2019 Subaru Forester

A long-standing success in the Subaru product family, the Forester presents us with a new version of a station wagon disguised as a utility vehicle for 2019.

A pioneer in the field of all-wheel drive, Subaru is increasingly facing significant competition in this vehicle category such as the Toyota RAV4 (also brand new for 2019) and the Honda CR-V. Subaru is therefore getting in step with a larger body and new safety technology. This technology is called DriverFocus, which uses facial recognition software to monitor driver fatigue and distractions, then works with the EyeSight active safety suite to reduce the risk of accidents. Other new safety-related features include standard LED headlights on all models.

For 2019, Subaru offers us its most spacious Forester ever, thanks to a wheelbase extended by 30 mm and the car's new platform, which allowed Subaru to design a larger cargo opening. A power tailgate is offered as an option and all the car's doors can be locked with a single button.

A new interior offers a choice of 6.5 or 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreens, front seats designed for better comfort on long trips, a more spacious second row and a wider, easier-to-use rear door sill.

Under the car's evolutionary styling, there's a new version of Subaru's 2.5-litre flat-four engine, now tuned for 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, increases of 12 and 2 respectively. The only transmission is a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that can be optioned with a seven-speed manual mode. The turbo engine available last year has disappeared, at least for now.

Other powertrain updates include the availability of a two-mode X-Mode terrain management system that allows the driver to adapt the car's performance to snow and mud, as well as a more basic version of the X-Mode system in all models that optimizes traction on slippery surfaces and steep slopes. The "symmetrical" AWD configuration also benefits from standard torque vectoring, a feature that distributes power between the left and right wheels for improved handling and cornering performance.

Subaru is therefore banking on what has made it popular through its all-wheel drive system, among the most effective on the market, and hopes to win over a certain audience with a more spacious and modern model.