2022 Subaru Forester facelift arrives in Japan

KUALA LUMPUR: The Japanese automaker Subaru has come up with a mid-cycle update for its fifth-generation Forester SUV. Available in the home market, the upgrade includes cosmetic tweaks inside and out, new tech, and improvements under the hood.

Starting with the exterior, the 2022 Subaru Forester styling revisions are quite bold, with a redesigned front bumper, a hexagon grille design, and the new headlights that are reminiscent of the ones on the Levorg. Giving it a more powerful stance are the newly designed alloy wheels. Also on offer are round and vertical LED fog lights on the specific variants. As per the automaker, these upgrades showcase the "strength and sturdiness" of the revamped SUV. 

Subaru also updated the 2022 Forester colour palette in Japan by adding new options viz. Cascade Green Silica, Brilliant Bronze Metallic and Autumn Green Metallic.

Inside the cabin, the updated model appears to be the same with subtle changes. These include new trimmings - waterproof polyurethane, Nappa leather, and Ultrasuede/leather upholstery. Part of the kit is an updated Eyesight Safety assist with a new wide-angle front camera. This also gets new software to perform in a wider range of conditions.

On the mechanical front, the new Japan-spec Subaru Forester gets power from a 2.0-litre e-Boxer engine with electric assistance generating a maximum power output of 150 hp. The engine also features an e-Active Shift Control as standard. Another mill on offer is a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-pot unit delivering 174 hp and 300 Nm of torque. Both engines are mated to the brand’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system sending power to all four wheels.

In Malaysia, the SUV’s lineup received a new, sporty model - the Forester 2.0I-L GT Lite Edition back in February featuring several exterior and interior upgrades. It is priced at RM 163,788 (on-the-road without insurance). Included in the price is a 50% sales tax relief currently available in the local market.

Also read: Subaru teases its first electric SUV, the Solterra