Subaru has debuted the all-new 6th-generation Subaru Forester for the US market at the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show. The new SUV is said to meet the expectations of all passengers in everyday to ‘extraordinary’ environments. They have also enhanced the SUV’s functionality and practicality to provide enjoyable driving performance, advanced safety features, and utility.
The all-new SUV will be making its launch in the US this Spring. It will be offered in five variants, namely the Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring.
On the outside, the 6th-generation Forester looks all grown-up. It features a bolder-looking grille, which merges into the LED headlights. At the rear, Subaru has hopped onto the trend of the connected tail light design, giving it an impression of greater width. The Base and Premium variants of the all-new Subaru Forester come standard with 17-inch alloys, while the Limited variant gets 18-inch alloys. The higher-spec Sport and Touring variants get even larger 19-inch alloys.
Under the hood of the all-new Subaru Forester is the 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder Subaru Boxer engine that puts out 180 hp and 241 Nm of torque, via a Lineartronic CVT gearbox that has been tuned to be quieter.
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Power is delivered to all four wheels via a revised Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. Subaru claims that the system now has faster response time, more agile handling, and better control both on- and off-road.
There is also the X-Mode which comes together with hill descent control. The all-new Forester’s 8.7-inch ground clearance should also help it when going off-road. The Subaru Global Platform that underpins the all-new Forester has been enhanced with 10% stiffer torsional rigidity.
The SUV also features a full inner frame construction with stronger welding techniques and additional structural adhesive, contributing to Increased body rigidity, improved dynamic performance, and a quieter cabin.
Subaru has also added the dual-pinion electronic power steering rack, which is said to provide a more direct and natural steering feel along with greater response.
Inside, the 6th-generation Subaru Forester’s interior design is classic Subaru through and through. This is not a bad thing at all, as it is a minimalistic-looking and functional cabin to be in.
Following other Subaru models, the Forester finally gets the large and vertical 11.6-inch Subaru Starlink Multimedia Plus system, which supports both wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. A mobile phone wireless charger is also included in the kit list.
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However, this is only available for the higher-spec models. The more affordable entry-level variants get 7-inch touchscreen units with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility to go with it.
Subaru has also designed the all-new Forester’s front seats to be more supportive, giving increased overall comfort and minimising fatigue. For greater convenience, a kick sensor-activated hands-free power rear tailgate has also been fitted onto the all-new Subaru Forester.
The all-new Subaru Forester is equipped with the brand’s latest generation EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. It provides the car with a series of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) features, together with a wider field of view and updated control software.
Emergency stop assist is now included too, which activates if the driver becomes unresponsive to warnings while using advanced adaptive cruised control (ACC).
The system will stop the vehicle, activate the hazard lights, and unlock the doors. The Subaru Starlink Connected Services will then place a call to emergency services.
The Japanese carmaker has also added an electric brake booster which enables quicker deceleration when automatic emergency braking is activated, such as when a bicycle rushes out in front of the vehicle. Quick deceleration also activates when a car suddenly enters the vehicle’s path when ACC is operating.
The top-of-the-range Touring variant is equipped with the DriverFocus distraction mitigation system, which utilizes a camera angled at the driver’s face and facial recognition software to monitor fatigue or lack of attention.
Closer to home, the Subaru Forester just got an update earlier this year. It now looks more aggressive than before, sporting a Levorg-inspired look upfront, together with a more luxurious quilted black leather upholstery inside for the higher-spec variants.
The facelifted 2023 Subaru Forester facelift in Malaysia is also equipped with the brand’s Eyesight 4.0 ADAS suite. It is now more affordable too as it has gotten its price tag slashed by RM10,000 throughout the entire range back in August.
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