Subaru Forester

EXCLUSIVE FIRST DRIVE SUV is rare on UK roads.Will newmodel change that?

- Peter Lyon

ENTHUSIASTS may mourn the demise of Subaru’s World Rally exploits, but, globally at least, it hasn’t harmed the firm’s success. Now more family and safety focused, the Japanese manufacturer is forging ahead with its latest model onslaught.

Last year saw the debut of an all new Impreza, and 2018 heralds a fresh Forester SUV. While there’s no manual gearbox, no diesel and no XT Turbo in the line-up, there is hope for the revised SUV. The all-new 2019 model we drove near Tokyo promises to be better than its predecessor in almost every way, in fact.

Subaru claims the latest version is better to drive, more comfortable and, of course, more efficient. Making all that possible is the employment of the new Subaru Global Platform (SGP).

After the Impreza and new XV, the Forester SUV is the third model to incorporate this architecture – a structure that has the highest crash rating in its home market of Japan. Basically the same size as before but with an extra 35mm in the wheelbase, the platform has allowed the Forester’s designers to improve the amount of interior space, as well as leg and headroom.