When Subaru revealed its fifth-gen Forester SUV in 2018, it did so in the United States first (watch the video for a reminder). In contrast, the facelifted version has now been unveiled in Japan, and pre-orders have already started on that market.
You can tell the refreshed crossover from its predecessor by its new headlights, radiator grille and bumpers. Other notable changes include wheels and body finishes. The rear end and the interior stay completely the same.
Like the latest Levorg wagon, the Forester now ships with an updated EyeSight Package, which includes lane control, AEB and other useful features like that. The stereoscopic camera benefits from new, wider-angle lenses, and the software has been updated as well.
Suspension has been tweaked for performance and comfort, while powertrains stay the same – at least, in Japan. This includes a 2.0-liter non-turbo rated at 145 PS (143 hp / 107 kW) and 188 Nm (139 lb-ft) of torque and a hybrid system called e-Boxer. The latter incorporates the same petrol engine and an electric motor rated at 14 PS (14 hp / 10 kW) and 65 Nm (48 lb-ft). The Sport modification launched a year ago keeps its modern 1.8-liter diesel engine good for 177 PS (175 hp / 130 kW) and 300 Nm (of torque). CVT and AWD come standard in all versions.
Customer deliveries are expected in late summer, Subaru reports.