The sixth-generation Subaru Forester has been revealed with an all-new interior and exterior design, complemented by a suite of upgraded equipment and refined architecture.
The domestic wing of Subaru told TopAuto that it “plans to launch the new Forester in South Africa as soon as it becomes available for our market. The approximate timing of the launch will be 1st quarter of 2025.”
It also confirmed that current-generation Forester will not be updated during its final year on sale before it bids farewell in 2025.
“The 2024 Forester will remain the same before it goes off the market,” the automaker said.
Everything new
Almost every aspect of Subaru’s popular SUV has been touched by the designers with its new look not to be confused with any of its predecessors.
The sixth-gen Forester wears a bold redesigned grille that merges into more compact LED headlights to create an “integrated shield effect”, and the vehicle debuts the updated Subaru Star Cluster badge.
Moving on, a new air outlet at the trailing edge of the front wheel arch contributes to reduced lift on the front tyres and improved driving stability; and front, side, and rear underguards with colour finishes according to trim level are now standard.
The rear end also incorporates a new lighting fixture and tailgate, and the steeper rear glass offers increased cargo capacity in the boot up to 838 litres with the rear seats up.
Under the skin, the Forester’s chassis achieves 10% stiffer torsional rigidity as a result of stronger welding techniques and additional structural adhesive.
“These updates deliver improved dynamic performance, a smoother ride, and a quieter cabin,” said the automaker.
Continuing inside the cabin, the fresh-faced Forester adopts new textured dash and trim elements, as well as a dark headliner, which provide more durability against scuff marks and scratches from everyday use, and the repositioned pillars and sizeable glass areas ensure higher levels of visibility than in the outgoing generation.
The front seats were redesigned to enhance overall comfort and reduce fatigue, while the slimmed-down shoulder areas afford better visibility and access to the rear seats.
More updates to the interior include improved sound dampening that results in a 39% reduction in the rate of noise attenuation from the roof panel, as well as an updated climate control system that focuses on occupied seats rather than the entire cabin for improved comfort and fuel economy.
Across the entire Forester line-up, buyers can now expect amenities such as dual-zone airconditioning, keyless entry and start, steering-responsive LED headlights with automatic high beams, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
This is on top of the latest EyeSight driver assistance package, which comprises automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot detection with lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency steering, and adaptive cruise control with emergency stop assist.
The entry-level Forester also comes with two 7-inch displays in the centre stack, the top panel being for media and the bottom for climate and vehicle settings, whereas the pricier models get a single 11.6-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation and wireless charging.
Like the existing Forester, the next-gen version will employ Subaru’s well-known 2.5-litre, naturally-aspirated petrol motor delivering 136kW and 239Nm to the symmetrical all-wheel-drive system.
The range is equipped with a revised Continuously Variable Transmission providing “smoother and quieter performance” than before, and certain models get a manual mode with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
Furthermore, the SUV offers sharper handling courtesy of a special dual-pinion electronic power steering rack that is derived from the athletic WRX, paired with now-standard active torque vectoring, the SI-Drive performance management system, and incline start assist.
Every new Forester except for the base model is also fitted with the driver-selectable X-Mode with Hill Descent Control that maximizes wheel control on slippery surfaces and steep inclines.
The South African specifications of the sixth-generation Subaru Forester, such as the pricing and model line-up, will be revealed closer to the vehicle’s launch date.
2025 Subaru Forester
Keyword: Next-generation Subaru Forester revealed – When it’s launching in South Africa