Visual Changes For 2022 Subaru Forester

Subaru Southern Africa leads the new model charge into 2022 with the introduction of a new look for the Forester, particularly on the front end which has been heavily redesigned.

A larger, hexagonal grille dominates with a reduced headlight design and the grille and front bumper now incorporate more use of black elements around the redesigned headlight and foglamp clusters. The reworked headlights now include an array of LED bulbs for improved driver vision as part of the Forester Adaptive Headlamps and High Beam Assist features. 

On the Forester Sport, the fog lamps are six-bulb LED units within a black housing where the Premium Forester’s fog lamp housing includes three chromed horizontal pieces for a more urban finish. 

Further along the flanks of the Forester, the mirror caps, A and B-pillar covers as well as the rear spoiler and tailgate finishes have all been enhanced. On the Forester Sport, the mirror caps and rear are finished in a geometric textured material, where the Premium Forester is finished in chromed mirror covers and a high gloss black cover.

The new Forester sits on redesigned 17-inch alloy wheels on the base model or 18-inch alloy wheels on the high spec models. The new 18-inch wheel design on the Premium Forester is a new five-spoke, dual-tone design in contrast to the all-black multi-spoke wheels on the Forester Sport.

For the revised Forester, a new Cascade Green Silica colour has been added in place of the Jasper Green Metallic. This new colour joins the rest of the colour palette of: Crimson Red Pearl; Crystal Black Silica; Crystal White Pearl; Horizon Blue Pearl; Ice Silver Metallic; Magnetite Grey Metallic; Sepia Bronze Metallic for the Premium derivatives.

For the Forester Sport, the colours remain unchanged as: Magnetite Grey Metallic; Ice Silver Metallic; Dark Blue Pearl; Crystal Black Silica and Crystal White Pearl.

On the Subaru Forester Sport, the use of the orange and black theme has been tweaked, removing the orange splashes on the air vent surrounds yet maintaining the colour on the stitching and contrasting this with the exclusive Sport’s dark grey colour scheme and water repellent seats.

The powertrains remain unchanged on all derivatives of the new Forester, but the front suspension has been tweaked to improve steering responsiveness, ride quality and handling by reworking the coil springs and dampers. To further improve the NVH levels, the Forester also receives new aluminium engine mount brackets.

X-Mode, Subaru’s all-terrain programme has also been updated with improved Hill Descent Control speed management. To enhance driver control, the revised system allows for manual acceleration on descent, with the system re-engaging Hill descent Control when the driver stops accelerating. 

The revised X-Mode programme also has the ability to re-engage at speeds of 35 km/h or below, after the system has dis-engaged beyond that speed. This tweak allows for less intervention by the driver to continually re-engage the system if the all-terrain environment requires it. 

A more advanced version of EyeSight Driver Assist Technology is introduced to the MY2022 Subaru Forester. The new system delivers all-round improvement for use under a wider array of conditions and environments. 

There is a new dual camera system with a much wider field of view and, together with improved software, the system is faster and more intuitive, working to deploy the myriad EyeSight safety functions such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, Lane Departure and Sway Warning with even better precision. The system now works with better efficiency at intersections, where accidents frequently occur.

ES or EyeSight-equipped Forester’s also include Blind Spot Detection technology with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert as standard features. Reverse Automatic Braking is also included on EyeSight-equipped models, a system which uses sensors to detect objects and can automatically stop the vehicle if the driver does not take evasive action in time while reversing.

The roof rails on the updated Forester have also been strengthened and redesigned to allow for a higher load capacity and to ensure the safe use of roof-top tents for instance. Additional tie-down locations have also been integrated into the rails as have two additional utility hooks been added to the roof of the rear cargo area.

The entire 2022 Subaru Forester line-up is driven by Subaru’s signature Boxer engines and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system for safe and engaging dynamics as well as maximum traction and control. The 2.0-litre boxer engine produces 115kW and 196Nm of torque, which remains unchanged. Also unchanged, the 2.5-litre produces 136kW and 239Nm. Average fuel consumption is 7.6l/100km and 8.3l/100km respectively.

Pricing:

The new Subaru Forester is sold with a 3 year/75 000km full Maintenance Plan as well as 5yr/150 000km Warranty.