Inside the 2020 Subaru Forester

The 2020 Subaru Forester is a compact crossover SUV.  It is great for both off-road adventures and normal driving and it is available in six models.  The Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD), Lineartronic CVT and two BOXER engines work in sync to produce an excellent performance.

The Forester is now available with LED Steering Responsive Headlights and the all-new High Beam Assist.  The EyeSight Driver Assist technology is another active safety feature this family-friendly car has.  The STARLINK system additionally offers access to emergency services in the event of an accident.  In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Forester the “Top Safety Pick+” rating.

Have we peaked your interest regarding the Subaru Forester?  If so, read below to learn more about it!

Specifications

The Subaru Forester 2.5i is the base trim and has a manufacturer’s retail Price (MSRP) of about $22,000.  It incorporates the 6.2-inch STARLINK infotainment system.  For an upgrade to the 2.5i Premium edition, the cost  is over $24,000.  Among the premium features in this model are the power lift gate and EyeSight Driver Assist.  The 2.5i Limited comes with luxurious interior features such as heated front seats and leather upholstery, which brings the price to just over $29,000.

The 2.0XT Premium is priced the same as the 2.5i Limited, and it comes with a turbo engine.  Buyers would need to pay more than $34,000 to get their hands on the 2.0XT Touring which incorporates a turbo engine.  Even though the Touring uses the standard 2.5 L Boxer Forester engine, the 2.5i Touring exceeds the $30,000 price point.  This four-cylinder engine delivers a maximum of 174 pound-feet of torque at 4,100 RPM and 170 horsepower at about 5,800 RPM.

The 2.0 L BOXER engine that produces up to 258 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 RPM and 250 horsepower at 5,600 RPM is found under the hood of the 2.0XT models.  A highlight of this turbocharged engine is a direct injection system.

A six-speed manual transmission system is standard in the Forester base trim.  All of the other models offer an infinite number of gear sequences and are equipped with the Lineartronic CVT (Continually Variable Transmission).  Also, the manual mode is exclusively available in the 2.0XT editions.

Both the automatic and manual transmission systems are sync with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD).  The X-MODE further increases traction on rough or slippery surfaces, by adjusting multiple parameters.  The Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) keeps the wheels rolling smoothly in hazardous situations.  You can confidently take this excellent vehicle on any terrain, with the aid of the additional input it gets from the Traction Control System.

Excellent Performance. On And Off-Road

Active Torque Steering boosts cornering even on wet pavement is one of the abilities available only in the Forester 2.0XT Touring.  This steering system applies the front brakes precisely to prevent leaving a curved path.  The Brake Override System and Brake Assist provide extra stability in situations that require a quick stop, a standard feature available in all models.  The Forester is outfitted with the Hill Descent Control and Incline Start Assist, which help the rugged crossover in off-road journeys.  Both of these superior features stabilize the Forester on steep landscapes.

Fuel Efficiency

The Subaru Forester achieves a fuel economy of 26 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway when outfitted with the Lineartronic CVT and 2.5 L BOXER engine.  It is designed for this engine to run on standard unleaded gasoline.  When the 2.5 L engine is paired with the manual transmission system, the fuel efficiency is down to 29 MPG on the highway and 22 MPG in the city .  The timing for the intake of air is managed precisely by an innovative technology called the Active Valve Control System.  The 2.5 L BOXER engine would be much less efficient, without this signature feature.

The turbocharged 2.0 L BOXER engine is rated at 27 MPG on the highway and 23 MPG in urban settings.  The Dual Active Valve Control System does the job of optimizing airflow into the valve train. However, note that this powerful turbo engine is engineered to work with premium unleaded gasoline only.

You will roughly get a nonstop driving range of 500 miles on the highway because the Forester has a fuel tank capacity of only 15.9 gallons.  The Forester’s fuel tank is not as big as it could be, even considering that most compact crossover SUVs don’t have much larger ones.

Entertainment Features

The Forester’s 7-inch touch screen STARLINK multimedia system is your source for entertainment and guidance with its .  You may also browse an array of other applications such as Travel Link and SiriusXM Traffic, to get assistance via a GPS navigation system.  You can also sync Apple Maps from a compatible iPhone with the Siri Eyes Free technology.

The STARLINK portal allows you the ability to access to premium music channels including iHeartRadio, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Stitcher, Pandora, and Aha.  You can also plug an MP3 player into the auxiliary jack or the USB port if these services don’t produce enough entertainment options for you to choose from.  Blasting up to 440 watts of acoustic power for your favorite songs, you have the eight Harman Kardon speakers.

Safety Features

There is a very low risk of the Subaru Forester crashing when equipped with the EyeSight Driver Assist package. Also to help mitigate the damage of a collision or prevent one, this signature safety suite incorporates the Pre-Collision Braking System.

Front collision is also avoided with the aid of the Adaptive Cruise Control, which slows down and accelerates the vehicle.  Also, a part of the EyeSight Driver Assist technology is the Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist.

The Forester’s Blind Spot Detection System emits a visible warning in one of the side mirrors when it recognizes that another car is approaching from the side.  If another vehicle approaches too quickly from behind, the Rear Cross Traffic Alert will turn on.  The Reverse Automatic Braking is another accident-avoidance technology in the Forester which works in combination with the rear-view camera.

The Automatic Collision Notification and SOS Emergency Assistance will be activated, if the Subaru Forester gets into an accident.  These innovations are part of the STARLINK Security and Safety package. Dual-stage side-curtain air bags and front air bags present superior protection during a crash.  A rollover sensor controls the inflation of these air bags.  A driver’s knee air bag is standard in all trims and designed to deploy during a frontal crash.

How It Measures Up Against The Competition

The Honda HR-V, a compact crossover SUV that’s made by a Japanese brand, is similar in design to the Subaru Forester.  The versatile Honda is available with the Real-Time and CVT AWD for safe off-road driving.  The HR-V, however, simply doesn’t offer as many options as the Forester since it only has a lineup of three models.

The Hyundai Tucson is also a competitor of the Forester, since it is a small crossover SUV that’s available with AWD and a turbocharged engine.  The Tucson is a family-friendly Hyundai. It doesn’t offer as many active safety features as the Forester, but has an impressive lineup of six stylish models that are all priced below $30,000.

Pros and cons of the Subaru Forester

Pros

• Premium digital technology powered by STARLINK
• Excellent off-road performance
• Class-leading safety features incorporating the EyeSight Driver Assist

Cons

• Navigation system not available in the 2.0XT trim
• Manual transmission system is hard to handle
• Small fuel tank for a crossover SUV

Now that you know all about the Subaru Forester, you should visit your closest Subaru dealership. Seeing the car in person and taking it for a test drive will help you