The redesigned Subaru Forester compact crossover comes with a slight price increase to go along with its bigger size and added standard safety technology. The 2019 Forester will start at $25,270, including shipping.
Subaru says the redesigned Forester, which moves to the brand’s global platform, is more spacious than before, with the wheelbase stretching to 105.1 inches from 103.9 inches on the outgoing model. Rear-seat legroom grew by 1.4 inches with the redesign. Available only with a continuously variable transmission and one engine choice — a freshened 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine that produces 182 hp and 176 pound-feet of torque — the 2019 Forester’s starting price is $560 more than the 2018 base model with a CVT.
The previously offered manual transmission, as well as the XT trim and its turbocharged engine, did not survive the redesign. Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist technology, which includes automatic pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure and sway warning, and lane-keep assist, now is standard across all Forester trims.
Above base trim is the Premium version, which starts at $27,670. The Sport trim, new for 2019, is highlighted by black and orange accents throughout the exterior and 18-inch wheels. It starts at $29,770. The Base, Premium and Sport trims all come with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The Limited trim adds standard safety features, including blind spot monitoring with lane change assist and rear cross traffic alert. Leather seating, an 8-inch touchscreen and a power rear liftgate are standard on the Limited, which starts at $31,770.
At the top of the Forester lineup is the Touring trim, which starts at $35,270. Subaru has called the Touring trim the “most luxurious Forester ever.”
Inside, customers get a choice of a black or brown interior and options that include a 10-way power driver’s seat, an eight-way power front passenger seat, heated rear seats and an 8-inch touchscreen. DriverFocus, a new monitoring system that uses facial recognition software to identify signs of driver fatigue or driver distraction, is standard on the Touring trim. The system can recognize up to five people and remember their presets for seat position, climate and infotainment.
The redesigned crossover is expected to arrive at U.S. dealerships in November.
