Heels & Horsepower Magazine

Subaru’s Fresh-Faced Forester Now Available In South Africa

Press Release: Subaru Southern Africa

Subaru Southern Africa’s most popular SUV, the Subaru Forester is now available in dealerships across the country.

Subaru Southern Africa’s most popular SUV, the Subaru Forester has received a mid-life update and is further heightening its appeal.

The MY2022 Forester marks Subaru Southern Africa’s 30th year in South Africa, and is available in four derivatives including the 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre variants in their respective Sport and Premium trims and specifications. 

Design Changes

The biggest exterior design changes have taken place at the front of the vehicle. A larger, hexagonal grille takes centre stage with a reduced headlight design, resulting in a more dynamic and sturdier stance. 

The grille and front bumper now incorporate more use of black elements around the redesigned headlight and foglamp clusters.  Reworked headlights now include an array of LED bulbs for improved driver vision as part of the Forester Adaptive Headlamps and High Beam Assist features. 

On the Forester Sport, the fog lamps are six-bulb LED units within a black housing where the Premium Forester’s fog lamp housing includes three chromed horizontal pieces for a more urban finish. Further along the flanks of the Forester, the mirror caps, A and B-pillar covers as well as the rear spoiler and tailgate finishes have all been enhanced. 

On the Forester Sport, the mirror caps and rear are finished in a geometric textured material, where the Premium Forester is finished in chromed mirror covers and a high gloss black cover. 

The new Forester sits on redesigned 17-inch alloy wheels on the base model or 18-inch alloy wheels on the high spec models. The new 18-inch wheel design on the Premium Forester is a new five-spoke, dual-tone design for a purposeful and yet elegant stance. This is in contrast to the all-black multi-spoke wheels on the more adventurous Forester Sport. 

For the MY2022 Forester, a new Cascade Green Silica colour has been added in place of the Jasper Green Metallic. This new colour joins the rest of the colour palette of: Crimson Red Pearl; Crystal Black Silica; Crystal White Pearl; Horizon Blue Pearl; Ice Silver Metallic; Magnetite Grey Metallic; Sepia Bronze Metallic for the Premium derivatives. 

For the Forester Sport, the colours remain unchanged as: Magnetite Grey Metallic; Ice Silver Metallic; Dark Blue Pearl; Crystal Black Silica and Crystal White Pearl. 

Better Ride. Better Dynamics. 

The powertrains remain unchanged on all derivatives of the new Forester, but the front suspension has been tweaked to improve steering responsiveness, ride quality and handling by reworking the coil springs and dampers. 

X-Mode, Subaru’s smart all-terrain programme has also been updated with improved Hill Descent Control speed management. To enhance driver control, the revised system allows for manual acceleration on descent, with the system re-engaging Hill descent Control when the driver stops accelerating.  X-Mode is available on all Subaru Forester models. 

EyeSight Version 4.0

A more advanced version of EyeSight Driver Assist Technology is introduced to the MY2022 Subaru Forester. The new system delivers all-round improvement for use under a wider array of conditions and environments. 

There is a new dual camera system with a much wider field of view, almost double what it was. Together with improved software, the system is faster and more intuitive, working to deploy the myriad EyeSight safety functions such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, Lane Departure and Sway Warning with even better precision. The system now works with better efficiency at intersections, where accidents frequently occur.

Also offered with EyeSight 4.0 are three new technologies that employ active steering inputs: 

  • Active Lane Centering works within the Adaptive Cruise Control function to ensures the vehicle remains in the centre of the lane. This reduces driver fatigue. When the system is active, the driver’s Multi-Function Display as well as the Information Display screen show the Active Tracking graphics, depicting the system at work. 
  • Lane Departure Prevention assists in keeping the vehicle within the correct lane by actively steering back into the correct lane. 
  • Autonomous Emergency Steering works as an accident prevention function and can steer the vehicle to avoid an accident, be it a pedestrian, another vehicle or a cyclist. Autonomous Emergency Steering sometimes works in conjunction with the Emergency braking function but can also work when the system deems emergency braking is not adequate to reduce the severity of a collision. 

ES or EyeSight-equipped Forester’s also include Blind Spot Detection technology with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert as standard features. Reverse Automatic Braking is also included on EyeSight-equipped models, a system which uses sensors to detect objects and can automatically stop the vehicle if the driver does not take evasive action in time while reversing. 

ES-spec Foresters remain the safest vehicles in their class with the highest 5-star safety ratings across all global safety ratings agencies. EyeSight contributes significantly to Forester safety, but even base-spec Subaru Foresters are loaded with ground-up safety technology and engineering that still keeps them in the 5-star safety rating standard. 

2022 Model Line-Up and Pricing 

 Subaru Forester 2.0i CVTSubaru Forester 2.0i-S ES CVT Subaru Forester 2.5i-Sport ES CVT Subaru Forester 2.5i-S ES CVT 
Engine Capacity2.0-l Horizontally opposed, 4-cylinder2.0-l Horizontally opposed, 4-cylinder2.5-l Horizontally opposed, 4-cylinder2.5-l Horizontally opposed, 4-cylinder
Power115 kW115 kW136 kW136 kW
Torque196 Nm196 Nm239 Nm239 Nm
Fuel Consumption7.6l/100km7.6l/100km8.3l/100km8.3l/100km
C02 Emissions179g/km179g/km193g/km193g/km
PriceR486 000R564 000R599 000R649 000

Nteo Nkoli, Marketing Manager at Subaru Southern Africa says, “The new Forester, like the Foresters that have come before it, continues to be the most popular seller in our range of cars. These updates will certainly find more appeal with our customers because they show our innovation, our versatility and our focus on safety – the very things that our customers love about our cars and brand.” 

The new Subaru Forester is the all-season, all-weather SUV. Local introduction of the new Forester is scheduled for January 2022. 

The new Subaru Forester is sold with a 3yr/75 000km full Maintenance Plan as well as 5yr/150 000km Warranty. These are extendable, with various plans available to Subaru customers. 

New on the Tarmac: Meet the new Subaru Forester models

Subaru Southern Africa presents the MY2021 Subaru Forester with more power, new derivatives as well as more tech and practicality.  

It’s been 24 years since the first Subaru Forester defined what the world now refers to as the modern day SUV. It was a significant moment in the brand’s illustrious history, opening up a chapter that would see the Forester become the best-selling model in the company’s line-up. 

The new 2021 line-up welcomes the addition of 2 new flagship variantsStarting with the new Subaru Forester 2.5i Sport ES CVT, which is an entirely new derivative that brings a refreshing and sporty design to the model line-up. Designed for those seeking a car with practicality and sporty aesthetics, the Forester Sport exudes power and athleticism.  

Exterior design

From the front, key highlights are the modern ‘Hawkeye’ LED headlamps, a large grille, fog lamps and an underguard treatment for added protection during off road excursions. The roof rails have also been redesigned, now featuring loopholes on the higher spec models, for easier use of ropes and straps when tying down cargo. 

The introduction of the 2.5-litre models and the Sport model to the line-up gives our customers more options and a more personalised experience

 Nteo Nkoli, Marketing Lead for Subaru SA

Power & Performance

The 2.5-litre engine delivers 136kW of power, with maximum torque at 239Nm.  Despite the increase in power and performance, the 2.5-litre remains as efficient as the 2.0-litre model, delivering impressive fuel consumption figures of 7.6l/100km on the combined cycle. CO2 emissions are 193g/km. 

 

“The introduction of the 2.5-litre models and the Sport model to the line-up is so important for us as a brand, because it gives our customers more options and a more personalised experience,” says Nteo Nkoli, Marketing Lead for Subaru SA. “These long-awaited models are what many of our customers have been asking for, models that suit a particular lifestyle.” 

This Forester has scored 5-star safety ratings across all global ratings agencies. 

2021 Line-Up

Subaru Forester 2.0i-CVT                                                    R486 000

Subaru Forester 2.0i-S ES CVT                                           R564 000

Subaru Forester 2.5i Sport ES CVT                                     R599 000

Subaru Forester 2.5i-S ES CVT                                           R629 000

Each Subaru Forester model is sold with a 3yr/75 000km Maintenance Plan as well as the 5yr/150 000km Warranty. 

Meet the 2020 AutoTrader Car of the Year Semi-Finalists

South Africa’s premiere motoring journalists have voted. So too have members of the public. The votes have been tallied and 25 semi-finalists have been announced for the 2020 AutoTrader South African Car of the Year competition.

One of these semi-finalists will win the most sought-after title in the South African automotive industry, that of 2020 AutoTrader South African Car of the Year. 

“The 25 vehicles hail from 16 different car manufacturers, and they include anything and everything from family runabouts to sports cars, and from luxurious sports utility vehicles (SUVs) to bakkies,” reveals Rubin van Niekerk, chairman of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ).

Some of the vehicles on the list have already won major international accolades. The Jaguar I-Pace, for instance, made history when it won an unprecedented three awards – World Car of the Year, World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year – at the 2019 World Car Awards. “Were it to win the 2020 AutoTrader South African Car of the Year title, it would be the first electric car to take top honours in the 34-year old competition,” notes AutoTrader CEO, George Mienie.

In most competitions around the world, journalists don’t get together to physically drive the vehicles

– GEORGE MIENE, CEO – AUTOTRADER

The Mazda3 has recently been named Supreme Winner at the 2019 Women’s World Car of the Year Awards. It also scooped the 2019 Thailand Car of the Year and the 2020 China Car of the Year trophies, while the Toyota Corolla has recently been named a 2020 European Car of the Year finalist.

AutoTrader became the title sponsor for the competition, organised by the SAGMJ, in 2019 – and it has facilitated the successful consumer vote. According to Mienie, public interest in the competition is intense. “This year, the number of public votes by AutoTrader’s car buying consumers has more than doubled. This is a clear indication that South Africans want to have their say in these top motoring awards,” he comments.

And which vehicle did they vote for? “Of all the semi-finalists, the car that received the most public votes was the Mazda3,” Mienie reveals.

Now that the semi-finalists have been named, voting for the finalists will commence; for the first time in the competition’s history, consumers will be able to vote alongside motoring experts. A special event in Johannesburg on December 4 will reveal which cars make up the 14 finalists.

This event will be followed by the test days in March 2020, when 27 of South Africa’s top motoring journalists (our Editor, Vuyi Mpofu being among them) will put the vehicles through their paces. According to Van Niekerk, this is one of the most important components of the competition. “In most competitions around the world, journalists don’t get together to physically drive the vehicles. They simply score them electronically or on paper. In South Africa however, journalists spend two full days evaluating every single aspect of each finalist – from design, technology and engineering to handling, safety and value for money; followed by the final scoring. Our methodology is both thorough and extremely scientific, and yields the most deserving category and overall winners,” he added.

Commenting on the list of Finalists, Vuyi said she was delighted to see the Mahindra in the running, adding that the brand had worked hard to establish itself in the market, “Making it onto the list is not only a huge vote of confidence for Mahindra, but also a clear demonstration that even though South Africans are extremely particular about the brands they drive, they are fair and open to acknowledging vehicles which are not ‘main-stream’. 

The category and overall winners will be announced at an event hosted by AutoTrader in April 2020.   Herewith a list of the 2020 AutoTrader South African Car of the Year semi-finalists

Audi A1

Audi Q3

BMW 3 Series

BMW 8 Series

BMW X5

Citroën C3 Aircross

Ford Ranger

Ford Ranger Raptor

Hyundai Atos

Hyundai Santa Fe

Jaguar I-PACE

Kia Sportage

Mahindra XUV300

Mazda3

Mercedes-AMG CLS 53

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan

Mercedes-Benz GLE

Mitsubishi Triton

Peugeot 5008

Subaru Forester

Suzuki Swift Sport

Toyota Corolla Hatch

Toyota RAV4

Toyota Supra

Volkswagen T-Cross