Subaru Says ’14 Forester Builds on Strengths of Predecessor

TUCSON, AZ – Subaru of America is counting on the all-new ’14 Forester cross/utility vehicle, arriving in the U.S. this spring, to carry on the sales momentum of its predecessor with what the auto maker calls an evolutionary step forward in development and design.

The original Forester, introduced in Japan in 1997 and in the U.S. the following year, garnered a small group of devoted buyers with its all-wheel-drive system and tall wagon body style. The second generation, introduced in 2003, performed well at launch, but its aging design no longer resonated with U.S. consumers who were migrating toward SUV-like styling.

“That sort of tells you that you got the market wrong or it has changed, so it’s time to change your offering,” spokesman Michael McHale says at a media event here.

With that in mind, the auto maker imbued the third-generation Forester, launched in 2007, with more traditional SUV design cues. Deliveries surged, hitting 85,080 units in 2010, WardsAuto data shows. This compared with the first-generation’s 56,605 sales peak in 2000 and 59,761 for the second model in 2003.

The Forester “has done really well for us,” McHale says. “It’s about 23%-25% of our U.S. sales.”

The ’14 Subaru Forester receives new sheetmetal but maintains the outgoing model’s SUV-like appearance. The top trim level-turbocharged 2.0XT models feature new front and rear fascias, as well as a 1-piece mesh-style grille and chrome-rimmed fog light bezels.

“We tried to give the car more styling,” McHale says. “We felt the current car, while wonderful, could be a little inert at times, so we tried to give this one a little bit more punch.”

In soliciting feedback from owners during the design process, Subaru found many were looking for a larger model. Based on a new platform, the ’14 Forester’s wheelbase is 0.9 ins. (2.3 cm) longer than its predecessor, 1.4 ins. (3.5 cm) longer and 0.6 in. (1.5 cm) wider.

That’s translated into notable gains in roominess, particularly in the rear seat where legroom has grown to 4.2 ins. (10.6 cm).

Other changes improving passenger comfort include higher hip points in the rear seats, which are scalloped to better accommodate child seats, and a lower center transmission tunnel.

“One area of concern with the outgoing car is (that) some of our competitors were more successful winning buyers with small children,” says Todd Hill, Subaru car line manager. “We wanted to make the new Forester more appealing to them, so we put in a lot of time in the backseat.”

In the first row, door panels are made thinner, increasing room between the driver and passenger, and the redesigned instrument panel is moved forward to increase usable space. The door openings also have been widened. “We put a lot of effort into making the cabin more appealing and roomier,” Hill says.

The rear-cargo space has been expanded to 74.7 cu.-ft. (2.1 cu.-m) with the rear seatbacks lowered, which Subaru says is exceeded only by the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V in the small CUV segment.

The cargo floor folds nearly flat, at a 2-degree angle compared with the 4-degree slope of the outgoing model. Additionally, a third arm actuates the power rear gate to increase the cargo-bay opening, which Hill says gives Subaru a competitive advantage.

“Some competitors have motors in the struts that make the struts grow in diameter, and consequently the D-pillar has to grow bigger, which reduces door opening and visibility,” he says. “Cargo capacity is not just about numbers, so we focused on the things buyers care about.”

The ’14 Forester also gets a new 2.0L direct-injected turbocharged horizontally opposed 4-cyl. engine that makes 250 hp and 258 lb.-ft. (350 Nm) of torque.

The turbo engine is based on the architecture of the 2.0L H-4 in the Subaru BRZ sports car that is a 2013 Ward’s 10 Best Engines winner. It will be available in the top-of-the-line Forester 2.0XT model that offers premium and touring trim levels.

A 2.5L naturally aspirated H-4 producing 170 hp and 174 lb.-ft. (236 Nm) of torque is available in the 2.5i Forester model that comes in base, premium, limited and touring versions.

The 2.5i models offer either a new 6-speed manual or the continuously variable transmission Subaru uses throughout its lineup. A high-torque version of the CVT is standard in 2.0XT models.

High-trim models equipped with the CVT now feature a new X-mode control, which Hill says provides added control in certain driving conditions. “(It) gives you extra capability in low-friction environments (and) adjusts control of the engine, transmission, AWD system, brakes, vehicle dynamics controls and other components for slippery surfaces and steep inclines.”

X-drive, operated by a switch on the center console, can be activated only at speeds less than 13 mph (21 km/h), he says, claiming the feature, combined with an upgraded AWD system, makes the ’14 Forester best-in-class in off-road capability.

The outgoing AWD system used torque output and differential-speed information from the wheels to transfer power from wheel to wheel, while the new system adds input from the steering wheel angle, yaw rate and transverse acceleration.

Hill says Subaru tested the Forester’s off-road prowess against the Toyota Land Cruiser and RAV4 and Honda CR-V and Volkswagen Tiguan. Subaru engineers attempted to climb a 30-degree grade covered in gravel with the five vehicles, but only the Forester and Land Cruiser were able to make it up the incline.

Pricing for the Forester begins at $21,995 for the base model 2.5i with a 6-speed manual transmission. The turbocharged 2.0XT starts at $27,995. Prices do not include an $825 destination charge.

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