Subaru Forester 2023 Facelift

2023 Subaru Forester facelift in Malaysia walk-around video tour – EyeSight 4.0 for all variants, from RM164k

In Cars, Local News, Subaru / By Gerard Lye / 4 October 2023 2:49 pm / 15 comments

Here’s a walk-around video tour of the new Subaru Forester facelift, which was launched in Malaysia back in May and is available in four variants. All feature the same powertrain and updated EyeSight 4.0 suite, the latter being more comprehensive on higher-end options.

The line-up starts with the 2.0i-L EyeSight, which, after the recent price adjustment, retails for RM164,288 on-the-road without insurance. This is followed by the 2.0i-L GT Lite Edition EyeSight at RM170,288, the 2.0i-S EyeSight at RM174,288 and the 2.0i-S GT Edition EyeSight at RM186,288. All prices are inclusive of a five-year, 100,000-km warranty.

The Forester’s powertrain consists of a FB20 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated flat-four petrol engine that produces 156 PS at 6,000 rpm and 196 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. These outputs are unchanged from the pre-facelift model, with drive still sent to the ground via a Lineartronic CVT (with seven virtual speeds) and Subaru Symmetrical AWD system.

Other driving-related systems include X-Mode or Special X-Mode (2.0i-S variants only), an electronic parking brake with auto brake hold and Subaru’s Active Torque Vectoring. The SI-Drive drive mode selector comes standard across the range.

In terms of visual changes, the SUV’s headlamps have been redesigned with a deeper cut on the inside end of each cluster. The headlamps, which comes with a steering-responsive function and high beam assist on the 2.0i-S variants, flank a reshaped grille, while the bumper has been reprofiled with slight protrusions just below the forward lights.

The rear remains unchanged from the pre-facelift model, retaining the same C-shaped taillights, and the same also applies to the interior, with the general layout of controls and equipment being familiar.

All variants of the Forester come with eight-way powered front seats, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 360-degree camera, keyless entry and engine start as well as dual-zone climate control.

Wheel sizes are 17 inches for the 2.0i-L variants, while the 2.0i-S variants come with 18-inch units. The GT Lite and GT Edition options comes with a body kit and more black accent trim to make them stand out from a regular Forester.

Find out what else is different with the Forester facelift by watching our walk-around video tour and share with us your thoughts on the Subaru SUV. Would you pick it over others in the segment like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5?

2023 Subaru Forester facelift Malaysian spec sheets; click to enlarge

GALLERY: 2023 Subaru Forester facelift range launch in Malaysia

GALLERY: 2023 Subaru Forester facelift, Eyesight GT Edition

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2023 Subaru Forester facelift now cheaper in Malaysia, from RM164k to RM186k OTR – specs unchanged

In Cars, Local News, Subaru / By Mick Chan / 23 August 2023 1:15 pm / 29 comments

Prices for the 2023 Subaru Forester facelift range have been updated here in Malaysia, where the SUV is on sale in four variants.

As of August 16, the facelifted Forester is priced at RM164,288 for the 2.0i-L EyeSight, RM170,288 for the GT Lite Edition EyeSight RM174,288 for the 2.0i-S EyeSight and RM186,288 for the GT Edition EyeSight; all prices listed here are on-the-road without insurance for Peninsular Malaysia, and vehicles sold through Subaru Malaysia come with a five-year, 100,000 km warranty.

These prices represent a RM10,000 drop compared to the launch prices across all four variants, when the facelifted fifth-generation SUV was officially launched in Malaysia in May this year, with no change to the equipment lists of the respective variants on sale in this market.

Price sheets for the 2023 Subaru Forester facelift, effective August 16 – click to enlarge

As before, listed as optional on the revised pricing for the 2023 Subaru Forester facelift in Malaysia is the Subaru Connex package, priced at RM1,900; this includes automatic crash response, enhanced breakdown assistance, VIP Assist, and more, according to the price list item for each of the four Forester variants.

As the variant names indicate, all four variants of the facelifted Forester in Malaysia come equipped with Subaru’s EyeSight ADAS suite. This is comprised of adaptive cruise control with lane centering, lane departure warning and prevention, lane sway warning, lead vehicle departure alert and pre-collision throttle management; the 2.0i-S and 2.0i-S GT Edition variants add pre-collision braking with autonomous emergency steering and rear vehicle detection.

Powertrain is shared across the board, being a 2.0 litre naturally aspirated boxer four-cylinder engine producing 156 PS at 6,000 rpm and 196 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, going to all four wheels via an active torque-split AWD system and Lineartronic CVT. The base 2.0i-L and 2.0i-L GT Lite Edition variants get X-Mode, while the 2.0i-S and 2.0i-S GT Edition variants get dual-function X-Mode.

GALLERY: 2023 Subaru Forester facelift range launch in Malaysia

GALLERY: 2023 Subaru Forester facelift, Eyesight GT Edition

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2023 Subaru Forester facelift launched in Malaysia – EyeSight ADAS on all four variants; from RM174k OTR

In Cars, Local News, Subaru / By Mick Chan / 3 May 2023 4:02 pm / 20 comments

Following its quiet arrival into TC Subaru’s showroom in Petaling Jaya last month, the 2023 Subaru Forester facelift as now been officially launched for the Malaysian market.

Here in four variants, the mid-lifecycle update for the fifth-generation Japanese SUV is priced from RM174,288 for the 2.0i-L Eyesight, RM180,288 for the 2.0i-L GT Lite Edition Eyesight, RM184,288 for the 2.0i-S Eyesight and finally RM196,288 for the top variant that is the 2.0i-S GT Edition Eyesight.

The updates bring a literal facelift to the revised model, with new, reshaped headlamps with a deeper cut on the inside end of each, while the grille gets a gloss black surround instead of the chrome on the pre-facelift. For the 2.0i-S and 2.0i-S GT Edition variants, the headlamps gain a steering-responsive function and high beam assist.

2023 Subaru Forester facelift, 2.0i-S GT Edition

Powertrain across all four variants of the 2023 Forester facelift is the 2.0 litre naturally aspirated, horizontally opposed four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 156 PS at 6,000 rpm and 196 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm; output goes to all four wheels via an active torque-split AWD system and a Lineartronic CVT. All variants do the 0-100 km/h benchmark in 10.3 seconds, and a top speed of 193 km/h.

Rolling stock for all variants is Bridgestone Dueler rubber, with 225/55R18 tyres on the top 2.0i-S GT Edition and 2.0i-S variants, while 225/60R17-sized tyres for the GT Lite Edition and the base 2.0i-L variants. Additional distinguishing features include the front LED fog lamps on the 2.0i-S and 2.0i-S GT Edition, while the base 2.0i-L and 2.0i-L GT Lite Edition variants do without.

All four variants get the Vehicle Dynamics Control system, auto vehicle hold and active torque vectoring, while X-Mode features for the base 2.0i-L and 2.0i-L GT Lite Edition variants, and Special X-Mode for the 2.0i-S and 2.0i-S GT Edition variants.

2023 Subaru Forester facelift, 2.0i-S GT Edition

In terms of the Eyesight ADAS kit across all variants, the driver assistance suite includes adaptive cruise control with lane centering, lane departure warning and prevention, lane sway warning, lead vehicle departure alert and pre-collision throttle management; the 2.0i-S and 2.0i-S GT Edition variants add pre-collision braking with autonomous emergency steering and rear vehicle detection.

Infotainment is provided by an eight-inch HD touchscreen with support for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth, while visual aids come courtesy of a 360-degree surround view camera system. Further conveniences include eight-way, power-adjustable driver and front passenger seat, keyless entry and push-button start, dual-zone air-conditioning, power-folding door mirrors and an LED rear fog lamp.

To recap, the 2023 Subaru Forester facelift in Malaysia is priced from RM174,288 for the 2.0i-L Eyesight, RM180,288 for the 2.0i-L GT Lite Edition Eyesight, RM184,288 for the 2.0i-S Eyesight and finally RM196,288 for the top variant that is the 2.0i-S GT Edition Eyesight. All prices are for Peninsular Malaysia, on-the-road without insurance, and all come with a five-year, 100,000 km warranty.

GALLERY: 2023 Subaru Forester facelift, Eyesight GT Edition

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2023 Subaru Forester facelift open for booking in Malaysia – 2.0L Eyesight GT Edition at RM196k

In Cars, Local News, Subaru / By Danny Tan / 7 April 2023 12:32 pm / 37 comments

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.

Click to enlarge spec sheet

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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