The article was originally produced on October 8, 2019, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

The reliable Japanese brand Subaru now offers hybrid drive with the new Forester and we’ve test driven it.

Subaru was founded in 1953 by Fuji Heavy Industries and in 1966 came the first boxer four. For the uninitiated, it is an engine where cylinders are placed horizontally in two rows on each side of the crankshaft. Four-wheel drive was introduced in 1972 in the Leone model. Another car company that is very famous for its boxer engines is Porsche. 

The name Subaru is the Japanese name for the Pleiades star group, which contains seven large stars, one of which is hidden. In Japan, the Pleiades symbolize rebirth and strength, and these stars are also included in Subaru’s logo. 

Subaru belongs to one of the Japanese car brands that has always sold well in Sweden and had a good reputation. Partly for its reliable four-wheel drive, which almost all models have, but also for the reliable boxer engines used. Now the new Forester is here which is the fifth generation. It gets an addition to the name, which is e-Boxer and which means something completely new that has not been available on the European market before – hybrid operation. An electric motor of 17 horsepower has been added, which means that the total amount of power with the 4-cylinder boxer engine lands at 167 horses. The electric motor in the gearbox supplies all wheels with power. The main competitors of the Forester e-Boxer are the Honda CR-V Hybrid and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

A new feature in the Forester e-Boxer is facial recognition. It detects whether you are tired, but also which drivers jump into the car

In terms of appearance, the new Forester is very similar to its predecessors. Subaru has found its own design language that makes them neither stand out from the crowd, nor really resemble any other car brand. Whether it then gets the heart rate up is up to each person to decide. In terms of size, it has grown slightly since the last generation, 15 millimeters in length and 20 in width. The wheelbase has also increased since the predecessor by three center meters.

The previous generation felt very spacious and often won these rounds against its competitors. The new Forester is even more spacious and the cabin feels incredibly large and airy. Why the back seat can be more similar to one found in a limousine, we have the three centimeters that have been increased on the wheelbase and thanks to which they all ended up here and for the legroom.

The interior design in Japanese cars we mentioned earlier but is not found at all in the new Forester. Here it is rather a rather calm and serene design language instead of the many and sharp lines we have talked about with other Japanese car brands. A small screen has been placed above the normal one where most of the infotainment system’s info is displayed. The small one above this is called the MFD, Multi Function Display. It shows all extra information such as hybrid operation and more.

A new feature in the Forester e-Boxer is facial recognition. It senses if you are tired, e.g. but also which driver jumps into the car. And can then set the chair and other functions for that person. In terms of safety, the new Forester is very high compared to its competitors. Much thanks to a system called EyeSight that looks like it was taken from a police car. The system is primarily located above and around the rearview mirror with cameras. The system must include, among other things, autobrake, yaw warning, lane keeping assistant and attention warning.

The Forester e-Boxer does not offer any extra ordinary driving experience, but on the other hand, not a boring one either. It is a pleasant experience when the car starts up silently and you roll away. It would be appreciated that the electric motor could have been somewhat more powerful and managed to keep up for longer. Something we’ve also talked about before, the Forester e-Boxer has a so-called CVT gearbox and it requires a bit of getting used to before it can be experienced harmoniously.

Another disadvantage of the electric motor not being powerful enough is that the total consumption unfortunately does not come down to the desired level. The Forester e-Boxer is a very pleasant car to drive, but the question is whether the technology is not a little behind. Competitors deliver largely the same thing but with much longer emission figures. My opinion is that the new Forester e-Boxer will sell well and this because of the brand’s good reputation and loyal customers.

Subaru Forester e-Boxer

Basic price	From SEK 374,900
Engine	2-litre petrol boxer four, 150 hp. Torque 194 Nm. + Electric motor 17 hp, 65 Nm. A total of 167 hp
Transmission	Front engine, 8-speed automatic CVT, permanent four-wheel drive. Torque Split
Acceleration	0-100 in 11.8 sec
Top speed	188 km/h
Fuel consumption mixed driving according to the manufacturer	0.67 l/mile
Weight	1,727-1,762 kg
Guarantees	3 years new car, wagon damage 3 years, 12 years rust
Web	www.subaru.se