COMPLETELY NEW FORESTER – THE DRIVER’S CHOICE
Completely new Forester offers SUV space plus agile handling
Closer in size to Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V
New multi-link rear suspension gives ultra-smooth ride
Higher ground clearance yet lower ‘boxer’ engine
All-wheel drive plus Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control for limpet grip
Improved 2.0 litre petrol fuel economy
Unbeatable standard equipment includes: AWD with Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control, self-levelling rear suspension, cruise-control, climate-control air-conditioning, radio/CD player, height and reach steering wheel adjustment, foglamps, heated front seats, mirrors and windscreen wipers, front and rear electric windows, driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags plus vehicle information display
Forester 2.0X and XS petrol manual automatic available from April
Prices start at £17,995 for Forester 2.0X manual
A completely new Forester goes on sale in April offering more space, a smoother ride, greater ground clearance yet even more agile handling, fully justifying Subaru’s adherence to the low centre-of-gravity ‘boxer’ engine and all-wheel drive system which has made the brand famous.

Even more the keen driver’s choice, the new Forester is Subaru’s third generation of crossover SUVs but now occupies a similar silhouette to the Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail or Honda CR-V.

Based on the platform of the new Impreza, the Forester features a new multi-link rear suspension, fuel-saving electric power steering, standard Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control, self-levelling rear suspension, engine efficiency improvements and a revised automatic transmission offering ‘normal’, ‘sports’ or ‘manual’ mode.

Now closer in size to its less agile SUV competitors, the completely new Forester is 75 mm longer, 45 mm wider and gains 110 mm in height.

Rear legroom grows by 95 mm, the driver’s eye-line is 30 mm higher, while the load space is now 450 litres with the rear seat up – 63 litres more than the previous model.

It also enjoys enhanced fuel economy and driveability thanks to an improved 2.0 litre petrol ‘boxer’ engine which – having its cylinders horizontally-opposed – gives the car a lower centre of gravity for improved grip, reduced body roll and more precise steering response.

This is further aided by the engine and transmission now being placed 10 mm lower in the platform.

The Forester 2.0X and 2.0XS petrol models are available from April costing £17,995 and £21,895 on-the-road respectively in manual form. Expected to be the bigger sellers, automatic versions add a £1,000 premium.

Launched in Japan on December 25 last year, the completely new Forester found 4,285 customers in the first 30-plus days of going on sale – 2,000 more then expected – while January registrations were 136 per cent up on the previous year.