Drive on wild side

Subaru of New Zealand has confirmed it will launch the all-new Forester mid-year.

It will be the marque’s first model in this country with the brand’s next-generation hybrid powertrain.

The Forester Strong Hybrid, pictured, integrates the 2.5-litre Boxer engine and electric motors, and retains the SUV’s capability, low centre of gravity and optimal handling while adding enhanced range.

It comes standard with EyeSight driver-assist technology, a tablet-style 11.6-inch multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster on selected variants.

The next-generation Forester delivers a blend of SUV capability and car-like ride and handling with all-wheel drive, x-mode dual mode with hill-descent control, active torque vectoring and vehicle dynamics control. 

The standard 220mm of ground clearance is greater than that of many SUVs, yet the compact SUV maintains a low step-in height for both front and rear passenger entry.

“New Zealanders have trusted the Forester for decades,” Kym Mellow, Inchcape’s general manager, which distributes Subaru vehicles in New Zealand.

“For all those years this popular model has turned heads in our cities, while navigating the rugged demands of our backcountry with Subaru’s iconic symmetrical all-wheel drive. 

“In fact, the Forester was named as the 2018 New Zealand Car of the Year by the NZ Motoring Writers’ Guild. In 2022, it won the NZ4WD magazine’s medium SUV of the year award. 

“This next-generation model will proudly continue that award-winning legacy. We are looking forward to sharing more details on the all-new Forester range in the coming months.”