Subaru fans have been waiting years and now the brand’s Australian boss has given us the most direct answer yet on whether the next-generation Forester will have turbocharged petrol power – and it’s good news.
Subaru Australia managing director Blair Read is on a mission. Speaking at the launch of the new turbo-petrol Subaru Outback recently, Read said that the Forester was next on his to-do-list and a much-needed boost in power from a turbo petrol engine, was very likely.
“First job was to get it here in the Outback. Tick! Job done,” Read said.
“Forester is in the later part of its generation’s life, it’s the next model that will bring a generational change so probably nothing until that happens.”
The Outback XT arrived in early February this year with a 183kW/350Nm 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine. That’s a significant jump in grunt over the 138kW and 245Nm over the existing 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine.
The turbo-petrol engine also means the Outback XT’s braked towing capacity is 400kg more than the non-turbo variant at 2400kg. Subaru also claims the XT’s 0-100km/h acceleration is 22 per cent faster as well.
A Forester XT powered by the same 2.5-litre petrol engine would be welcomed. Right now the Forester is offered with two powertrains: the Outback’s 2.5-litre petrol engine but making 136kW/239Nm and a 2.0-litre petrol-hybrid offering 110kW and 196Nm.
As Read says, the current generation has been around a long time (for a car). Now in its fifth generation this Forester arrived in 2018. A generation tends to have a duration of five-to-seven years.
We’re five years into its fifth generation so that means the Forester is due to be replaced by an entirely new version soon and expect that to be when the 2.4-litre turbo-petrol will be introduced to the range.
The 2.4-litre petrol engine is thirsty, however, with Subaru’s own claim of 9.0L/100km after combined driving conditions.
Subaru may therefore decide to use the 1.8-litre turbo-petrol found in the Sports grade of the Forester sold in Japan. While only producing 130kW it does make a healthy 300Nm of torque.
Either way the next-generation Forester is likely to usher in other much-needed changes to this popular model including the latest infotainment system and the 11.6-inch screen found in the Outback, as well as wireless phone charging.
In the meantime Australians can expect to see new variants of the Forester and Outback to arrive next year in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Subaru operating in Australia with a likely Wilderness grade for both models on the cards.
The Wilderness grade of the Forester sold in the United States is an even more rugged version with higher ground clearance at 233mm (220mm is the normal height), matt black wheels, more capable off-road modes, and revised drivetrain gearing.
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