New Subaru Forester: No turbo, diesel or manual

The Subaru Forester will return to naturally aspirated petrol power exclusively when the new fifth-generation range goes on sale in Australia from September.

It’s the first time since 2010 that Subaru will be without a diesel-powered Forester in its Australian line-up, while the lack of a turbocharged petrol model ends a line of performance-focussed variants that began with the Forester GT back in 1997.

A manual gearbox will also be missing from the new Forester line-up, which will be available exclusively with Subaru’s latest Lineartronic continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

Speaking to motoring.com.au at the launch of the all-new Forester in Japan this week, Subaru Australia managing director Colin Christie said the Japanese car-maker’s shift towards electrification for a number of global models meant streamlining its internal-combustion engine range.

“I don’t believe we’ll see another diesel-powered Forester,” Christie said.

“The move towards electrification means we’ll have a hybrid Forester in market by the end of next year, and a second hybrid model shortly after that in early 2020.

“It’s the first hybrid for Subaru in Oz and we’re really excited about it.”

Christie cited a growing sentiment against diesel-powered vehicles in Europe as further justification for the cessation of its Boxer Diesel. The company’s emissions tampering fiasco was another nail in the Subaru diesel’s coffin.

“All the things that are happening in Europe around diesel vehicles … Subaru saw that as an opportunity for Forester,” he continued.

“To bring those kinds of vehicles [hybrid and electric] in place of the diesel makes sense -- it’s part of our ultimate move towards electric and alternate power.”

Instead of a diesel engine, the streamlined 2018 Subaru Forester range will be joined by a 106kW 2.0-litre mild-hybrid powertrain dubbed e-BOXER at the end of 2019.

According to Subaru, the e-BOXER’s petrol engine and electric motor are used variably depending on conditions, with the electric-assist function able to deliver torque quickly and in conjunction with its EyeSight safety technology.

It’s anticipated the e-BOXER hybrid system will also be available in the updated Subaru XV or new Outback within the next 18 to 24 months.

“It makes sense that our hybrid models are in packages that everybody knows and understands, and not a completely standalone product,” Christie continued.

“We’ve got a plug-in hybrid model going into the US market soon, but what that means for Australia we’re not sure at this point in time.

“If electric vehicles are only a few years behind our mild-hybrid [e-BOXER] range, then I could see us moving from the mild hybrid variants straight into an electric vehicle at some point in time,” he deduced.

Unfortunately for fans of the sporty Forester XT, Subaru’s electric push also spells the end of turbocharged petrol performance.

The current Forester is available with the option of a 2.0-litre turbo four that delivers 177kW/350Nm and is capable of 0-100km/h acceleration in 7.5sec.

The fifth-generation Forester will produce 136kW/239Nm from its 2.5-litre direct-injected petrol unit, and with a kerb weight increase of up to 20kg it won’t deliver anything like the acceleration of its force-fed predecessor.

“The XT is a terrific car – a bit of a halo car for the Forester brand – and we’re sad to see it go, obviously,” said Christie.

“But the sales volumes weren’t massive by the end. The policy now is to move toward electrification and there are no plans to bring back the XT that I am aware of.”