Story & Photos by Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes
MY first encounter with this refreshed, fourth-generation Subaru Forester XT was early last year, when MIP recently invited a group of motoring journalists to Thailand for its regional launch at the 37th Bangkok International Motor Show staged at the Impact Hall Challenger.
Even before the launch, I was already impressed with the Forester, especially when its predecessor had a brief tryst with the local media in the outskirts of Pampanga back in 2015. How could one forget its effortless wading through waist-deep Lahar river waters, like it was Pamela Anderson in Baywatch just out on a weekend pleasure (while working) excursion?
With this now XT variant model unit that I got to borrow for several days, I was able to feel more of the vehicle and what makes it tick.
At the onset, this latest local version of the Forester may be the same familiar beast, except for a little tweaks here and there. It may not be the typically refined and stylishly handsome debonair you find in your regular showrooms as this vehicle’s packaged, say, a little differently. It’s long-nosed, boxy and a little edgy, rugged and ready for the rough. Its crisp front fascia, with the enhanced grille and headlights, complemented with redesigned taillights and more frilled rims further accentuates its feverishly sporty appeal.
Inside, it’s bigger and feels more premium than ever. That stylish head-unit and LCD cluster display are astonishing, except for those, say, a number of plastic upholstery.
What’s also good is that Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) levels have been thoroughly reduced, thanks to the improved sound-proofing materials and increased window thickness.
As a bonus, it includes a personal identification number (PIN) code, which allows users to access the vehicle without the Key Fob by unlocking its doors using the preset PIN code.
Power-wise, this machine bursts out 241 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 350 Nm of torque at about fairly the same range from its 2.0XT FA20 direct-injection turbocharged boxer engine. On long straights of a clear dead highway, it reaches 100 kph in just 7.4 seconds.
Its suspension, meanwhile, has also been augmented to provide more comfort and a tad better performance. A stiffer front cross member, enhanced coil and damper provide somehow improves ride quality with agile and nimble handling, which I was personally able to prove in both urban and off-road settings.
Not to mention while engaged in X-Mode, the vehicle’s torque gets to be distributed and play evenly on all four wheels, thus, in an event where, in one or more slips, the system automatically activates.
I remember frolicking with this brute at the Siamese’s convention center’s outdoor parking area by the lakeside last year. And in our brief rendezvous, I was able to experience firsthand this Forester’s flair, its undisputed pride and glory: its symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. In these rare occasions wherein my aggressive nature, in a way, is being unleashed out into the wild, wherein no matter how much I hurl and totter—roughly maneuvering the vehicle and pushing it to its limits, it always seemed to be able to behave with absolute poise on the makeshift dirt track. The system clearly compensated for any excessive movement, making it a fair pure winner off the beaten track over competition. Thus, on that very fine day, this scribe was truly and fortuitously one happy driver.
Thumbs up
- Superior all-wheel-drive technology
- Improved insulation
- Improved suspension
- Rugged sporty appeal
- More premium exterior and interior design
Thumbs down
- A number of plastic insides
- Less elegant compared to competition
Specifications
- Vehicle: Subaru Forester 2.0 XT
- Type: Compact SUV
- Engine:0XT FA20 direct-injection turbocharged boxer engine
- Maximum power: 241 hp at 5,600 rpm
- Maximum torque: 350 N-m of torque
- Transmission: Lineartronic continuous variable transmission
Dimensions
- Overall length: 4,597 millimeters
- Overall width: 1,695 mm
- Overall height: 1,727 mm
- Wheelbase: 2,639 mm
- Tire size: P225/60R17
- Price as tested:868
Image credits: Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes