Getting up early in the morning with the knowledge that you have to brave the traffic from where I reside in Pretoria to Johannesburg is never a pleasant experience! However when you wake up knowing that you are amongst a handful of people that will be driving a new model from a very exciting manufacturer, that dreadful feeling dissipates very quickly indeed.
I was fortunate enough to be invited to the launch of the MY 2013 All new Subaru Forester that was held in Sandton. Some motoring journo’s would have you believe that attending a new launch is boring, tedious and all the same. Having said that, I am quite new to this “motoring game” so it is understandable that I might get a little more excited than the rest, but alas I still don’t see how it could be boring and tedious to drive a newly launched model, especially if motoring is in your blood!
After the usual welcomes and run down of the new model by various Subaru representatives, we were led off to a gleaming fleet of very impressive looking new Forester’s. First impressions are usually lasting, and this new sibling from Subaru really has one of the best looking front ends in the business, really a job well done by the design team.
The interior, as the rest of the vehicle, got a proper redone by the people at Subaru, with a very spacious, tactile interior. The dashboard is “soft touch” with an array of new design elements all over. As my co-driver, Ferdi de Vos said, this is by far and large the best looking interior in this segment. It is a very pleasant environment to find yourself in, and I can easily see myself tucked away in the Forester for a very long road trip.
Stocked with a proper road map, water and a full tank of fuel we headed out the parking lot of the hotel, into the bustling heart of Sandton.
Our first drive was in the new normally-aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder Boxer petrol unit, with a healthy 126 kW at 5 800 rpm and 235 Nm at 4 100 rpm available. We were set off in the 2.5 X model, the least luxurious of the 2.5 models available. However all the 2.5-litre models feature Lineartronic™ CVT transmissions, resulting in the addition of X-Mode and two-mode SI-Drive to the list of standard features. At first this particular model felt a little sluggish, partly because of its rather substantial weight being more than 2 Tonnes, but also due to the fact that we weren’t quite sure how to get the best out of the engine. Performance figures from the 2.5-litre Lineartronic isn’t really blistering, especially at Reef altitudes, but the CVT gearbox does a sterling job at keeping the engine at its peak power when needed. We found that as soon as the vehicle gets up to cruising speed, it keeps it there rather unceremoniously.
At the first driver swop point, we moved into the most luxurious of the 2.5 models, being the XS Premium, this vehicle retails for around R490 000. This model adds paddle shift control on the steering wheel, 17” alloy wheels, an electric driver’s seat, and HID headlamps. Further gains for your money includes luxurious extras like a double-volume sunroof and leather upholstery, along with automatic lights and wipers, keyless entry and starting and a one-touch powered tailgate with remote control and an adjustable height setting. This model really felt like the one to own, with plenty toys and enough luxury to keep even the most discerning owner happy.
By now we were on the open B section roads around Mulders Drift, and with the CVT gearbox figured out we were quite briskly moving along. Funny enough in this model the power delivery just seemed a bit smoother with more grunt at the top end of the range. Hard to explain why, but it really felt more alive and especially with the paddle shift and the SI drive engaged we were shunting along very quickly indeed. I think what impressed me the most was the suspension and drive over the rutted B roads, with plenty uneven bumps and potholes around, the Forester just simply soaked these up without being too soft or mushy, very composed and sure footed. So much so that on certain sections you could find yourself going way too fast for your own good, mainly because the Forester does a sterling job at hiding road imperfections.
Our lunch stop was again spectacular, with very good food and a venue that will have me return in future for leisure time.
Our hosts designed a little “off road” course to experience the X-Mode and off road capabilities of the new Forester. I can’t really comment on this as the course was very mundane, but understanding the nature of the launch, and being very new vehicles it was understandable that we didn’t venture into the bush. I will have to wait to get my hands on a test unit to properly asses the off road capabilities of the Forester against its direct competitors.
My wily co-driver, still Ferdi de Vos, “secured” us a key to one of the Forester XT models, as another journalist “got lost” ( can’t really blame them!) on the way to the lunch venue in a XT model, thus making it difficult for all to get a chance behind the wheel of this beast.
As with all the other models from Subaru, the Turbo models always excite the most, with a very long heritage of being awesome drivers’ vehicles. The XT this time round does not disappoint. Subaru went back to their roots for the new Forester with a 2.0 litre turbo charged power unit. The Forester 2.0 XT Lineartronic™. Powered by a 177 kW (at 5 600 rpm) and 350 Nm (between 2 400 and 3 600 rpm) direct injection turbocharged four-cylinder Boxer® petrol engine. The claimed 0-100 is just 7.5 seconds and top speed is seen at 210 km/h. I can attest to very brisk acceleration, as I got the first stint driving back to Sandton, the road was really designed for testing the XT, with plenty twisty turns, and long open stretches of quiet road. I can only say this, if I have R529 000 to spend on a SUV, I know where I would be spent. Words elude me to describe the feeling of driving the Forester XT, and the best part is that with the new X-Mode you can take it off the beaten track when the need arises.
Another Subaru hallmark is exceptional handling and, thanks to the drive train’s symmetrical layout, the engine’s low-down positioning (which lowers the car’s centre of gravity) and the employment of four-wheel independent suspension on all models, the new Forester continues the Subaru tradition of excellent levels of grip, balance and control. Not only is handling enhanced but ride comfort is also improved, the independent layout with a double wishbone design at the rear taming the harshest of road surfaces. The setup has been designed to react to bumps and undulations without upsetting the Forester’s composure while being fine-tuned to maintain sharp control, allowing the driver to take on the road’s challenges with confidence.
Get out to your nearest Subaru dealer, and get your behind in the seat of this vehicle, before you make any buying decisions. I honestly think that in the segment it competes in, you can’t get better value, enjoyment and quality for your money. With a very solid reputation as far as built quality and reliability goes, with the backing and involvement of Toyota, the All New Subaru Forester gets my vote.
Complete 4x4 will report in full about this vehicle as soon as we get a test unit form the manufacturer.
