New Subaru Forester debuts at Melbourne Motor Show

The all-new sixth-generation Subaru Forester features a bolder, more athletic exterior. Highlights include a dynamic front fascia with a redesigned grille, muscular wheel arches, and striking C-shaped LED headlights.

Subaru’s latest Forester is due to debut at the resurrected Melbourne Motor Show this weekend. The company says the new Forester, which features more athletic styling, is “stronger, smarter, more capable than ever”. It launches in New Zealand midway through the year, when key details will become available.

Designed to ‘own the road and conquer the wild’, it features bolder design cues, including modern C-shaped LED headlights. 

Subaru claims its 220mm of ground clearance is class leading, while X-Mode provides added control on steep, slippery or uneven terrain. The firm says ‘every detail is purpose-built, combining rugged durability with everyday usability.’  

New Forester will be the first Subaru model in New Zealand to feature the next-generation ‘strong hybrid’ e-Boxer powertrain. 

This pairs a 2.5-litre flat-four petrol engine with an 88kW electric motor and a 1.1kW battery system. Output is a claimed 145kW and mean fuel use is 6.7L/100km, according to an earlier preview. Working through an eight-speed CVT it is said to deliver smooth, quiet, and efficient performance. 

The hybrid powertrain evidently delivers better fuel economy, instant torque, and a claimed driving range of around 1000km per tank. 

Along with its symmetrical AWD, new Forester comes with the latest-generation EyeSight Driver Assist technology. It includes Emergency Driving Stop System (AEB). Other standard safety items comprise a Driver Monitoring System, 360-Degree View Monitor and nine SRS airbags. It is all part of the firm’s global vision of zero fatal road accidents in a Subaru by 2030. 

The interior highlights is a high-definition 11.6-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. There’s also wireless charging capability. Higher level variants will introduce a customisable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. 

Inchcape General Manager, Kym Mellow, the distributor of Subaru vehicles in New Zealand said: “The new-generation Forester is stronger, smarter, more capable than ever.  

“This country has some of the most challenging and spectacular terrain anywhere in the world — and Forester is built to thrive in it. From alpine passes to gravel roads and everything in between, it handles it all with ease. This is a vehicle that’s more than ready for New Zealand and the addition of Subaru’s latest Hybrid technology gives drivers the very best Subaru has to offer.” 

Details on the model line-up, specifications, price and availability will be announced closer to its mid-winter launch.