The Subaru Forester facelift has made a quiet entrance into the Malaysian market, and is now open for booking. We caught up with this unit – a GT Edition – on display TC Subaru’s PJ showroom
The midlife refresh for the fifth-generation Forester first surfaced in June 2021. It’s a literal facelift, as in the changes are all on the front fascia. The headlamps are the easiest way to spot the FL – the eyes of the car are now much sharper; the new clusters have a deep cut on the inside end, with the main LED projector underlined by LED daytime running lights.
The lights point to a grille that appears to be bigger and bolder in both shape and insert. The border of the grille is in gloss black instead of chrome, and the chrome ‘wings’ for the logo are now very minimal – just two small lines instead of a full-width item cradling the Subaru badge.
The Forester’s bumper has been reprofiled to match. There are ’embossed’ sections below the headlamps for a more 3D effect (outlined by aftermarket black stickers here, see the original look), and the fog lamp surrounds have a three lines of chrome accents. This GT Edition gets more black bits to create a chunkier bumper effect, along with a full-width silver chin.
The facelift’s rear end is unchanged, as so is the GT Edition kit for the rear, save for extra black pieces just above the reflectors. Like the front, the lower portion has a wraparound silver trim piece with a cutout for a single tail pipe. The GT Edition rides on two-tone 18-inch wheels with 225/55 Bridgestone Dueler rubber.
Inside, it’s all very familiar, but the GT Edition comes with leather seats that have a quilted pattern on the centre and grey bits on the sides.
Kit wise, you get an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth; eight-way powered front seats; keyless entry with push start; dual-zone auto air con; a 360-degree around view monitor; electronic parking brake with auto hold; and a powered tailgate with memory, among other things. Subaru’s Eyesight ADAS pack is included along with seven airbags.
No change under the hood, where you’ll find a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated boxer-four engine with 156 PS at 6,000 rpm and 196 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The FB20 unit is paired to a Lineartronic CVT with seven-speed manual mode (and steering paddle shifters) and Subaru’s signature symmetrical AWD system, which makes the Forester more rugged than the average urban SUV.
There are plenty of drive modes in this SUV, such as X-mode with Snow and Dirt modes, along with hill descent control and active torque vectoring, plus SI-Drive which offers Intelligent and Sport drive modes. The 0-100 km/h sprint is dispatched in 10.3 seconds and top speed is 193 km/h.
Now open for booking, the facelifted Subaru Forester 2.0 i-S Eyesight GT Edition is priced at RM196,288 on-the-road without insurance.
GALLERY: 2023 Subaru Forester facelift, Eyesight GT Edition
GALLERY: Subaru Forester facelift, Japan spec
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It has an excellent platform and chassis but sadly that price will just render it dead on arrival. The only 2-liter NA SUV that can be priced sky-high and still have takers is the Harrier.
Recond Harriers are sold at around the price that this Forester is at..
In other parts of the world, CRV is higher priced than the Harrier.. so better buy CRV tebo
No wonder Honda ranked out of Top20 for Europe Sales.
UNDERPOWER HARRIER . UNCLE’S CAR
It have to be more comfortable yet better handling to gain the Uncle’s award.
HARRIER STILL USING 2.0NA 9.6S 0-100KMH SPRINT FOR 270K ?
myvi can cucuk EZ………
200K…u can get a X70 and x50 combined…isnt this another alternative?
Subaru is banging on very hardcore diehard fanboys to dish out that kind of money.
The previous GT version at 160k+ need to sell at 30k discount. This one at 196k need to sell at 50k discount? Good Luck Motor Image!
Subaru Forester is also another very interesting pricing here in Malayisa just back in 2018 it can be had with RM135k same engine capacity but imagine now you are paying it at almost RM200k barely 5 years later.
i do not check the offer details but this price is 100% ready to go he’ll!
How many units can MI sell at this price?
Actually they don’t want sell it, that’s why they put that kind of asking price.
Honda CRV 1.5T is cheaper, more powerful and faster.
Cx5 2.5turbo much better,rm170k+ only
turbo where?
If I’m in the market and about to pay 200k for a suv. I will land myself in a harrier. At least the harrier is a class higher than the forrester. Just too bad. One thing for sure you will never go wrong with the harrier. Luxury and comfort. That’s harriers game.
This is the new normal
What’s used to be 150k is now 200k
Therefore motor image did price it right.
However the public will need to take sometime to accept this new reality…
In the past 10k salary is a major benchmark, but these days, the new benchmark is 30k
You are right when it comes to pricing. But then, it is for all new model, not facelifted model.
I saw it at Bangsar South motor roadshow and I could not even be bother looking at it.
Outdated design.
This junk sell at 200K? RIP Subaru!!!
Good car but wait for discount la. Usually the discount will be quite substantial. Then it will be worth it.
Honestly I’ll rather get Lexus SUV spec for price like this
i have a forester, its not perfect but i have never regret buy this car and it is a fantastic car. now seeing this sell at 200k?? MI must be joking..
As the owner of 2019 SK, my advice is to wait for another 2 years to buy this car. Later they will give kow2 discount.
RM 198k and still the 2.0NA? At least put an electric motor or 2.5L right? This is bad marking
syok sendiri…
Awful design, awful value, seriously Subaru Malaysia?
Why facelift a car that is overdue for model change 10years ago?
Itu lampu belakang kasi redesign la. Tp price already 200k org pon tak mau beli
Why does it look worse that the one it replaces. Looks half cook syiok sendri design lorr ad like just go out from brothers shop. Should have hired european designers styling.. ill would rather call it suLama
I think this car design by intern.
For those who compares with recon Harrier, must be just on basis of look and brand. I tested this vs Harrier, top range cx5, crv, nx… To my shock, this car has the best driving dynamics, practicality, safety and price point. So don’t just be comparing specs, drive the car you wanna buy
Less than 5 years ago, you can buy basically same thing for 135k. Mind you same engine etc…
Ini macam punya price mana ada buyer la. Wait for end of the year 50k 70k drop la
I don’t doubt you at all about the driving dynamics when compared to Harrier. Such is our market that resale value is more important.
But TC had given it a bad name with a not so stellar after sales support; and pricing strategy that would only be understood by a few. Someone mentioned it correctly here to wait for maybe 2 years if you love the brand so much. I know some diehards who overlook everything else.
Price are too high! Just 2.0…
. good luck
Price are too high! Just 2.0…
.
Is a good performance car with plentiful features really, just the brand not so grand like lexus so people won’t pay the price. Suitable for low profile rich people who doesn’t want to get target by thieves..