Subaru Forester in test: Fifth edition of the rustic four

The first impression: Just no locks! The Subaru Forester also appears in the fifth generation as a serious farm laborer.

This is what the manufacturer says: Subaru likes to present itself as a niche brand and thus promises its customers the image of strong-willed individualists who swim against the automotive stream. In fact, this is not just staging, the brand is undeterred on its own ways: This fits the consistent adherence to the boxer engine, the sophisticated four-wheel drive and the widespread denial of otherwise omnipresent digitization.

So far, the bill went up. In Europe, Subaru gained new registrations last year by four percent. The best-selling model, also worldwide, is the Forester. However, the era of hermitism in Subaru is finally finite. The financial burdens of new developments towards electromobility, the pressing CO2 reduction due to increasingly stricter limits and the increasing automation of driving are probably too big for a small manufacturer like Subaru.

Therefore, in the future, the existing links with Toyota will be even closer, from common vehicle architectures and car models is already mentioned. The hybrid drive, which will make the Forester cleaner with the generational change, however, is still a Subaru development.

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We noticed that: because of electrical silence. Although even the customer service chief of the German Subaru importer can not quite explain why, but unlike most hybrid models, the Forester starts with a full battery when starting the boxer engine. So you hear the growl of the combustor first.

After that, it is in the driver's hands - or better: in the foot, with which energy the Subaru should be moved. If you just stroked the right pedal, the Forester actually drives purely electrically. However, one should expect, typical of a full hybrid, not too much of it: The capacity of the battery just enough for about 1.5 kilometers electric drive, and more than 40 km / h are with the 10-kW machine also not inside.

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That's what you want. Project Manager Tomoyuki Nunome is not concerned with longer "electric stages" in the "E-Boxer". Much more important in addition to the increased efficiency of the greater driving comfort. The e-machine looks a bit like a turbo, it generates a little more emphasis when starting or during intermediate sprints to overtake. And there is another effect: The Stromer jumps the 2.0-liter combustion engine (150 hp power) to the side whenever it comes in the rings with the continuously variable automatic to its limits. Therefore, the boxer engine does not have to turn so high and the well-known from CVT transmissions rubber band effect, combined with agonizingly loud sawing, is significantly mitigated.

As pleasant as the new rest is when traveling, the influence of the tandem drive on the efficiency remains rather low. At most ten percent more economical is the E-Boxer. The standard consumption value is 6.7 liters. For the car carries more than two hundredweight additional technology, which also makes Subaru pay properly. After all, there are no restrictions at the place: Because the car was a bit larger with the generational change, he offers despite the battery in the rear of the car 509 liters of luggage space - four liters more than before.

One must not forget with all the focus on the E-Boxer: Not only the drive, the whole car is new. You can feel it while driving, because the car reacts a bit more binding, does not bend so easily in knees and can be better kept in the lane. But you can hardly see it. Because still exudes the Foerster a more rustic charm, even if there is a little more chrome trim, LED lights and slightly different proportions for the new model.

In any case, the car radiates more energy than chic and looks a bit out of time beside all the SUVs with their large touchscreens and digital cockpits. There is now also in the Forester a well-integrated screen that reacts to finger pointing, there are assistance systems that keep the distance and the lane and even warn of impending accidents when opening the doors. In addition, as a special feature, a face recognition on board, thanks to which the electronics automatically adjusts seat and mirror position, music selection and climate preferences for each stored driver.

You have to know that: The Forester built on a new, globally used platform with the E-Boxer comes early next year in the trade and costs at least 34,990 euros. The four-wheel drive is flanked by the slightly smaller Subaru model XV, which receives a facelift at the same time and in the course of which also gets the boxer hybrid drive. The XV prices start at 30,690 euros.

We will not forget that: The Eye-Sight security system, which not only looks at the road, but also controls the driver and their attention via the camera. If you constantly turn on the screen to find out how to move the car purely electrically, there is an immediate warning tinkle. Eyes on the road (or the dirt road) - that's how it should be.

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