Subaru Forester Sport emerges
Sporty new variant dials up the visuals as Forester range gains 300kg towing boost for MY21Subaru has announced it will launch a new Forester Sport model grade from October 2020, which brings a number of cosmetic upgrades to the Japanese brand’s all-important mid-size SUV.
The car-maker has also confirmed a number of rolling changes to the wider Forester range for the 2021 model year, including an increase in the maximum braked towing capacity from 1500kg to 1800kg for all 2.5-litre models.
The Subaru Forester Sport is priced from $41,990 plus on-road costs, putting it at the upper end of the line-up, and brings extra brightwork to the exterior via orange accents on the front, side and rear of the vehicle, and also for the roof rails.
Black surrounds for the new LED front fog lights are added while the grille and rear bumper receive black infills.
The cosmetic changes are rounded off with black-coloured 18-inch alloy wheels and ‘Sport’ badges.
The new Subaru Forester Sport is offered with an exclusive dark blue exterior paint option as well.
Interior upgrades for the Forester Sport include an electric sunroof, water-repellent grey cloth seat upholstery with orange stitching, and various other orange highlights, including around the air vents and gear shifter.
The changes are purely cosmetic – there’s no turbocharged engine in sight, with the Forester Sport equipped with the same 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer engine (136kW/239Nm) as its siblings.
Subaru Australia’s new managing director Christian Dinsdale said the new Sport variant should generate more interest in the Forester range, which remains a popular model in the mid-size SUV category but is currently running behind the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander.
“2.5i Sport AWD is the third variant we have added to the initial four offerings in the current generation and it’s an eye-catching and practical wagon that only enhances Forester’s customer appeal,” said Dinsdale.
As well as the towing capacity increase, Subaru has updated the broader Forester range for the 2021 model year with revised headlights and an automatic door lock/unlock and a collision-detection unlock function.
The latter is designed to unlock the doors and tailgate in the event of a major collision, helping reduce the chance of occupants being trapped inside the vehicle.
There are no longer diesel models available but a fuel-efficient 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid powertrain (110kW/196Nm) is offered at a premium price. See below for the price list.
“The 300kg increase in towing capacity for non-hybrid variants also represents a significant advance, which will convince a broader set of customers to consider Forester for its practicality across a whole set of parameters,” Dinsdale said.
All Forester vehicles feature a CVT automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, Subaru’s vision assist and EyeSight driver assist technology plus a smart key and push-button engine start.
All Subaru vehicles are covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and five-year capped-price servicing program.
How much does the 2021 Subaru Forester cost?
2.5i – $34,690
2.5i-L – $36,940
2.5i Premium – $39,940
2.5i Sport – $41,990 (new)
2.5i-S – $42,990
Hybrid L – $39,990
Hybrid S – $45,990
* Prices exclude on-road costs
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