In recent years, more and more crossovers are trying on "glamorous attire", depriving even the smallest opportunities for conquering off-road and turning into typical city dwellers. Against their background, the "Forester" of the fourth generation stands apart, which for many years tried not to change its traditions - "masculine" appearance and exclusively four-wheel drive.
The world debut of the fourth generation "Forester" took place in 2012 on the stage of the Los Angeles Auto Show, and before the European public it appeared in all its glory in March 2013 at a bride show in Geneva.
Two years later, still in the same place - in Los Angeles, the Japanese from Subaru presented an updated crossover, which, without changing outwardly, got minor improvements in the cabin, improved in terms of safety and lost its "mechanics" (for the Russian market).
The Forester IV underwent its second modernization in May 2016 - this time it slightly tweaked the bumpers, optics and radiator grille, improved sound insulation, expanded the list of available equipment and returned (for our country) the "manual" gearbox.
The next, most recent, update affected the car in September 2017 - this time the Japanese bypassed the design of the exterior and interior, but again separated the previously unavailable options and added new levels of performance.
In general, we can say that the "fourth" Subaru Forester is designed in a discreet and deliberately rude style, which makes it unmistakable against the background of other models. Most of the design delights are concentrated around the "front" part: a radiator grille with a branded "six edges" and "sharp" headlights with LED headlights, complemented by a bumper with a conventional or "sporty" design with characteristic "wings" at the foglights.
The Forester's profile demonstrates muscular and solid proportions with "swollen" wheel arches, sheltering light-alloy wheels measuring 17-18 inches, prescribing a rib on the sidewall and a large glass area.
The monumental stern of this Subaru SUV is designed in a typical crossover concept - compact lights, a distinctive trunk lid and a bumper in which one or two exhaust pipes are integrated, depending on the version.
The 4th generation model formally appears in the segment of compact crossovers (although in fact it has already come close to "mid-size"): 4610 mm in length, 1795 mm in width and 1735 mm in height. The length of the wheelbase is 2,640 mm, and the minimum ground clearance (with a curb weight) is 220 mm.
In the stowed state, the weight of this car varies from 1551 to 1702 kilograms.
The interior of the Subaru Forester cannot be called exquisite - everything inside is quite austere and simple, but it is located "in its place" and is of high quality. In general, the decoration of this "Japanese" can be described as "the embodiment of reasonable sufficiency."
The instrument cluster with analogue scales is easy to read and provides only the necessary information, and the multifunction steering wheel of the correct form is comfortable and attractive in appearance. The central part of the front panel is crowned with a color monitor, which displays the readings of the on-board computer and information about the operation of the all-wheel drive transmission. Slightly lower, depending on the configuration, you can watch a radio tape recorder, or a large display of the multimedia center, as well as three "lambs" of a two-zone air conditioning system.
In the cabin of this crossover there is neither high cost nor outright cheapness - finishing materials are inexpensive, but of high quality, and the level of assembly is at all at a high "European" level. In the "top" versions, the seats are provided with natural leather upholstery.
One of the features of the 4th generation Subaru Forester is a well-organized interior space. The front seats are not only endowed with a comfortable profile with well-pronounced support on the sides, but also with the necessary adjustment ranges. For passengers in the back row, a comfortable sofa with an adjustable backrest angle, a reclining armrest and a solid supply of space in all directions is installed. There is only one drawback - the protruding transmission tunnel on the floor.
For the transport of goods, the "Fourth Forester" provides a 488-liter luggage compartment of the correct shape, wide opening and an acceptable loading height. "Gallery" fits almost flush with the floor, which increases the usable volume to 1548 liters and allows you to transport bulky items. Only a compact spare wheel could fit in a niche under the floor.
For Russian consumers, the updated in 2017 Subaru Forester of the 4th incarnation is offered with three gasoline four-cylinder units with a horizontally opposed configuration of "pots" and a DOHC timing belt with a 16-valve circuit. In cooperation with each of them, the all-wheel drive system with dynamic thrust distribution (ACT) functions, which has an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch in its arsenal. By default, the moment is divided between the axes in a ratio of 60:40, however, depending on the situation, this proportion may vary.
- Under the hood of the basic versions of the crossover there is a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine (1995 cubic centimeters) with multi-point power supply, generating 150 "mares" at 6200 rpm and 198 N • m of possible potential at 4200 rpm.
In a storage compartment with a 6-speed "mechanics" or a wedge-chain variator Lineartronic, it allows the "Forester" to gain 100 km / h after 10.6-11.8 seconds, maximally change 190-192 km / h and "eat" no more than 8-8.2 liters of fuel in the " city / highway ". - It is followed in the hierarchy by a 2.5-liter (2498 cubic centimeters) "aspirated" with distributed injection, whose peak performance values are 171 horsepower at 5800 rpm and 235 N • m of torque at 4100 rpm.
In combination with it, only a variator is installed, thanks to which the car breaks down from a standstill to 100 km / h in 9.8 seconds, conquers the bar of 197 km / h and consumes 8.3 liters of gasoline in mixed conditions. - The top of the power palette is "occupied" by a 2.0-liter "four" (1998 cubic centimeters) with turbocharging and direct fuel supply (producing 241 "horses" at 5600 rpm and 350 N • m of limiting torque at 2400-3600 rpm) - aggregated with the Lineartronic transmission.
It takes only 7.5 seconds for such an all-terrain vehicle to "run" to the first "hundred", its maximum speed exceeds 220 km / h, and its "appetite" does not go beyond 8.5 liters in the combined cycle.
The crossover of the fourth generation is based on a modified Subaru Impreza platform with MacPherson struts on the front axle and a multi-link part on the rear axle. Subaru Forester is equipped with electric power steering and efficient disc brakes on all wheels (front ventilated) with ABS and ESP.
On the Russian market, Forester of the 2018 model year is offered in eight levels of equipment - Base, Standard, Comfort, Comfort +, S Limited, Elegance, Elegance + and Premium.
For the basic configuration, dealers ask for a minimum of 1,659,000 rubles, and its functionality includes: seven airbags, four power windows, ABS, EBD, BA, VDC, hill start assist system, ERA-GLONASS technology, 17-inch steel wheels, heated front seats, climate control, multimedia complex and some other equipment.
For a crossover with an automatic transmission, you will have to pay from 1,749,900 rubles, and a "top modification" with a 241-horsepower engine is sold for at least 2,599,900 rubles."Full stuffing" boasts: 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, an electric sunroof, leather trim, heated rear seats, dual-zone "climate", rear-view cameras, light and rain sensors, a navigator and a huge number of other "gadgets" ...
