Subaru Forester fourth-gen launched – RM199,800

Subaru_Forester_Launch_ 003

The order books have been open for a while now, and after enjoying a public showroom preview in June, the fourth-gen Subaru Forester finally officially enters the Malaysian market.

Our car is the 2.0 XT, which has a meaner-looking, more angular front bumper than its naturally-aspirated siblings. Under its bonnet lurks a turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0 litre ‘Boxer’ flat-four engine that produces 240 PS at 5,600 rpm and 350 Nm of torque from 2,400 to 3,600 rpm (280 PS for Japan, 253 PS for the US).

Armed with a Lineartronic CVT and Subaru’s symmetrical Active Torque Split AWD system, the 1,635 kg crossover is capable of doing the century sprint in 7.5 seconds before hitting a top speed of just over 220 km/h. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are quoted at 8.5 litres per 100 km and 197 grams per km respectively.

Subaru_Forester_Launch_ 007

The CVT is supplemented by shift paddles and SI Drive (Subaru Intelligent Drive), which offers Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp drive modes. Select Sport Sharp and you’ll have eight virtual ratios to play with. A system called X-Mode collaborates with the AWD system to provide off-road settings. Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist are also standard fare.

Fully imported from Japan, the Subaru Forester 2.0 XT is 4,595 mm long (+35 mm from its predecessor), 1,795 mm wide (+15 mm) and 1,735 mm tall (+35 mm), with a 2,640 mm wheelbase (+26 mm). It sits 220 mm off the ground, on 18-inch aluminium alloys wrapped in 225/55 tyres. The driver’s eye point is 34 mm higher than in the previous car.

Suspension is handled by MacPherson struts up front and double wishbones out back, while brakes are ventilated discs all round. The fuel tank holds 60 litres of petrol.

Subaru_Forester_Launch_ 027

The equipment list is long – there are auto HID headlamps with self-levelling and pop-up washers, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear fog lamps, a sunroof and power folding door mirrors with integrated LED indicators. There’re also roof rails, keyless entry and start, cruise control and a powered tailgate, amongst others.

Inside the Subaru Forester, you’ll find fabric seats, auto dual-zone air-con, a multi-function display, audio controls on the steering wheel, a total of three 12V outlets and an eight-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system. Connectivity is provided for Bluetooth, USB and AUX.

The boot can hold 422 litres of cargo; fold the 60:40 split back seats down via the one-touch folding switches and this jumps to 1,541 litres.

Defense mechanisms include seven airbags, Vehicle Dynamics Control, ABS, ISOFIX and side door reinforcement beams. A safety pedal system prevents the pedal from being forced back into the driver’s feet in the event of a collision. The Subaru Forester has a five-star Euro NCAP rating.

The Subaru Forester 2.0 XT costs RM199,800 (OTR without insurance), or RM206,482 with insurance. It can be had in Satin White Pearl, Jasmine Green Metallic, Burnished Bronze Metallic (limited availability), Dark Grey Metallic and Crystal Black Silica. Offered is a five-year or 100,000 km warranty.

For more pictures, visit our showroom gallery.

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Jonathan James Tan

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.

 

Comments

  • that girl with short hair. hmm… looks yummy

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 16
    • Excellent performance, price is ok and the exterior is ok too. Santa Fe? Rav 4 is ur friend.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 5
    • abuya123 on Aug 01, 2013 at 2:10 pm

      Yummy? Aiya…. Look closer… fat and not pretty at all

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 5
    • Okay..u take the girl..i take the guy carrying the bicycle into the boot

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • frenzyaustin on Jul 31, 2013 at 7:33 pm

    Well, it’s not very good looking compare to Santa Fe, but the performance and safety count.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 4
    • Jimmy on Jul 31, 2013 at 10:47 pm

      If I were to choose between the two, I will definitely choose Forester despite being slightly smaller, 5-seater, fabric and absence of Sat/Nav/LCD.
      Safety and performance from Subaru, that’s good enough.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 4
  • theanswer on Jul 31, 2013 at 7:55 pm

    suv under 200k that can run 0-100 less than 8sec? damm~

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 23 Thumb down 1
  • NeoLover on Jul 31, 2013 at 8:08 pm

    As expected, for Malaysian market, Sat Nav and LCD always being excluded and replaced with old fashioned radio even when the price has reached RM200k mark.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 2
    • Jimmy on Jul 31, 2013 at 10:51 pm

      You must praised first, saying that Subaru Malaysia has made a good move by introducing 7 airbags + ESP with rigid body shell, and the performance tops many popular SUVs. However, for a price mark of RM200K, Sat Nav and LCD are expected from customers, and it should be included as optional accessory, same to leather seats. Something like this sounds better?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 3
      • seancorr on Jul 31, 2013 at 11:53 pm

        U forgot to mention this car has AWD & Harman Kardon sound system plus a powered tailgate!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 0
  • ischy on Jul 31, 2013 at 8:45 pm

    Subaru is the only model in the SUV section to achieve the Top Safety Pick+ rating.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
  • zamer on Jul 31, 2013 at 9:14 pm

    “here are auto HID headlamps with self-levelling and pop-up washers”

    i see nice led around but with halogen headlight..can auto levelling halogen?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
    • studymorelah on Mar 22, 2014 at 1:32 am

      Projection headlamp needs a flap on the inside to make sure the light don’t shoot straight up (high-beam) adjusting the flap with a servo (small electric motor) makes the light ‘auto-leveling’. Can also permanently remove flap to make it only high-beam lamp. Can also make auto remove flap when trigger high-beam to make single projection headlamp both low-&-high-beam headlamp.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Krontilf on Jul 31, 2013 at 9:25 pm

    This forester uses the tubocharged version of BRZ engine and yet rm40k cheaper than BRZ.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • Jimmy on Jul 31, 2013 at 11:00 pm

      Kura-kura lebih mahal daripada arnab, kerana kura-kura lebih cantiq.
      Orang kaya-raya mahu isteri yang cantiq walaupun tak pandai masak, bukan isteri yang pandai kerjarumah tetapi gemuk dengan mata sepet.
      As I said, zero tax also no use, it is well possible that even if PK make it happen, vehicle prices can still remain the same, benefits may all go to koceks of UMW, ETCM, etc. Maybe only Mercedes prices will go down.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 15
      • tongok on Aug 01, 2013 at 12:45 am

        bodo la kura-kura lebih cantiq. even schoolboy can prefer rabbit and can tell it’s more beautiful than tortoise

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 1
  • Jundan on Jul 31, 2013 at 9:26 pm

    I have no problem with subaru cars , in fact i love the engine very much ! The only issue i have, is motor image service center in KL&SEL which is the worst !

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 0
  • ah lock on Jul 31, 2013 at 10:01 pm

    one thing about subaru in malaysia is, the price.. the rest is just amazing!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Seriously I said, if the rims had changed to a bigger and wider, it’ll be beastly beauty~!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • increase of RM16K from the prelaunch price…overpriced

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 2
  • Whoa. 200K no GPS?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • seancorr on Jul 31, 2013 at 11:55 pm

    Very nice proposition coming from Subaru. If am looking for a SUV for the family, I’d pick this over the rest plus its CBU!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 4
  • xiper on Jul 31, 2013 at 11:58 pm

    240PS, 350Nm at below 200k mark is consider good, although can be better if it comes with more accessories…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Anti-Fuel-Price on Aug 01, 2013 at 12:01 am

    Car very good, engine good, trans good, etc… also not bad BUT……….. the service centre, sales centre VERY very few. Invest a bit “Motor Image” dah lah nama image but lansung tak JAGA image!
    Imagine a driver staying in Cheras, need to drive to another suburb to service. If MI really want budget budget, at least setup a service centre along Sungai Besi, even AUDI not left out this good landmark.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
    • frenzyaustin on Aug 01, 2013 at 10:45 am

      Very less people know Subaru in Malaysia. They thought is it a new Malaysian brand because “Subaru” sounds like Bahasa Melayu or they thought a new China car.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 8
      • Anti-Fuel-Price on Aug 02, 2013 at 5:03 pm

        Bro that’s why lagi need publish & PUSH Subaru name further. Feel “sad” for such good Jap name being tarnish by Motor Image!!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
    • shafiq on Aug 20, 2013 at 6:51 pm

      yes previous subaru is hard to find service center n showroom. but now subaru are growing up man… cheras also have service center… glenmarie also have…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Like u all said, no Sat Nav. Put it as option plz. Lagi Power, Lagi best can also opt for it.

    Can have a lower spec version for less? Say rm180k with smaller wheel 215/55/17, HID, less this and that.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Dr Cooper on Aug 01, 2013 at 7:45 am

    Inside looks cheap like just like cheapo VW car, even engine cover looks like Merc one in early 90’s and we have to fork 200k for it ? come on !

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5
  • Mahalnyaaa..baik beli BMW@Merz kalau herga mcm ni…kenapa kereta2 baru mahal sangat..apa nak jadi dgn Malaysia ni..kalau mcm ni gayanya..golongan berpendapatan sederhana cuma mampu beli dan guna kereta buatan Malaysia saja laaa…cinta buatan..Malaysia..cinta buatan..Malaysia…balik2 PERODUA..PROTON..PERODUA..PROTON..design outdated…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 9
  • consrito on Aug 01, 2013 at 10:00 am

    Hmm.. I will prefer the signature air scoop.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
  • SubaruOverProced on Aug 01, 2013 at 11:27 am

    Overpriced laa..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • good car no doubt but Subaru needs to up their game with better interior design..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • opinion on Aug 05, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    i wil get the girl with short hair over this subaru !

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • kru1ser on Apr 10, 2014 at 8:44 pm

    you can tell jonathan had his lens fixed on the girl with the shoulder length hair :)

    no doubt, she’s pretty easy on the eyes too and probably helped subaru to sell off a unit or two on that day!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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