Luxuriating in one of the safest SUVs in the world — The Subaru Forester

In an age of subcompact crossovers, compact SUVs may not be as wildly popular as they were in the 2000s and early 2010s, but it doesn’t mean that they’re less relevant—and definitely no less capable. If anything, the compact SUV still leads in terms of space, comfort, luxury, equipment, and of course, safety—with the latter aspect fast taking the lead in terms of priority by safety-conscious buyers of family cars.

Take Subaru’s fifth-generation Forester. Renowned for its safety features and driving dynamics, the Forester is built on the same superb Subaru Global Platform—renowned for its world-leading safety and refinement—and comes with the Boxer brand’s most advanced driver-assist safety system to date.

It may look quite similar to the previous generation, but the changes are extensive and the differences are substantial, even if most of them are under the skin. On the outside, the latest Forester (PHP2,168,000; PHP2,298,000 for the GT Edition) boasts a new dynamic exterior with a more aggressive front grille, redesigned lamps and restyled 18-inch alloy wheels. Already one of the safest, most comfortable, and better handling SUVs on the market, the new Forester’s suspension has also been retuned to make the ride even smoother and the handling even more responsive. It’s also a lot safer.

Cutting-edge safety

For one thing, Subaru’s award-winning preventive safety system, EyeSight, is now more intuitive than ever with the fourth and newest version of this driver-assist technology. 

Boasting state-of-the-art stereo cameras, EyeSight gets an upgrade with new features. EyeSight 4.0’s Pre-Collision Braking now covers even more traffic scenarios at intersections, thanks to its improved stereo cameras with coverage that has almost doubled horizontally as well as vertically. It’s now able to help the driver look left and right to detect obstacles and help prevent potential collisions, not only in its own lane, but in adjacent lanes as well.

EyeSight 4.0 now includes nine features, of which three (Autonomous Emergency Steering, Lane Centering Function and Lane Departure Prevention) are new, while Pre-Collision Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control have been improved.

Autonomous Emergency Steering helps steer the Forester away from a vehicle or obstacle in front to avoid an accident at speeds up to 80 km/h. Lane Centering Function, meanwhile, is added to Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) to help steer the Forester and keep it in the middle of the lane—and it does this even if the road is curving. This is in addition to the existing feature of ACC that helps keep the Forester at a safe distance from the vehicle in front, helping the driver to slow down or speed up automatically.

Furthermore, Lane Departure Prevention is now included in EyeSight 4.0’s Lane Departure Warning. This nudges the steering wheel slightly towards the inside of the Forester’s lane when it detects that the driver is about to cross the lane markings without using the turn signals at 60 km/h or more.

The Forester doesn’t just monitor road conditions; it also monitors the driver behind the wheel. Its Driver Monitoring System uses an infrared camera and facial recognition to monitor the driver’s eyes and alerts the driver when the system detects that he or she is distracted or falling asleep. It also remembers the unique settings of up to five drivers for their seat and door mirror positions and climate control settings. It automatically adjusts them upon facial recognition.

Using DMS, the Forester now features gesture control for the climate control system. A simple hand gesture adjusts the set temperature, making it easier and safer for the driver to do so.

The Forester’s other notable safety features include Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection System (SRVD), which uses radar sensors to check for traffic approaching from behind the vehicle to warn the driver during lane changes and while reversing or backing up from a parking lot.

Subaru’s bestselling SUV also boasts Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB), which automatically engages the brakes when it detects the risk of a collision while reversing.

Last but not least, it’s got High Beam Assist (HBA), which allows drivers to keep their high beams on all the time as HBA switches automatically to low beam when EyeSight detects oncoming traffic.

Balanced performance with Symmetrical AWD and Boxer engine

The latest Forester also features improved X-MODE, which helps drivers tackle rough and challenging roads with the touch of a button. X-MODE complements Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system to allow Forester owners to drive more confidently, especially on uneven surfaces or challenging inclines. Drivers can select between ‘Snow/Dirt’ and ‘Deep Snow/Mud’ to suit the driving situation. 

Result? The Forester is the ideal vehicle that will take you to and from work everyday of the week, then let you turn weekend warrior with a romp through unpaved roads or even on no roads at all. Dirt, sand, mud, or any challenging or slippery surface—the Forester will get you there.   

The improved X-MODE Auto Restore switches to ‘standby’ when the speed exceeds 40 km/h, and subsequently comes back on when the speed drops below 35 km/h. Previously, X-MODE would deactivate at 40km/h and had to be reactivated manually if needed.

X-MODE’s Hill Descent Control empowers drivers, helping them maintain a controlled and constant speed even on a slippery downhill slope. It now operates more smoothly when the driver decides to accelerate during a gradual descent with X-MODE activated. There is no longer a delay between the driver’s accelerator input and Hill Descent Control’s auto modulation of the brakes in X-MODE when driving slowly down a slope. It’s all very seamless. 

And of course, the brand’s iconic Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (with Active Torque Split) continuously delivers power to all four wheels to provide maximum traction, stability and control, especially in slippery conditions.

The intrinsic layout of the Subaru’s 2.0-liter direct-injection Boxer engine results in a low center of gravity, excellent balance and minimal vibration. It’s a very responsive engine, thanks to lots of torque at low rpm. A particular joy, especially for car people, is the distinctive throb of the horizontally opposed pistons of the Boxer engine—a sound and feel you’ll only experience in a Porsche 911 (or Boxster/Cayman). Numbers? 156ps, 8 km/l in Metro Manila traffic (much better than in previous Foresters), 505 liters of cargo capacity (with the rear seats up), and a 193 km/h top speed. 

Meanwhile, the Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) with 7-speed manual mode optimizes power delivery, acceleration and fuel efficiency. In an age of laggy, clunky dual-clutch transmissions, the smooth and responsive CVT of the Forester is a breath of fresh air. 

Finely crafted interior and a luxurious ride

Inside the Forester, you’ll find one of Subaru’s core strengths—truly premium build quality, posh, high-quality materials, and lots of space for both occupants and cargo. The latest Forester features LED lighting for the cabin, providing brighter illumination while consuming less power. Rear upper cargo hooks (in addition to the four rear lower cargo hooks) have been added in the cargo area, adding practicality and convenience.

It’s a soothing cabin that’s very effective in filtering out the stresses of daily traffic. 

There’s very little wind, road, and engine noise inside. Close your eyes and everything you touch is soft and plush to the skin. But it’s not just silence and a nice tactile feel you’ll get inside the Forester. The front MacPherson strut/rear double wishbone suspension is among the most astutely damped, giving you true executive sedan riding comfort.   

With the four hallmark Subaru Core Technologies, the latest Forester boasts numerous improvements over its predecessor, delivering confidence-inspiring handling, utmost comfort, and enhanced safety. It’s nothing less than the best Forester yet.

And it’s even easier to acquire and own, thanks to Subaru’s current promo for hassle-free ownership with its free two years of preventive maintenance schedule (PMS) and free comprehensive insurance. There is even a holiday season tie-up with BPI that lets you bring home a brand new Forester with a low 20% down payment and a low Php35k monthly for 60 months.    

Photos by Mica de los Reyes