Lineartronic CVT now available in Subaru Forester diesel

Subaru has refreshed its Forester SUV for 2015, with a new 7.0-inch touchscreen system, improved interior and revised engines, including a Lineartronic automatic option paired to the 2.0-litre Boxer diesel.

The updated Subaru Forester is available from April 1 and is priced from £24,995 for the 2.0D X manual.

The Lineartronic CVT automatic combines the benefits of a traditional CVT automatic with preset ‘stepped’ gear ratios, meaning the loud droning typical of a CVT  is eliminated under hard acceleration. Drivers can also choose a manual mode, selecting from seven gear ratios with paddle shifters.

The 148PS diesel engine has been tweaked to reduce noise and vibration while improving economy. Fuel economy for the manual is 49.6mpg with emissions of 148g/km, while the Lineartronic manages 46.3mpg and 158g/km. As before, every Forester has all-wheel drive.

The new touchscreen system is a major improvement over the previous model's, with a slicker, more sensitive interface. It features navigation, Bluetooth, USB input and smartphone connectivity for features like weather forecast, audio streaming and traffic reports. It is standard on all but entry-level X models.