Subaru Forester 2011 Review

Subaru Forester X, XS

The headline maker in the 2011 Subaru Forester range is the new 193kW WRX-inspired S-Edition with Australia the only market outside of Japan and China to get the hot compact SUV thus far. But there's more to the 2011 Forester update than a go-fast model; the volume sellers have been gifted with a far less visible, but no less important upgrade -- a brand-new naturally aspirated boxer engine.

Gone from under the bonnet of the Forester X and XS models is the old 'EJ' engine, replaced with Subaru's new 'FB' engine. A longer-stroke design but still displacing 2.5-litres, the all-new powerplant promises better mid-range torque and reduced carbon emissions.

Pricing starts at $30,990 for the 2011 Subaru Forester X manual model, the automatic gearbox adding $2000. The atmo range tops out range tops out at $42,490 for the Forester XS Premium with SatNav. Other models in the range, such as the 2.0 D (diesel) and XT (turbocharged petrol), are powered by engines that have not been changed with the arrival of MY11.

Before we touch on the major new change -- the FB boxer engine -- Subaru has made several minor updates to all 2011 Forester models, which include new grilles, new alloy wheels on the XS and XT models, plus integrated mirror indicators on XS, and new stereo head units and Bluetooth telephony for all models.

The first of the new models we tested was the entry-level Forester X, a $30,990 proposition that comes with a five-speed manual and accounts for around one in every four Foresters sold.

From the off the new engine feels stronger, particularly around the middle of the engine's rev range, between roughly 2000-4000rpm. This added eagerness is particularly felt when overtaking -- the previous Forester's engine needed to revved thoroughly before being able to pull out and comfortably overtake other cars on country roads. In contrast this model can punch out good speed with less apparent effort.

Together with several other changes, such as stronger conrods, a higher efficiency oil pump, and the addition of roller rockers in the valvetrain, the redesign with smaller cylinder bore and longer stroke is the main contributor to this new urge.

The long stroke engine configuration combines with relocated fuel injectors, which were moved from the intake manifold to the cylinder heads to shorten the distance the fuel needs to travel (also improving fuel atomisation) which to cut a long story short, improves torque from 229 to 235Nm at 4100rpm. The difference feels more marked.

The compression ratio of the new 2.5-litre FB engine has also been increased from 10.2:1 to 10.5:1, yet peak power is unchanged --126kW at 5800rpm.

The new engine now emits 220 grams of CO2 per kilometre, down from 227g/km, but fuel consumption remains unchanged at 9.3L/100km. Most new engines are built to deliver improved fuel efficiency -- always a good selling point -- and Subaru says improved economy will come... We're waiting...

Punting along at 100km/h in fifth gear, cruise control on, the engine ticks over at around 2400rpm and only requires a cog swap if you encounter a steep hill. The five-speed manual gearbox has been fitted with a flexible flywheel that adds a damping mechanism designed to reduce vibration and noise levels, and it works. The new Forester is a quieter car.

It's also good to see the manual X and XS models have retained their dual range transfer cases for low-speed offroading duties.

We also tested the Forester XS automatic, which is a big-seller in the range, but the new engine's increased performance is diluted by the ageing four-speed automatic. Subaru claims it has made several changes to the autobox that improve performance (including the adoption of the same anti-pitching bracket as used in the turbo models) but the automatic still feels lethargic compared to the manual.

By and large, the automatic goes about its business in a relatively pragmatic fashion, choosing the right gear for the situation, while delivering good off-the-line acceleration to about 60km/h. The automatic gearbox also makes for stress-free urban driving, with only one-hand needed to control the car in stop-start traffic.

One area where both the manual and automatic entry-level Foresters have improved is in engine refinement. The new 16-valve boxer engine doesn't get as breathless and raspy as it approaches high engines speeds of around 6000rpm as the last iteration. It's also a smoother engine, operating keenly throughout its rev range, and throttle response feels somewhat crisper as well.

The chassis hasn't been changed but that shouldn't be viewed as a negative. Though there is a touch of body roll when you shove the Forester X or XS into a corner, the grip levels are such that it can hold a neat line through a corner, should owners want to have a little fun.

Though it may wallow a touch, one appealing characteristic is the car's smooth ride quality. The Forester soaks up imperfections in the road with ease.

It should also be mentioned that the symmetrical all-wheel drive system is the best in its class and gives the Forester remarkable levels of traction -- both on asphalt and dirt roads.

We did notice a little kickback through the steering wheel when navigating rutted corners, but it won't rip your hands off and does provide good (if a little overbearing) communication through the tiller.

The new 2011 Subaru Forester doesn't get everything right but there are more pros than cons in this new model. Standard features have been bolstered with the addition of Bluetooth telephony on all model, and reversing cameras are now standard on all models except the X and 2.0D.

For a full rundown of the changes to the 2011 Subaru Forester, see the features and pricing story.

Subaru prides itself on its safety record -- all of its vehicles have a five-star ANCAP safety rating -- and the new Forester range continues this trend thanks to an assortment of passive and active safety features.

If initialisations such as ABS (antilock), VDC (stability control)and EBD (brake distribution) don't grill your bacon, perhaps things like six airbags (with full length curtain airbags), active headrests and Datadot security will.

Subaru's Forester is now quieter, the engine is more refined, offers better throttle response and delivers more mid-range torque -- all of which make it a nicer car to drive.

As the number one selling compact SUV in Australia, the Subaru Forester is regularly the envy of its rivals, and the changes enacted are likely to ensure it place at the top of the table is not disturbed.

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