Subaru has launched the new 2021 Subaru Forester in South Africa, adding a 2.5-litre boxer engine and updated features to the line-up.
It has been 24 years since the first Forester was released, and it has since become the best-selling model for the brand – according to Subaru.
The range will now expand with two new flagship models, one of which is an entirely new derivative that is more sport focused.
What’s new
The latest Forester is built on the new Subaru Global platform and features a large grille, front fog lamps, an underguard, and “Hawkeye” LED headlamps.
The baseline sits on 17-inch wheels, while the more expensive derivatives gets 18-inch alloys.
Subaru has placed importance on interior comfort and quality, and states that the materials used in the production of the Forester are of the highest quality.
Convenience features such as a wide-opening rear doors, slip-resistant side sills, rear USB ports, and newly-designed air conditioning vents to better cover the cabin are fitted as standard.
The rubberised boot can accept 520 litres of cargo, and a maximum capacity of 1,770 litres is available when the seats are folded down.
The boot lid can then close at the push of a button, and will do so in three seconds.
The S and ES trims are fitted with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and Aux inputs – while the ES and Sport trim further receive electrically-adjustable front seats, automatic climate control, a sunroof, and rain-sensing wipers.
Safety systems
Thanks to the new Subaru Global Platform, the Forester has better impact protection and has an engine and gearbox design that will cause these components to slip below the vehicle in the event of a collision.
Each vehicle is also fitted with seven airbags as standard.
The Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control system is installed, too, and comprises anti-lock braking, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, and traction control in order to minimize body roll and improve dynamic handling and braking abilities.
The more expensive ES and Sport trim are then treated to the Subaru EyeSight driver assist system, along with adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane departure and sway warning, and lane keep assist functionalities.
Reverse automatic braking is another benefit from this system, and ES models that have it get blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, and a reverse camera.
These features have assured that every new Forester gets a 5-star safety score across all global ratings – according to the company.
Performance
Subaru South Africa has introduced a new 2.5-litre boxer engine for the 2021 model year refresh, which is mated to a CVT transmission.
This combination produces 136kW of power and 239Nm of torque.
In Sport mode, the Forester will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 9.3 seconds, and a claimed combined fuel consumption of 7.6l/100km is achievable.
The system has 2 driver-selectable programmes for any terrain, 220mm of ground clearance, and symmetrical all-wheel-drive that assures each wheel gets the right amount of grip.
Price
The new Forester is now available in South Africa, and the model line-up is as follows:
- Subaru Forester 2.0i-CVT – R486,000
- Subaru Forester 2.0i-S ES CVT – R564,000
- Subaru Forester 2.5i Sport ES CVT – R599,000
- Subaru Forester 2.5i-S ES CVT – R629,000
Each model is sold with a 3-year/75,000km maintenance plan as well as a 5-year/100,000km warranty.
Subaru Forester – Photos
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