The 2019 Subaru Forester Blends Old-School Boxer Attitude With Modern Tech

Subaru's all-new Forester has been revealed at the New York Auto Show, with an updated, more powerful boxer-four and a smart facial recognition feature

Matt Robinson

29 Mar 2018

The 2019 Subaru Forester Blends Old-School Boxer Attitude With Modern Tech

Subaru has revealed the latest version of its biggest and most practical offering - the Forester SUV - and it’s just as willfully quirky as ever. Yes, it still has a symmetrical all-wheel drive system, and yes, it’s still powered by a boxer-four.

It already sounds like one massive anachronism on wheels, but just to reinforce that further, the 2.5-litre engine is naturally-aspirated. It’s also more powerful than the one in the outgoing Forester, now making 180bhp and 176lb ft of torque. In terms of economy, you can expect 33mpg (highway), based on those slightly smaller US-measured gallons.

The engine - we’re afraid - is only available with a CVT gearbox, although if you opt for a Sport or Touring-trimmed Forester, you do at least get a manual mode that “simulates” a seven-speed manual via steering wheel-mounted paddles.

The wheelbase is around 5cm longer than before, helping Subaru squeeze in more head, hip and shoulder room. The boot’s bigger this time too, allowing you to pack in many lifestyle things.

Despite its old-school sensibilities, there is still some very up-to-date tech on offer here. Chief among which is DriverFocus, a facial recognition system which aims to combat distracted driving. As a bonus, it can also ‘recognise’ anything up to five drivers - once it’s read the face, it’ll know who’s driving, and adjust the seat position, climate control settings and the multifunction display to suit. Clever.

In terms of looks it’s all still pleasantly utilitarian, if a little…safe. We were hoping it would have taken a little more inspiration from the Viziv Future concept. Since it hasn’t, we should probably expect the next WRX to look rather a lot less like the Viziv Performance concept than we’d like. Come on Subaru, you know you want to be a little more daring…

The 2019 Forester is on display now at the New York Auto Show.

Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.

Comments

It looks the same😂

Looks way better than the new RAV4…

I think the RAV4 looks alright

I wish they’d just adjusted the 2017 design language to make it more sporty but nooo, they had to crash a C-HR into the back of a Tacoma

The front looks exactly like a tacoma

Oh I dunno, the Subi is a bit bland

Neverrr…rav4 looks waaaaaayyyy better

Honestly, no hate or anything, but how do Subaru come up with designs that already look outdated?… I mean the front is exactly the same and the rear halogen lights don’t help either… interior is basically the same as 6-7 years ago, just with bigger screens…

I agree, but what i find worse, is that theirs engines are by only a small margin more powerful, than the outgoing ones. Like 10 years ago theirs engine had 150HP and today, 10 years later only 180. Other manufactures are already miles away.

I was just thinking that it looks just like something you’d see in 2010 and not 2017

Wait… US gallons aren’t thr same size are European ones?

My whole life is a lie

UK gallons I think.. the rest of europe uses metric liters..

Subaru are putting a lot of CVT’s in their new cars. While their CVT’s are good compared to other CVT’s, I hope they’re not phasing out their other transmissions in favour of the CVT