The 5th-generation Subaru Forester hybrid crossover vehicle can now be purchased in Japan with the model name of ‘e-Boxer’. There is no data available on whether the manufacturer plans to use the same name for markets outside of Japan, however.
The hybrid powertrain of the new vehicle includes a revised 2.0-liter opposite-cylinder engine, now coming with direct injection and an increased ratio of air-fuel mixture compression. The unit now offers 145 hp (108 kW) in terms of performance, which is 5 hp (4 kW) below the previous model.
There is also a humble electric engine contributing its own 13.6 hp (10 kW), a battery rated just under 5,000 mA·h, and a CVT.
The vehicle shouldn’t consume more than seven liters of gasoline per 100 km in urban and suburban driving environments (UK: 40 MPG, US: 33.5 MPG).
On its home market in Japan, the vehicle comes in three gasoline-powered versions and a single hybrid specification. This may or may not change when it gets released on the other markets.
The current Subaru Forester debuted this spring with a new platform, reworked body and interior design, and a better 2.5-liter engine.
Photo: Subaru