The red trim greatly adorns the bodywork of the Subaru Forester Sport. Some of them are located on the shelves of the luggage guides
The red line runs along the rapids...
... and front and rear bumpers
No, it's different from the previous Forester: a simple and unpretentious forester... Now the material and construction quality is very close to the high quality
The driver cannot see the button on the left side of the steering wheel
The same Subaru, just a crossover. The company has developed a unique style of its models that is 100% recognizable
The orange interior details are the strongest symbol of the Subaru Forester Sport. However, this version is not equipped to the maximum, does not represent the "top" of the first line
The design of the dashboard and in-vehicle computer was preserved as a whole and reused on the company's other models.
If you feel that the lane control system is turned off, don't believe it or yourself. She just "fell asleep" but would "wake up" immediately if necessary.
Sport mode was chosen and the torque curve is curved compared to smart mode
X-Mode Deep Snow/Mud - Downshift Simulation
Again, according to the tradition of "Subarov", the steering wheel is dotted with buttons. The Info button allows you to change the information on the top screen of the dashboard
The S and I buttons switch between Smart and Sport modes
Manual shifting is performed only by paddle shifters, and the shift lever activates only manual mode
Some of the buttons that control the safety system accidentally move to the ceiling
The upper display on the dashboard provides a lot of interesting information. You can switch between seven different screens
When you select off-road mode, you can see the lateral and longitudinal roll of the car.
A very interesting indicator is the degree to which the throttle is stepped. Think you can't get a hundred percent? But you can, it's checked!
Display the operation of the proprietary active "cruising" EyeSight on the upper display...
... And on the dashboard: at a set speed of 120 km/h, the car maintains 110 km/h, the "slow" speed in front
This is a photo from the camera in the outer rearview mirror housing on the right side.
When you start moving forward, you can see what is happening directly in front of the car on the screen
This is how the image of the rearview camera is displayed on the large main multimedia display. The camera's "eyes" perfectly distinguish between leaves and grass
Overall, the Forester's recreation system didn't complain, but during the test, the smartphone connected via Bluetooth "fell off" several times
Climate control is easy to operate
Again, pay attention to the bright details inside. There is also the dual-mode system X-Mode, which turns the "reluctant forester" into a real "forester"
This is how the sporty dashboard, system deflectors, and inner door panels are trimmed. Very stylish!
This is how the torpedo console is decorated. Also impressive
Forester's front seats are spacious and spacious. The driver's seat is electrically adjustable for memory and the passenger is manually adjustable
The combination interior – the combination of "artificial leather" and "mat" – is also a feature of the sport version
The outermost seat of the backrest sofa is equipped with heating elements
In the second row of the "Foresters" at the time of the test, three passengers were comfortably accommodated, only one of whom was slender
When folded up, the backrest of the rear sofa forms a single surface with the raised trunk floor. The backrest is configured "correctly": the smaller part is on the left
Part of the backrest can be folded from the side of the passenger compartment or from the trunk, for which there are special keys on its side walls
The foam insert under the raised floor is clearly intended to act as an organizer. But it offers very little useful space.
The spare tire here is a stowaway. Inside is a container with drive tools.
A good off-road idea is to install a special protector for the AWD clutch
Rear suspension "Forester" independent multi-link. Note: The clearance under the rear lever is less than the ground clearance of the officially announced model
The boxer engine is Subaru's strength. They have the advantage of low vibration and low center of gravity of the vehicle. The disadvantage is that the maintenance is complicated
In a way, this bright yellow lid simplifies service and repairs.
Perhaps, I can handle the removal and installation of belts on a 175 hp Forester engine.
The welds of the body are filled with plastic sol strips, which is beneficial to the model.
This is what the engine intake looks like from under the open hood.
Between the cups of the front suspension struts, gaskets are required to increase the stiffness of the bodywork. At the same time, it will become an element of the sporty style.
Climbing on tough sands, foresters perform better and more confidently than their competitors even when turning. At the same time, you don't even need to turn on the X-Mode system.
The traces of the slip were still there, and she herself felt it, but very briefly
In "Deep Snow/Muddy" mode, either on the move, with splashing fans, or "crawling". I chose not to take risks and chose the second option. What would you choose?
Every crossover owner wants his car to be unique. Unlike others. Better than others. Especially if the price of the model exceeds three million rubles. Yes, some of the new foresters' decorative levels are now on the deluxe list. But that's Subaru — that means reason for pride. Becoming a "subbarist" is a special honor
But what does it really mean to be a "subbarist"? Is it enough to own a Japanese car? What is so special about his vehicles that true Subaru fans have? After all, what is the real Subaru?
I don't classify myself as "subbarist," but I partially understand them. After a series of tests by Motorpage, for me, the real Subaru started with the Legacy model. The Forester crossover, like many crossovers associated with sedans of the same brand, is a compromise when it comes to handling, either way. But crossovers can also be good, even very good, regardless of how the sedan in question is driven. Indeed, in the GM model, we value the means of spaciousness, high ground clearance, and increased off-road capability – isn't that enough? For the same "forest man", everything is in line with these qualities. The Subaru logo is first of all a guaranteed Japanese quality, and secondly, in the company of idle "non-subarists", you can always show yourself ... Well, overall, you know what this is.
In addition, Subaru's proprietary feature — the permanently symmetrical four-wheel drive — is also a feature of the Foresters. In our country, all crossovers of this model are only available with such drives. This goes a long way towards how the car feels. Admittedly, the Lineartronic + transmission deliberately softens the sporting ambitions, but no longer brings us the forester with "mechanical". Zeitgeist: More and more car owners like automation. By the way: the real and most authentic Subaru in the world – the Impreza WRX sedan – retains its "machinery" within its range. Like Porsche Cayman and 911.
But the engines are all the same boxer, both literally and figuratively. Two power levels: The two-liter version has 150 hp. With, at 2.5 liters - 175 liters. and. It's not that the metrics are as hot, but test drives and measurements show that a more powerful engine would allow the Japanese "Foresters" to easily beat stronger competitors, such as those from South Korea. We accelerate from 80 km/h to 120 km/h on the highway and fix: in I (Smart) mode, acceleration occurs in about 7 seconds, in SI (Sport) mode - 6.5 seconds. It's good for me. It could be better – but no, the manual mode of the box actually doesn't help. Instead of four gears, I put the count in the middle, which is at 100 km/h, because the seven-second limit has run out. In the third case, the situation is better - much the same as mode I.
Overall, this is inconsistent with the driving experience. Trying to use only five gears in urban and suburban conditions seems to be successful: "The Foresters" proved to be a real passion. But here, he was ready to accelerate and overtake on suburban roads, like apparent laziness. The engine recoil seems to be quite strong, but it is said to be struggling in the transmission. Well, here's "mechanics".
Also, the gearbox doesn't have the best features – it makes a little whining sound. But only slightly different, overall, the interior of the current "forester" is very quiet and can be well insulated from any noise. Moreover, it is now assembled in a real Japanese way, that is, very carefully and meticulously. The internal device does not produce any unwanted noise and squeaking. Even on broken asphalt pavements, even on country roads. This is the advantage, advantage, and advantage of the model.
Remembering the previous "forest people", in the current "forest people", I noticed a significant increase in internal space. Sharon was wide both front and back, and there was a tail that extended thirty centimeters at the rider's knee when landing behind me. A valuable indicator. Of course, this distance is partly due to the slightly shortened sofa cushions. However, when I tried to sit behind myself, I didn't feel any discomfort.
What about comfort? Oh, and with that, the "Japanese" are fine. The pamphlet is frustrating: the text claims that the suspension is harder. No, it's a lot softer here than you'd expect from a brand rep and Sport modification, and this time it's a Motorpage test. Sometimes I even detect additional vertical body vibrations after overcoming high-speed bumps. An unpopular phenomenon, however, can be tolerated. At the same time, on the broken asphalt and primer, the car became denser in terms of suspension. The non-reed mass fluctuates, while the reed mass remains unchanged. The car seemed to float on the blemishes of the canvas. Let's call it a commendable act. In this regard, the Foresters are at the same level as them, if not surpassing their South Korean rivals.
An unbiased on-board computer reports that the car has achieved a backward tilt of about 1 degree with ballast in the second row of seats and trunk areas below 300 kg. Does this reduce the pressure on the front axle when making sharp turns or driving at high speeds on the highway? If it is uninstalled, then only to a trivial extent. And the overall directional stability is maintained at a high level, and the performance is the same when cornering, especially the ligaments. But in this case, forster's German rival, who really loved the road, rushed to the hull. At least in my personal opinion.
An interesting crossover option is the additional camera in the exterior mirror housing on the right. It turns on automatically when you change the driving mode, allowing you to maneuver with more confidence in tight spaces and off-road. The image is displayed on the upper color display of the dashboard – the same location clearly shown in the work of the proprietary "Subar" active "cruising" EyeSight.
Of course, electronic assistants help the "Japanese". The latest "Forest man" can not only follow the marking line, but also drive into the lane. However, he watched more zealously than he did by car: he kept calling to see the road, with the Inscription "Keep eyes on the road" written on it. Basically, the text that appears on the screen of the on-board multimedia system is Russian, but some of the information is still reproduced in English.
Recent tests on the Forester's younger brother Subaru XV crossover showed that lane keeping assist can deactivate itself. Then the dealer can't answer the question of why this is happening. Its icon appears as OFF. This time I realized that there was no self-closing in these moments, only a slightly strange sign. Once lane control or steering is needed again, the system "wakes up", just like it. While it does work off, it just looks different: completely different icons light up. This happens when heavy precipitation begins, mud, fog on the road. In this case, from the point of view of the electronic device, the marking line is lost.
Eye Sight adaptive cruising is flawless. The "forest man" slowed down again, catching up with the slow car, and accelerating when changing lanes. Overall, the blind spot monitoring system also performed well.
No more against my will
What about symmetrical four-wheel drive? To be honest, I didn't feel the effect it had on asphalt. However, I didn't push too hard to avoid burning the rubber. I noticed the peculiarity of the steering mechanism: it seemed to "spin" the car on its own at times, so I quickly stopped turning the steering wheel particularly enthusiastically. Maybe that's all for me. But at the same time, the steering wheel of this crossover is sharp with... Range Rover Sport SVR quite. High score.
But four-wheel drive activated off-road very quickly. The X-mode system in the Foresters movement modification is dual-mode, like the XV we tested in the spring. Then the more severe mode – deep snow/mud (i.e. deep snow and liquid mud) – has successfully brought benefits to off-road capabilities. Right now...... Now I don't even have time to turn it on, the car copes with the rise of the sand so easily and naturally, becoming complicated by turning the front wheels. Modern crossovers, and the "juniors" of "jeeps," are far from overcoming this place on their first attempt. Everyone needs an off-road capability system in an additional mode. The Foresters didn't have them.
I remember the second test of this car. Then, in the presence of a manual gearbox, the X-Mode system was not enough for the crossover, for which I named it "The Reluctant Forester". In this case, the "bondage" leaves no trace. I tried to hang a rear wheel and check if the car had overcome the "diagonal" – it didn't work: they didn't want the wheels to hang in the air. The rear multi-link has a significant stroke. Some of its elements have very strange shapes, which, of course, have a positive effect on asphalt treatment. But as it turns out, they also contribute to off-road capabilities.
Despite being very fast on the track during testing, the 2.5-liter Forester was satisfied with the modest consumption of No. 95 gasoline. When "cruising" at a fixed speed of 120 km/h, it can be kept within 8 liters per hl. It is not surprising that sharp acceleration and deceleration increase consumption per liter. In a city with traffic jams, at least a dozen should be separated. The average fuel consumption tested was 8 litres per 100 km.
I do need X mode, I could have used the more severe deep snow/mud, but sometimes I also tried the "lightweight" snow/mud setting (snow and mud). I almost regretted it. On the same trail, during the Santa Fe test, a muddy spot was found on unimaginable summer drylands, now sprawling with huge puddles, and the muddy bottom was disgusting. Overall, such water barriers must be overcome in one fell swoop, causing huge spray fans. But there is a risk of "drowning" the hood in this case, and I know these puddles are deep and these are where timber transport ships travel regularly. So I started vnatyag and... I walked to the other side with great difficulty: Bridgestone tires, not adapted to this condition, slightly slippery. No, it didn't get stuck. I only started going through the same puddle in deep snow/mud mode. also
I will clarify a little bit of the technical data of the car. The clearance for the Foresters is declared to be 220 mm. However, roulette found that the pips were lower. So under the steel crankcase - 21 cm, 20 cm under the flaps in front of the front wheel, shorter under the rear lever, 17 cm. It's the protection of the all-wheel drive clutch — it's really located at a height of 22 centimeters, the bumper is significantly elevated relative to the overall structure, and I counted 40 centimeters below the rear of the car, and such a bumper arrangement provides the Forester with a front and rear overhang of more than 20 degrees (provided the crossover wheel landing diameter is 18 inches).
So who are you, Forester? Forest dweller or City/Asphalt Playboy Superman? The entourage of the sport version voted for a second essence: a black sheen effectively complemented with scarlet and carbon inserts. My designer colleagues appreciate them. They also liked the interior design: large "woven" fabrics on the inner panels of the seats and doors, orange elements on the dashboard and floor passages. As motorists, they admire the "aquarium" view through the wide, tall windows, large exterior mirrors, and the spacious space of the second row of seats that can easily accommodate three people. As for the practicality, the trunk is also highly appreciated, although personally, as in the XV, the height under the sliding curtains is small in my opinion. Technical data indicate a volume of 500 litres with a tail. Is this true? On the current test trip, I didn't bring a large cargo on board,
As a potential buyer of this type of car, my acquaintances are only confused about the price of the sporty version of the Forester. In my opinion, sellers should be contrived in some way, but keep the cost of this particular version below the threshold of luxury. In my opinion, this will increase public interest in other modifications, including the slightly better equipped premium version. Compared to previous generations, the "Forest Man" is distinctly "mature", the quality of the materials used for finishing and assembling the cabin is significantly improved, before, euphemistically, there were still many deficiencies ... It's just that the sporty version can be used as a kind of performance plug, advertising gimmick, so in my opinion her design is very successful. Thanks to him, of course she pulled with her own money, but this, I don't think, contributed to the overall sales of the model.
It's worth noting that the cost of the "junior" crossover XV is not more profitable. Basically, the initial version costs almost the same for both vehicles. The difference is in its behavior on the road: the XV is a more asphalted model, while Forester is more of a versatile soldier than a ranger. Overall, the XV is closer to the real Subaru, closer to those who like handling, "car feel", "road feel". Versatility and fashion are even more important to our customers. As for "Subaruism", then it can be cleverly played in the eyes of the public: look, I chose the "Forester" because I know the characteristics and capabilities of subaru models. Do you think that's not the case, the real Subaru more and less? Do you have foresters? No? So maybe you know less about Subaru than I do?