Boring. Bland. Dull. Those are just some of the adjectives thrown against the current “SK” Subaru Forester since its launch in 2019. Without a turbocharged variant, or any sense of quirky, oddball styling, it sits, for better or worse, right smack in the middle of the mainstream. It has become, Mr. Innocuous—neither offending nor impressing. Well, it seems Subaru’s heard its fans out loud, and the result is this: the 2022 Forester.
Like most midcycle refreshes, the changes are mostly concentrated at the front (the back is actually unchanged). The clean, but conservative face has been replaced by one that doesn’t look out of place in a concept car. Subaru calls it BOLDER (yes, in all caps), and it is, admittedly, polarizing once again. However, it works to cut the Forester a large vibe, while also reiterating its position as a highly capable compact SUV for the paths not taken. The dramatically-shaped headlights, cut by the bumper, is visually interesting to say the least. Other tweaks include a new design for the 18-inch wheels and silver-painted roof rails instead of black.
Inside, Subaru’s embraced the same outdoorsy feel with a cabin that feels as rugged and tough as a Casio G-Shock. Instead of going for something like open pore wood or fancy fabric weaves, the Forester goes for soft-touch rubberized plastics. These, in turn, blend well with more traditional materials like high-gloss black accents and well-wearing leather. Now, that’s not to say that there were no attempts to uplift the cabin. For 2022, gray-colored padded material has been added to the dashboard and stitched to the door trims. They do break the monotony of the previously all-black cabin, but it doesn’t fundamentally change the fact that it’s more function over form.
Ergonomics and space remain two strong points for the Forester. For the driver, the cabin is clearly laid out with nice, chunky switchgear. For everyone else, there are no complaints as to the amount of head-, leg, and shoulder room be it at the front or the back. Oh, and yes, the adjustable back rests for the rear seats make a comeback too. There are no issues with cubby holes as well since this SUV’s got a ton of them from the one in front of the shifter to the right-sized cupholders to the deep, usable center armrest console. At the back, the cargo hold is wide enough to fit a golf bag sideways.
The 8-inch infotainment system’s new for 2022, and chucks out the previous Forester’s outdated system for something with clearer graphics and easy-to-hit icons. The audio quality from the speakers still isn’t up to par with some other OEM systems, but at least Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is now standard. Also, the 360-degree panoramic view camera is clear enough and offers some clever tricks like automatically switching to curb view at engine shut off to show the passengers that there aren’t any obstacles by the door.
Also upgraded this year is the Forester’s suite of safety systems. Headlining the updates is the Subaru EyeSight. The stereoscopic camera-based safety system has been bumped up to Version 4.0 which widens its field of view and adds more functionalities. The previously standard functions—pre-collision braking, lane sway and departure warning, adaptive cruise control, lead vehicle start assist, and pre-collision throttle management are still present, but automatic lane centering’s been added in. Subaru says it’s helped reduce rear-end collisions by as much as 84 percent compared to non-EyeSight equipped vehicles—a staggering number by any margin.
And while the demo unit doesn’t come with it, the 2022 Forester also adds emergency steering assist which automatically steers the Forester to avoid an impending collision. On top of the EyeSight system, other safety features not found in the demo unit, but standard on the Philippine-spec model are automatic high beam assist, blind spot indicators with rear cross traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. Then, there’s the Driver Monitoring System which not only detects driver fatigue, but also uses facial recognition to automatically personalize settings such as the seats, mirrors, and climate control for up to five drivers.
Left on its own, the EyeSight works excellently for the Philippine road conditions. Unlike similar systems from other manufacturers which may have the tendency to kick up a false alarm or two, this one is finely tuned. And to say that driving here is unique lends gravity to what Subaru has done with the system.
Now, despite all the aesthetic and safety improvements done to the Forester, mechanically it’s still the same basic compact SUV launched in 2019; and this happens to be its biggest weak point. The whole experience is simply a downer with an engine that feels far too uninterested in offering outright performance. A sharpened throttle response manages to hide this at low speeds (the CVT also mimics shifting), but take it out on the open road and it feels stunted. Overtaking takes careful practice, patience, and having to constantly hear the engine belt out a drone. Subaru quotes a 0 to 100 km/h time of 10.3 seconds, but it feels slower than that. Plus, fuel economy is dreary: 7.81 km/L on a diet of strictly 95 RON gasoline.
Handling-wise, Subaru says they’ve made some changes to the chassis for better ride and handling precision. It’s not as transformative as their work on the refreshed Subaru XV, but it’s obvious that there’s more sharpness to the steering. The steering aside, the rest of the package though doesn’t feel that different. It remains squarely in the middle of the comfort/handling equation. It’s utilitarian in the way it soaks up bumps—pliant without a sense of plushness. The chassis, at least, is neutral and obedient, remaining planted when pushed that extra bit. Furthermore, it’s the only compact SUV that comes with nifty features for off-roading such as the dual X-Mode system. Ground clearance remains a commendable 220 mm, while approach, breakover, and departure angles are set at 21.4 degrees, 21.1 degrees, and 25.8 degrees respectively.
It’s fair to say Subaru wants to turn a new chapter when it comes to designing and engineering their cars. Instead of embracing a fun-loving, the road is my racetrack kind of lifestyle, they’ve opted to embrace a family-loving, safety-conscious one instead. This decision will take fans aback for sure, but in the end, it’s the voice of sensibility that will ultimately help sell cars like the Forester. It won’t delight those who want to seek out their inner rally driver, but anyone seeking a solid, and above all, safe family car that happens to look a bit better now need not look anywhere else.
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2022 Subaru Forester 2.0i-S EyeSight |
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No (as tested), Yes, Rear (as standard) |
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Hill Start Assist Pre-Collision Braking System Pre-Collision Throttle Management Lane Departure Warning Emergency Steering Assist (as standard) Blind Spot Indicators (as standard) Reverse Automatic Braking (as standard) Driver Monitoring System (as standard) |
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Day/Night (as tested), Auto-dimming (as standard) |
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Stereo USB Bluetooth |
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Apple CarPlay Android Auto |
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Keyword: Review: 2022 Subaru Forester 2.0-iS EyeSight