By Otsile Kadiege

Subaru South Africa has revealed their updated Forester with fresh new looks, improved ride quality and dynamics, a myriad of EyeSight safety functions and strengthened versatility. The Forester is the automaker’s best-selling SUV and will be the product to inaugurate Subaru Southern Africa’s 30th year in South Africa. 

Exterior changes

The facelifted Forester gets a more dynamic and sturdier stance thanks to a larger, hexagonal grille with a reduced headlight design. The grille and front bumper now incorporate more use of black elements around the redesigned headlight and foglamp clusters. The reworked headlights now include an array of LED bulbs for improved driver vision as part of the Forester Adaptive Headlamps and High Beam Assist features.

The Forester Sport gets fog lamps with six-bulb LED units within a black housing whilst the Forester Premium is fitted with three chromed horizontal pieces. The refreshed Forester also gets enhanced mirror caps, A and B-pillar covers as well as the rear spoiler, and tailgate finishes. 

The new Forester sits on redesigned 17-inch alloy wheels on the base model or 18-inch alloy wheels on the high spec models. The new 18-inch wheel design on the Premium Forester is a new five-spoke, dual-tone design and the Forester Sport all-black multi-spoke wheels. The roof rails on the 2022 Forester have also been strengthened and redesigned to allow for a higher load capacity and to ensure the safe use of roof-top tents for instance. Additional tie-down locations have also been integrated into the rails as have two additional utility hooks been added to the roof of the rear cargo area.

The Forester is available in a range of colours and for 2022 a new Cascade Green Silica colour has been added in place of the Jasper Green Metallic. 

Enhanced driver assistance systems

Subaru has introduced a more advanced version of the EyeSight Driver Assist Technology – EyeSight Version 4.0. The new system delivers all-round improvement for use under a wider array of conditions and environments. It’s new dual cameras and improved software makes the system faster and more intuitive, working to deploy the myriad of EyeSight safety functions such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, Lane Departure and Sway Warning with even better precision. 

Also offered with EyeSight 4.0 are three new technologies that employ active steering inputs. These include Active Lane Centering, Lane Departure Prevention and Autonomous Emergency Steering. 

Powertrains

The entire 2022 Subaru Forester line-up is driven by Subaru’s signature Boxer engines and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system for safe and engaging dynamics as well as maximum traction and control. The 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine develops 115kW and 196Nm. It’s paired to a CVT and has a claimed fuel consumption of 7.6l/100km. 

The more potent 2.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine makes 136kW and 239Nm. It’s also paired to a CVT and has a claimed fuel consumption of 8.3l/100km. 

Subaru has tweaked the front suspension of the new Forester to improve steering responsiveness, ride quality and handling by reworking the coil springs and dampers. To further improve the NVH levels, the Forester also receives new aluminium engine mount brackets.

Pricing

Pricing for the 2022 Subaru Forester is as follows:

Subaru Forester 2.0i CVT – R486,000;

Subaru Forester 2.0i-S ES CVT – R564,000;

Subaru Forester 2.5i-Sport ES CVT – R599,000; and

Subaru Forester 2.5i-S ES CVT – R649,000. 

Local introduction of the new Forester is scheduled for January 2022. It’s sold with a 3year/75,000km full maintenance plan as well as 5year/150,000km warranty. These are extendable, with various plans available to Subaru customers.