2023 Subaru Forester: Prices, specs and release date
- Refreshed styling and improved equipment for Subaru Forester SUV
- Off-road ability improved, while facial recognition tech has new functionality
- Available to order now, prices from £37,895
The new Subaru Forester marks a quarter-century of success with a useful series of updates for the 2023 model. Subaru’s popular SUV is now safer and more capable than ever. Standard equipment levels have been enhanced too.
Off-road-ready SUVs like the new Subaru Forester have a loyal following in the UK. The Forester will rival the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.
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2023 Subaru Forester styling, interior and technology
The new Subaru Forester has a more assertive appearance that builds on its crossover SUV influences. It has a revised grille and front bumper, plus different headlights and fog lights. They all combine to make it look more robust and imposing – we like how the large grille blends into the prominent, high-set bonnet. The silver skid plates are stylish, too.
The new Subaru Forester Sport features smart red and orange bumper and side-sill accents, along with black roof rails that have additional red and orange detailing. It’s marked out by black door mirrors and rear privacy glass, while the 18-inch alloy wheels are finished in black.
The entry-level Subaru Forester XE has 17-inch alloys, while the range-topping new Subaru Forester XE Premium boasts diamond-cut 18-inch wheels – and also gains a panoramic glass roof.
There are three new paint colours available for the new Subaru Forester: Cascade Green Silica, Brilliant Bronze Metallic and Autumn Green Metallic.
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Inside, the new Subaru Forester continues to offer a clear and ergonomic control layout. Small details such as heater controls that are easy to use while wearing gloves are valued by Subaru Forester owners. The interior is solidly built and the high roof means it feels very spacious and airy.
Practicality is important to Subaru Forester owners. The latest model has a 509-litre boot with the rear seats up, which expands to 1,779 litres with them folded – an appreciably larger and better-shaped space than many of its true SUV rivals. It also measures a healthy 1.98 metres long, which those buying or leasing the new Subaru Forester will find super-practical. The company has fitted new cargo hooks in the load area, so it’s easier to carry small items without them rolling around the boot floor.
As for overall dimensions, the new Subaru Forester measures 4,640mm long, 1,815mm wide and 1,730mm tall. This means it is usefully more compact than a regular four-wheel-drive SUV, despite its impressive interior space and practicality. This is another reason why the car is so perennially popular with Subaru fans.
All new Subaru Foresters are equipped with an 8.0-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system, plus an additional 6.3-inch driver information display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity is standard – along with a voice recognition system – while Sport and XE Premium versions come with sat-nav.
2023 Subaru Forester engines, performance and fuel economy
The new Subaru Forester comes with a 2.0-litre e-Boxer direct injection petrol engine, which produces 150PS. Zero to 62mph takes 11.8 seconds. All cars have the Lineartronic automatic gearbox.
The new Subaru Forester e-Boxer system is a self-charging hybrid setup that uses a small-capacity lithium-ion battery and a 16PS electric motor. It means the new Subaru Forester always starts off in pure electric mode. It’s also able to travel up to a mile with the engine off, at speeds of up to 25mph. The engine and electric motor then work together to maximise efficiency, while the engine operates in isolation at higher speeds.
The efficiency of the setup means the new Subaru Forester is able to average almost 35mpg on the WLTP combined fuel economy cycle, with CO2 emissions of 185g/km. This is a strong result for a model that comes with full-time four-wheel drive. The S-AWD symmetrical all-wheel drive equally distributes drive to all four wheels, with a torque vectoring system for even more assured handling in corners.
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Many of those buying or leasing a new Subaru Forester will use their car off-road. For these people, the firm has enhanced its X-Mode technology. It offers Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud settings, and operates at speeds below 22mph. Subaru has also improved the hill-descent control system fitted to all new Forester models.
The new Subaru Forester also comes with enhanced active safety gadgets. The forward-facing camera for the fourth-generation EyeSight driver assist technology has a field of vision that has almost doubled, and now comes with 11 different safety functions. Three of them are new for the 2023 Subaru Forester: active emergency steering, adaptive cruise control with lane centring, and lane-departure prevention that recognises dividing lines, road edges and grass verges.
The new Subaru Forester will offer a more polished drive overall, courtesy of new springs and dampers front and rear. Subaru says they deliver a more refined ride, along with more agile handling.
How safe is the new Subaru Forester?
The new Subaru Forester boasts a reassuring five-star Euro NCAP crash-safety score. Its active safety has been further enhanced thanks to updates to the Subaru EyeSight driver assistance system.
What sort of gearbox does the new Subaru Forester use?
The new Subaru Forester’s automatic gearbox is called Lineartronic. This is a CVT-style gearbox – and Subaru says that thanks to the addition of the e-Boxer electric motor, it’s now smoother and 30 percent more responsive.
Why is the Subaru Forester’s engine special?
The new Subaru Forester continues to use the brand’s famous horizontally-opposed flat-four petrol engine. This is perfectly balanced and also delivers a low centre of gravity, for excellent stability and handling. It aids the symmetrical four-wheel-drive system, too.
New Cars Coming Soon
Before you step into a showroom, read our in-depth guide to all the new cars coming in the next 12 months and beyond – some are well worth the wait.
