Almost a third of the world’s land surface is covered by a forest of some sort. That’s a lot of area, and a lot of unexplored territory for the likes of a Subaru fanatic to discover! Subaru’s new Forester is the fourth generation model, and with a longer body, longer wheelbase and an X-Mode AWD transmission, the new Subaru Forester is all ready to go places.

Ever thought of trying out the new Subaru Forester as an adventure vehicle that will get you to most out of the way places for fishing, skiing or tramping? It’s not as cumbersome as a big 4WD vehicle but the new Forester’s good ground clearance (220 mm) and extra good AWD system with low and high ratio means that any half decent track or slippery slope can be conquered with the latest Subaru technology

What I like about crossover vehicles like the Subaru Forester is that the lower centre of gravity means that twisty country lanes can still be a lot of fun. You’d say that the new Subaru Forester is a medium-sized soft-roader SUV, and a very capable one at that. A bit of a mouthful, I know, but that’s where the marketing gurus say that the Subaru Forester is competing. I’ve found the Subaru Forester to be a nice ride. It’s soft enough for a comfortable ride, and compact enough to not make a nuisance of itself in the city. The fourth generation Forester has grown in size, making the cabin a little more roomy, while the distinctive Subaru lines are retained in a nicely proportioned representation. Urban and open-road work is effortlessly taken care of, and if the weather packs a sad, the wet conditions are mastered with one of the best AWD systems in the business.

Subaru Forester variants start off with a very reasonably priced Subaru Forester 2.0-litre petrol model with a six-speed manual transmission and AWD traction. Subaru claim that the new 2.0-litre engine gulps 22% less fuel than the outgoing model. That’s very cool! And, you’ll find that the price of this entry level Forester includes AWD traction, a huge asset as it competes with other SUVs that offer only FWD. I know which one I’d be getting. All new Subaru Foresters do provide responsive power, and there are a further six models available. A 2.5-litre petrol engine is seated under the bonnet of many of the models, and puts out a handy 126 kW and 235 Nm of torque. Like the entry 2.0-litre engine, this one is more fuel efficient than the previous 2.5-litre Forester – 13% more-so.

If performance is what you want in your new Forester experience, then there is a fast 2.0-litre, turbocharged XT model that pumps out 177 kW and a lusty 350 Nm. Evidently, this model can easily pull away from many quick Euro models, particularly when the rain starts to fall. My choice of Subaru Forester is, perhaps, the 2.0-litre, six-speed manual, turbo-diesel model. Plenty of torque and refinement combine with excellent fuel efficient performance, and it’s a great way to get from A-to-B.

In the new fourth-generation Subaru Forester, the X-Mode AWD traction can be selected at speeds up to 40 km/h. X-Mode componentry gels the control of the engine, AWD system, brakes and other clever stuff to keep the drive as safe as possible. Hill Descent can be activated for really steep slopes, and it’s nice to note that the Forester takes over the hard work while the driver concentrates on steering the machine down the tricky descent.

For those of you who can’t go on holiday without towing a trailer, caravan or boat, the Forester has Towing Stability Control. Petrol variants are able tow a 1500 kg braked trailer, and the diesel model can tow an 1800 kg braked trailer.

Practicality is what the Subaru Forester is all about. A wagon is always going to carry more luggage, and that’s great news for the adventure fans. It’s easy to throw the bike equipment, climbing gear or tramping pack into the back of one of these. There is plenty of room for all the important stuff. For a small family, the new Subaru Forester is a great choice. Getting in and out of the Forester has been made easier with the side sills being lowered by a big 50 mm. The front doors also open 135 mm wider.

Safety is five-star and equipment levels right up there, so live life to the full in the fourth generation Subaru Forester.

The current Subaru Forester models include the:

• Forester 2.0i
• Forester 2.5i
• Forester 2.0i-L
• Forester 2.5i-L
• Forester 2.5i-S
• Forester 2.0XT
• Forester 2.0XT Premium
• Forester 2.0D
• Forester 2.0D-L
• Forester 2.0D-S

For any more information on the new Subaru Forester or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Subaru dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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