2019 Subaru Forester - First impression

Back in early May of this year, Japanese automaker Subaru confirmed that the all-new 2019 Forester will be heading to the shores of Malaysia. Now, this was to happen somewhere in July, though as you can figure out, the official launch was delayed, with actual unveiling happening towards the end of August. Anyway, better late than never, right?

The Forester was first launched back in 1997 as the first-generation model in the US, and represented Subaru’s first dedicated compact crossover SUV. However, unlike many of its rivals, the Forester was built (right from the word ‘go’) to be a pretty capable off-road vehicle as well, which is why it came with an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.

Today, the fifth-generation Subaru Forester is the latest of the breed and rides on the Subaru Global Platform (SGP) which it also shares with the newest Impreza. In Malaysia, this new Forester is available three variants - starting from RM 139,788 for the base trim, going up to RM 159,788 for the full-fat ES variant. Some of its main competition in the region comes from the likes of the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and the Mitsubishi Outlander.

Exterior

First and foremost, it’s important to note that the general silhouette of the new Subaru Forester hasn’t changed over its fourth-gen predecessor. However, this does not mean that the carmaker has done absolutely zilch. As an example, the 2019 Forester now boasts a total length of 4,625mm which represents an increase of 30mm (with all of it being donated towards increasing the car’s wheelbase), a width of 1,815mm (being 20mm wider than before), and a stance that’s now 5mm shorter.

In the styling department, the alterations are far more evident. Upfront, the 2019 Forester gets a massive grille with loads of chrome, revised and more aggressive-looking headlamps with C-shaped LED DRLs, and a reworked bumper with fancier chrome housing for the fog lamps, large black cladding along with a convincing-looking skid plate. Also really noticeable (on the top trim) are the dual cameras mounted on the top of the front windshield as part of the ‘EyeSight’ system.

Unfortunately, Subaru hasn’t made any changes to the sides of the 2019 Forester - though one could argue that it looks fine as it is. This means you still get to see them flared wheel arches, bold 18-inch alloy rims, plastic cladding, door-mounted wing mirrors, interesting yet subtle creases along with the bodywork, rising beltline, obvious roof rails and large windows.

The rear of the 2019 Forester gets new C-shaped tail lamps with distinct LED elements and a revised tailgate, plus a large roof spoiler, beefy bumper with built-in rear fog lamps and the now ubiquitous ‘look tough’ cladding, and a faux diffuser with a single cut-out for the exhaust outlet. While much of its competition has moved on to a more contemporary form of exterior styling, the 2019 Subaru Forester vehemently retains its boxy and old-school charm. Oh, joy!

Interior

One of the first things you’re likely to notice when you step inside the 2019 Subaru Forester is the sheer amount of space that’s available. Being a strict five-seater along with the increase in wheelbase and large windows means that this is one of the airiest and roomy cabins in the segment.

The seats are also fairly comfortable for the class, with the rear ones having no trouble coping with three adults -- there’s no shortage of headroom, legroom or knee room, either. Engineers have also been able to increase the Forester’s overall cargo volume, which now stands at 520 litres - representing a bump of 40 litres over the previous model.

On the styling front, truth be told, the interior of this new Forester is almost the same as before. But having said that, the use of multiple angles and textures along the dashboard, centre console and doors do look pique some interest.

As with all new Subaru cars, the quality of build and the fit & finish are excellent, with a standard of materials used being quite decent as well. Of course, the stitched effect on the higher trims does look nice and raises the overall appeal of the cabin. As for its features list, the 2019 Subaru Forester specs tells that it can be had with goodies such as adaptive LED headlamps with washers, LED front & rear fog lamps, rain-sensing windshield wipers, power-folding/heated wing mirrors and keyless access with push-start ignition.

You can also have full-leather seats, 8-way power-adjustable front seats, aluminium pedals, shift paddles, adaptive cruise control, electronic parking brake with auto-hold, reclining and split-folding rear seats, dual-zone climate control with dedicated rear vents, 6-speaker audio system with AUX, USB and HDMI inputs, Bluetooth telephony, parking sensors with a rearview camera, USB charging ports, 8-inch touchscreen head unit with navigation, and Subaru’s Intelligent Drive selector.

Powertrain and performance

Under the hood of the 2019 Subaru Forester is the brand’s trademark flat-four petrol engine, which in this case, is a 2.0-litre unit with direct injection and dual overhead cams. Paired to Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT gearbox and their touted Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System with Active Torque Split, this motor feeds all four corners with approximately 154hp and 196Nm of torque.

Weighing around 1.6 tonnes, the Forester is capable of hustling to a top speed of 190 kmph, while the sprint from 0 to 100 kmph takes around 10.5 seconds or so. And if you don’t push it hard all the time, the 2019 Forester could return up to 14 kmpl, too. Also, given the proven and reliable all-wheel-drive hardware underneath and the smart programming of the various systems, this family crossover wouldn’t mind getting itself a little dirty should you choose to take it off the beaten path.

Safety equipment

Subaru has equipped the 2019 Forester with its ‘EyeSight’ Driver Assist Technology package. This brings in some really important and up-to-date tech such as Adaptive Cruise Control with Lead Vehicle Start Alert, Pre-Collision Braking and Active Throttle Management, Lane Change Assist along with Lane Sway and Departure Warning etc.

The Forester boasts its safety stats further by adding seven airbags (front, side, curtain and driver’s knee), Vehicle Dynamics Control System (VDC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection (SRVD) and Brake Override System (BOS).

Also Read:- After Forester and Outback, XV get EyeSight tech