Subaru Ireland tells us that the 2015 model-year update to its best-selling Forester SUV has just gone on sale. The carmaker says that it features a raft of changes to its interior and powertrain and enhances the go-anywhere capabilities of the Forester range from €37,995 for the 2.0D X Lineartronic version.
The most significant change for the latest Subaru Forester is the addition of a diesel Lineartronic CVT (continuously-variable transmission ) powertrain to the Irish model line-up, the first Forester to offer such a powertrain.
By pairing the popular 2.0-litre horizontally-opposed Boxer diesel engine with Lineartronic, Subaru engineers say that they have endowed the car with a more relaxing drive and, at the same time, boosted its off-road capabilities.
Paired with the standard All-Wheel Drive drivetrain, Lineartronic brings with it Subaru’s Hill Descent Control (HDC ) and the X-Mode system, which intelligently manages the car’s power and torque, brakes and drivetrain to maintain traction on even the most slippery surfaces.
The Lineartronic transmission fitted to the Forester’s 2.0 litre diesel engine is the same high-capacity CVT found on the powerful 240 ps XT Turbo model, and is engineered to manage the diesel engine’s high 350 Nm torque output. In its latest application in the Forester, the NVH characteristics of the transmission have been improved with additional soundproofing, while a manual (paddle-shift ) mode provides drivers with seven pre-set ‘gears’ for greater control of the engine.
Subaru Ireland adds that the 148 PS Boxer diesel engine itself has also received a range of modifications designed to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness and improve fuel economy. A new common-rail injection system enables more precise combustion control, while new glow plugs speed up engine heating for greater fuel efficiency from a cold start. Other changes include revised turbocharger settings while new radiator, oil cooler, and radiator fans have been adopted for diesel models, aiding engine cooling.
With the new diesel engine and gearbox combination the 2015 Subaru Forester promises a return of 46.3 mpg and 158 g/km CO2 on the combined cycle, and to go from zero to 100 kph in 9.6 seconds. Subaru Ireland also tells us that it continues to offer its five-year, 160,000 kilometre warranty.
Cabin upgrades improve quality and refinement
Subaru tells us that their engineers have also introduced a number of improvements to the interior of the car, designed to raise the quality and ambience of the cabin. Central to this upgraded interior is a new factory-fit touchscreen infotainment system. The 7.0 inch touchscreen, fitted as standard to all XC models in Ireland, allows front seat occupants to control the car’s audio systems using the same touchscreen functionality as a smartphone, with swiping and pinching-in and -out to zoom.
Drivers can control the infotainment system - as well as the climate control - with Subaru’s latest-generation voice control system, while full Bluetooth functionality enables users to connect their smartphone to the car via StarLink, for weather and traffic reports, wireless audio and news updates.
Subaru Ireland says that the upgraded interior also makes use of higher quality materials, in particular a new piano black central fascia, metallic highlights at key locations around the dashboard and new, more tactile heater controls. The car also now receives an extra USB jack allowing occupants to listen to music from a USB-compatible device while charging another at the same time.
The Multi-Function Display (MFD ) at the top of the dashboard continues to display useful information to the driver, such as temperature, the status of the standard All-Wheel Drive system and fuel economy data.
Finally, Subaru says that the noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH ) throughout the cabin is further improved with the adoption of greater soundproofing material under the bonnet and around the air intake.
