2023 Subaru Forester facelift: All you need to know

The all-new Subaru Forester has recently made its way to the Malaysian shores with a slew of upgrades. The new Forester is offered in four variants that cater to a large group of Malaysian drivers who prioritise safety and performance. 

“Each of these models offers the best possible driving experience for our customers, " said Mr. Glenn Tan, Deputy Chairman, and Managing Director of Tan Chong International Limited.

Today, we are going to discuss Subaru’s latest SUV in detail, offering prospective buyers an apparent picture of what it brings to the table. So, without further delay, let’s get started with pricing.

2023 Subaru Forester variants & price

As mentioned above, TC Subaru Sdn Bhd offers the Forester facelift in four trims viz. 2.0 i-L EyeSight, 2.0 i-L EyeSight GT Lite, 2.0 i-S EyeSight, and 2.0 i-S EyeSight GT Edition. Their prices are as follows -

Variants	Price (on the road without insurance)
2.0 i-L EyeSight	RM 174,288
2.0 i-L EyeSight GT Lite	RM 180,288
2.0 i-S EyeSight	RM 184,288
2.0 i-S EyeSight GT Edition	RM 196,288

Included in the price is a five-year, 100,000 km warranty against manufacturing defects.

2023 Subaru Forester exterior

The new Forester looks sharp yet robust with a bolder front grille featuring a gloss black surround instead of the chrome found on the predecessor. It also features new headlights which look inspired by the Subaru Levorg with a deep cut on the inner edges. The revamped headlights on the top two trims also feature high beam assist and steering-responsive function. 

Also new for the 2023 model year are tweaked bumpers and a new GT-exclusive bodykit. The latter comprises front and rear lip extensions, black and silver side skirts, and a roof spoiler. The L trims are equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels shod with 225/60R17-sized tyres while the S variants ride on 18-inch wheels wrapped with Bridgestone Dueler 225/55R18 rubbers. The latter also gains front LED fog lamps.

2023 Subaru Forester colours 

Subaru Malaysia offers the new Forester in seven colour tones - Cascade Green Silica, Magnetite Gray Metallic, Brilliant Bronze Metallic, Crystal White, Ice Silver Metallic, Crystal Black Silica, and Horizon Blue Pearl.

2023 Subaru Forester dimensions

In terms of dimensions, the new Forester remains identical to the pre-facelift model. The unchanged dimensions are as follows -

Length	4,625 mm
Width	1,815 mm
Height	1,730 mm
Wheelbase	2,670 mm
Ground clearance	220 mm
Boot capacity	520 litres

2023 Subaru Forester powertrain

All the variants of the new Subaru Forester are powered by the same 2.0 litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine as the previous model. The said mill kicks out a maximum power of 156 PS at 6,000 rpm along with a peak torque of 196 Nm at 4,000 rpm.

The transmission duties are handled by a Lineartronic CVT gearbox paired with an active torque-split AWD system. It sends power to all four wheels, enabling the SUV to run from zero to 100 kmph in 10.3 seconds and hit a top speed of193 kmph. The fuel consumption is rated at 7.8 litres per 100 km.

However, the facelifted SUV benefits from an improved X-Mode vehicle dynamics control system which comes with an Auto Restore feature. The system goes into 'standby' mode once the speed exceeds 40 kmph, and reactivates when the speed falls below 35 kmph. Earlier, it used to deactivate once the speed reached 40 kmph and required manual reactivation.

2023 Subaru Forester interior

Just like under the hood specifications, the Forester facelift cabin also remains unchanged with new quilted black leather upholstery as the only update. The list of continuing interior features include - 

• 6.3-inch multifunction driver display
• 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit 
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
• Aluminium pedals
• Electronic parking brake
• Dual-zone automatic climate control with rear vents
• 8-way electrically-adjustable front seats
• Keyless access with push-start system
• 360-degree surround-view monitor

2023 Subaru Forester safety

The SUV gets a big update in the form of Subaru’s latest advanced driver assist system called EyeSight 4.0. Depending on the variant chosen, the upgraded ADAS suite now includes the following systems:

• Pre-Collision Braking with autonomous emergency steering
• Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection 
• High Beam Assist
• Autonomous Emergency Steering
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering Function 
• Lane Departure Warning with Lane Departure Prevention
• Lead vehicle start alert

“State-of-the-art EyeSight 4.0’s unique combination of Lane Centering Function, Lane Departure Prevention, Pre-Collision Braking and other functions fulfil Level 2 ADAS semi-autonomous driving technology that adds another layer of protection and safety, as well as enhanced driver assistance not commonly found in CKD vehicles,” Glenn Tan added.

The list of other safety bits includes - dual front, side curtain airbags, knee airbag, anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, and hill start assist.

What are your views on the new Subaru Forester? Tell us in the comments.

Also read: 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness breaks cover at the New York International Auto Show