SUBARU Forester 2019

Body and cabin

It takes a sharp eye to distinguish a 2019 Subaru Forester from a 2018 model, especially from the front. True to habit, Subaru maintained the overall proportions of the outgoing model; wheelbase gains 3 cm, length 1.5 cm and width 2 cm. Height is unchanged, and while the vehicle may look lower than several competitors, it is average for the category.

The Forester still pairs on of the highest ground clearance (22 cm) of its category with doorsills that are low for a sport-ute. It is a winning combination that promotes off-road driving while facilitating access to the cabin. As for the redesigned Impreza and Crosstrek, Subaru enlarged the Forester’s door openings and lengthened the distance between the B-pillar and the rear wheel well.

The cabin is very luminous, thanks to the immense glass area, and provides ample room for four adults. The ideally placed telescoping steering wheel and large footrest ensure an excellent driving position for all. The front seats are well padded and supportive but lack thigh support for tall people, even though Subaru says it has lengthened the cushion.

The rear seatbacks are more enveloping than before. They still fold in a 60/40 configuration; the 40/20/40 split with an independent centre section offered by certain competitors is a bit more versatile. Sport models and higher trims add reclining seatbacks and rear air vents; heated outboard seats are restricted to Limited and Premier versions. The heated seat surfaces are larger than before, and the front passenger seat heater switches off automatically when the seat is vacated.

The cargo area stands out for its 150 cm of width behind the wheel wells, wide enough to load a golf bag flat crossways, as a demonstration proved. Subaru also widened the hatch opening by 15 cm, facilitating the transport of bulky items. However, load height under the windows is still lower than that of several direct competitors, such as Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue.

Subaru claims to have doubled the speed of the power liftgate, standard on Touring trim and up, which our test seemed to confirm.

Safety

For 2019, Subaru has liberalized access to its EyeSight driver assistance system, notably including automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control. It now comes standard starting on the Touring version along with reverse automatic braking and automatic high beams. The latter two features are not included when the EyeSight system is ordered for the Convenience model.

Only the Premier version of the Subaru Forestesr offers a new system that monitors driver attention via a camera on the centre of the dash. If the computer detects a high degree of distraction, audible and visual alerts call the driver to order. It is important to note that the images are erased as they are captured, and they are not transmitted outside of the vehicle.

Once again, purchasers of the base Subaru Forester 2.5i must forgo all those safety assist systems. Let’s hope that Subaru will follow the lead of its partner, Toyota, which now offers most of them on all its models.

Strangely enough, Subaru has eliminated blind-spot monitoring on the Touring model. The decision goes against the current trend and its own policy concerning the EyeSight system. Fortunately, blind-spot monitoring is less of a necessity than for several rivals because of the Forester’s exceptional outward visibility.

Crash test results

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Overall score: 5 / 5
Frontal impact: 5 / 5
Side impact: 5 / 5
Rollover resistance: 4 / 5

Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS)
Moderate overlap frontal impact: 4 / 4
Small overlap frontal impact:
- driver side: 4 / 4
- passenger side: 4 / 4
Side impact: 4 / 4
Rear impact: 4 / 4
Roof strength: 4 / 4

IIHS Top Safety Pick+

Mechanical overview

A more solid platform means more than just improved crash resistance: it also enhances ride comfort without impinging on handling. For the 2019 Forester, Subaru is announcing gains in rigidity of between 40 and 100 percent over the former model, depending on the elements measured.

The engineer responsible for the Forester project at Subaru’s head office in Japan, Katsuro Tadaki, confirmed to us that the majority of suspension components are new for 2019. One of the goals was to reduce body roll in turns. The Tadaki team also adopted a quicker steering ratio and reduced the notoriously long brake pedal travel.

The only available powertrain is composed of a 2.5L 4-cylinder Boxer engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). With demand falling to almost nil, the manual transmission is no more. Gone, too, is the optional turbocharged engine, for the first time since the 2004 model-year. Because barely 5 percent of our neighbours to the south chose the more powerful engine, it is no longer listed. Too bad for Canadians, who were three times more numerous to opt for the greater flexibility of the turbo engine.

Specifications for the remaining engine indicate a slight increase of 12 hp, for a total output of 182 at 5,800 rpm, and a 2 lb-ft increase in maximum torque, for a total of 176 at 4,400 rpm. The engine is now direct injected, and 90 percent of its parts have been modified, notably to reduce vibration, noise and weight.

The operating band of the CVT transmission has been widened slightly but it is otherwise little changed relative to 2018. It still mimics the shifts of a conventional automatic in hard or moderate acceleration. All models, except the base 2.5i, also offer a seven “speed” manual mode activated by steering wheel paddles. All Foresters now feature a sport driving mode that modifies throttle response and transmission shift points. It is even more responsive in the case of the line’s new Sport model.

All-wheel drive is still standard, as is the X-Mode system that improves traction on slippery surfaces and provides automatic braking in steep descents. Sport, Limited and Premier trims add a dual-mode version of the system that disengages the traction control system and rapidly deploys maximum torque for more control in deep snow or mud.

According to Natural Resources Canada, the redesigned Subaru Forester displays a combined city/highway fuel consumption rating of 8.2 L/100 km, versus 8.4 L/100 km for the outgoing model.

Driving impressions

Our first encounter with the 2019 Subaru Forester took place at a press event in the Okanagan River area in southern British Columbia. And while the desert landscapes are certainly magnificent, it was above all the variety and quality of the roads that put a smile on our face.

The term “quality” applies as much to the wonderfully sinuous route as to the road surfaces, spared by the region’s mild weather. The conditions enabled us to note a considerable improvement in road comportment. The outgoing Forester already did very well, but the 2019 model becomes one of the most dynamic SUVs of the moment.

Body roll is limited in turns, fulfilling a promise Subaru made with each renewal of its compact SUV. Steering response is quicker and it avoids the pitfall of extreme lightness, but without displaying the level of feedback of the Mazda CX-5, the champion in this respect. Steering the Forester is a breeze, even at high speed.

Meanwhile, the ride seemed mostly unperturbed by the few bumps encountered during our drive. A jaunt on the roads of Quebec will probably confirm this impression. Soundproofing seemed improved at highway speed, following improvements already made in this respect in the 2017 remake.

Engine performance seemed adequate without being spectacular. Initial acceleration is rapid thanks to the very (some might say overly) responsive tuning of the gas pedal. The transmission delivers power without delay, in a linear fashion, allowing at least for safe passing. Its simulated shifts lend a pleasant rhythm in hard acceleration, even though shifts sometimes verge on abrupt.

Factor in the real improvement in brake pedal travel, and Subaru’s latest evolutionary update of its compact SUV can be declared a success.