Four months after the global reveal of the all-new Subaru Forester at the New York International Auto Show, we finally get to see the car in the metal at its regional launch in Taiwan. The fifth-generation model, which still boasts its predecessor's boxy form as well as the brand's trademark Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and boxer engine, now includes two of the latest Subaru core technologies, namely, the Subaru Global Platform and the EyeSight driver-assist technology.
We need to break some bad news first, though: If you've been waiting for this compact crossover to land on local shores, you'll have to be patient for a few more months because it won't be making its Philippine debut until January 2019. What we can share with you now are the specifications for the Taiwanese market, which should be an indication of the features that our version will be having.
The new Forester's lineup for Taiwan comprises four variants, all powered by a 2.0-liter direct-injection gasoline engine that generates 154hp at 6,000rpm and 196Nm at 4,000rpm. The flat-four mill is mated to a Lineartronic CVT with seven simulated gears in manual mode. In case you didn't know, the model will no longer be offered with a turbocharged motor.
Driver-assistance systems like active torque vectoring, vehicle dynamics control, and X-Mode are standard across the range, working in tandem with the new Subaru Global Platform to deliver smoother, more agile, and more stable handling versus the previous generation. Also, the minimum ground clearance of 220mm should easily see the Forester through off-road conditions that its competitors may find a bit too challenging to tackle.
Other notable safety and convenience features found on all variants include front, side, curtain, and knee airbags; auto vehicle hold, which keeps the vehicle at a standstill in traffic even when the driver’s foot is off the brake pedal; and a high-grade multifunction display that shows key vehicle statistics on the instrument panel.
On higher variants, the EyeSight and Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection (SRVD) technologies help ensure the safety not just of the Forester's occupants, but also of other road users. The former includes features like pre-collision braking and throttle management, adaptive cruise control, lead vehicle start alert (which alerts the driver if traffic ahead is moving again), and lane-departure and lane-sway warnings. SRVD, meanwhile, covers blind-spot detection, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert.
As for interior changes, the new Forester boasts increased passenger and cargo space compared with the preceding model, and also benefits from a redesigned layout and new features to improve driving ergonomics and occupant comfort.
Enjoy these photos of the all-new Forester from the regional launch. The complete specs of the model's Taiwanese-market lineup are also available after the photos.
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Subaru Forester Specifications (Taiwan regional launch) |
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Dimension and Weight |
2.0i-L |
2.0i-L EyeSight |
2.0i-S |
2.0i-S EyeSight |
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Length/width/height (mm) |
4,625 / 1,815 / 1,730 |
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Tire size |
225/60 R17 |
225/55 R18 |
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Curb weight (kg) |
1,538 |
1,580 |
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Ground clearance (mm) |
220 |
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Engine |
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Type |
direct fuel-injection, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve gasoline |
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Displacement (cc) |
1,995 |
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Power (hp / rpm) |
154 / 6,000 |
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Torque (Nm / rpm) |
196 / 4,000 |
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Fuel tank capacity (L) |
63 |
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Chassis and Suspension |
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Transmission type |
Lineartronic CVT |
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Brakes (front / rear) |
ventilated disc brakes / ventilated disc brakes |
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Suspension (front/ rear) |
MacPherson strut / double-wishbone |
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Exterior |
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Front foglamps |
equipped |
equipped |
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Front LED foglamps |
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|
equipped |
equipped |
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Headlamp washers |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Daytime running lights (halogen) |
equipped |
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|
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Daytime running lights (LED) |
|
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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LED headlamps with auto levelizer |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Power-folding door mirrors with LED turn signal |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Power-sliding large glass sunroof |
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|
equipped |
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Rear foglamp |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Roof rails |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Roof spoiler |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Shark-fin antenna |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Safety |
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Four-sensor / four-channel ABS with EBD |
equipped |
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Active torque vectoring |
equipped |
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Brake assist |
equipped |
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Brake override |
equipped |
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Engine immobilizer |
equipped |
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Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) |
equipped |
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Emergency stop signal |
equipped |
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Isofix adapted child-seat anchor |
equipped |
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Safety pedal system |
equipped |
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Side-door reinforcement beams |
equipped |
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SRS front, side, and curtain airbags |
equipped |
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SRS knee airbag |
equipped |
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Functionality and Convenience |
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Active grille shutter |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Aluminum pedals |
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|
equipped |
equipped |
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Audio system with 8in display (with navigation) |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Auto headlamps |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Auto vehicle hold |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
|
Blind-spot detection |
|
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Bluetooth-compatible hands-free system |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Electronic parking brake |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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EyeSight Driver Assist Technology |
|
equipped |
|
equipped |
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Heated door mirrors |
|
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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High-beam assist |
|
equipped |
|
equipped |
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High-grade multifunction display |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Lane-change assist |
|
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Idle Stop System (ISS) |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Multifunction steering wheel with cruise control |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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One-touch turn signal |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Paddle shifters |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
|
PIN code access |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory function |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Power-adjustable passenger’s seat |
|
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Power rear gate with memory function |
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|
equipped |
equipped |
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Rain-sensing wipers |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Rear cross-traffic alert |
|
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Rear-seat armrest with cupholders |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Reverse camera |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Reclining rear seats |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Retractable cargo cover |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Reverse sensors |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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SI-Drive |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Sideview monitor |
|
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Smart entry and push-start button |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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Steering-responsive headlights |
|
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
|
Tilt and telescopic steering wheel |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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USB and auxiliary audio input jack |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
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X-Mode |
equipped |
equipped |
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Special X-Mode |
|
|
equipped |
equipped |
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60/40 split-folding rear seats |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
equipped |
