’t renowned for its performance, but the style of the car and its surprising drifting ability made it a perfect match for the rally tracks.
Fast-forward to 2019, and we are presented with the fifth generation Subaru Forester. Thanks to Winger North Shore I was able to experience driving it recently.
It comes with a redesigned 2.5L, four-cylinder engine, capable of churning out 136kW of power and 239Nm of torque. Reaching 0-100 in just 9.5 seconds, it’s great for getting around town for meetings and drives exceptionally well on the motorway and open roads.
The cabin noise is minimal, despite the 2.5L engine. Inside, the vehicle is comfortable and spacious, with easily adjustable seats
Overall, the fuel economy comes out alright too. During our drive it performed better than its claims of 7.4 litres per 100km – its fuel economy averaged out to 8L per 100km.
For those towing a boat or a trailer, this SUV will tick all the boxes. The new Forester has a towing capacity of 1,500kg braked and 750kg unbraked.
When it comes to tyre pressure and oil check you can monitor these levels in the new model, as well as view the range left on your tank of petrol.
Safety was clearly top of mind in the design process too, giving peace of mind to all drivers. All Forester models have been awarded a five-star Ancap safety rating. The adult occupant protection score was an impressive 94%. To see how this vehicle copes under pressure watch the crash test video here which shows how fast the air bags were activated.
There are a couple of minor design advancements to note on the fifth generation Forester. The front of the vehicle has seen the most change, moving away from the rectangular shape to a more rounded shape.
At the rear of the vehicle the taillights are visibly different. They are wider and have a more seamless design with the rest of the car. Also, a side view will reveal the silver cladding of the vehicle is now visible beneath the door sills, door handles and in other areas for a more appealing finish.
When it comes to entertainment, the new Forester definitely delivers. Drivers can enjoy the infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen and a smaller screen above it. Complete with the usual offerings most modern cars have like Sat Nav, GPS, Apple Car Play, Android Auto and wireless Bluetooth, you can sit back and relax in this drive!
Models Available
Forester
2.5 Sport
Forester 2.5 Sport Plus
Forester 2.5 Premium
Awards
The Forester has been a high achiever in the industry, scooping various awards
in 2018, including;
Motoring
Writers Guild Car of the Year
AA award for Best in Class Medium SUV
Stuff.co.nz award for Top Medium SUV
