Car Reviews > Subaru > Forester Diesel > Subaru Forester Diesel Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Prices: £29,070
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel
Gearbox: 6-speed manual, 4-wheel drive
Power/torque: 145 bhp/ 350 Nm 0-60 mph: 10.3 seconds
Top Speed: 116 miles per hour
Economy: 47.1 miles per gallon
Emissions: 158g per kilometre
Equipment: GPS, 17-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, self-levelling rear suspension, electric driver’s seat, and keyless entry

Subaru has unveiled the greenest version yet of its rugged off-roader – but how does it measure up?

With a more efficient yet every bit as powerful diesel engine fitted to the Forester by Subaru, the crossover has never been so green – but will it be enough to make the vehicle look as up to date as it needs to?

Certainly, the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder box unit is alleged to have improved on both fuel economy and CO2 emissions by as much as seven per cent in comparison to the previous model, thanks to an alternator with a smaller capacity and an improved turbo. As a result, fuel economy now stands at 47.1 miles per gallon while CO2 emissions are now 158g per kilometre.

The fuel tank is pretty large at 64 litres – the 2.0 petrol model slightly smaller, with a 60-litre unit – and means that the car can now traverse as many as 625 miles without stopping for a refuel. The fact that the yearly output of CO2 emissions is much reduced also means that the road tax bill has likewise been slashed to just £165 per annum.

When it actually hits the road, the new Forester really does not feel different in any way at all to the old Forester. The horizontally opposed engine is incredibly smooth, and excluding a bit of clatter upon starting up, is also as quiet as a whisper. Unfortunately, road and wind noise do become very noticeable and rather tiresome when the car hits motorway speeds. The torque level registers at a pretty substantial 350 Nm, which it has to be said is quite some punch for a mid-range vehicle, although unfortunately that is the absolute maximum output, and that is only available when the car hits between 1600 revs per minute and 2400 revs per minute.

The long travel suspension is sadly not without its flaws either, able to give a pretty comfortable ride when the car is going in a straight line but encountering problems once it starts hitting bends, at which point the body roll is very noticeable indeed. On the plus side however, there is a great deal of grip, almost certainly because both the 4-wheel drive and the multi-link rear suspension have been lifted pretty much wholesale from the Impreza. Off-roading is also not a problem for the Forester, which is pleasingly practical and spacious as well.

Luxury is not and has never been the appeal of the Forester, whose attraction has always been more to do with its rather rugged aesthetic, a fact that is reflected in the very hardwearing interior of the vehicle. Its biggest pluses however are undoubtedly its spacious nature, comfortable ride and “Go anywhere” ability, with the new level of very impressive fuel economy now also adding to its not inconsiderable charms.

The problem with the Subaru Forester Diesel, and it is a fairly substantial one, lies with the fact that the high-spec vehicle comes in at over £29,000, which makes it more expensive than even the entry level version of the Range Rover Evoque – a car that, in all absolute honestly, is simply in an altogether different class and league to this one both in terms of desirability and quality.

by Autoweb