Subaru Forester e-Boxer Hybrid 2.5 Review

You'd be excused for thinking that the Forester e-Boxer seen here is just another mild hybrid model. In fact, you'd even be forgiven for assuming that this model is a heavily revised version of the older Forester.

That's because Subaru hasn't gone on a publicity blitz - yet. The Forester's quiet introduction belies the fact that it is an all-new model and more significantly, Subaru's first full hybrid. It is the brand's contemporary offering in the 'green' segment, and more importantly, is an SUV with its own distinct flavour.

The DRLs and head lights look as if they're neatly integrated with the grille

Not like other SUVs

Chinese EVs are popular with many buyers. But most of them have generic designs that you wouldn't give a second glance to because when you've seen one, you've probably seen another three like it.

Not so with the new Forester, which has its own visual identity. From afar, its tall and boxy silhouette is unmistakable, especially to owners and fans of the model. But the styling is fresh and I daresay, handsome.

It still looks rugged with its large grille, big wheel arches and unpainted trimmings. But it's also been refined. Smaller head lights and sleek DRLs that look integrated with the grille replace the previous units and their C-shaped DRLs.

No light bar here, and the rear windscreen even hosts another 'easter egg' in the form of a mountain range

The rear end remains angular, but like the front, features smaller and sleeker taillights. Subarus used to have more unconventional styling, but the new Forester is conventional-looking and that may broaden its appeal.

The interior will help in this regard, too. The cockpit is roomy and airy, with good forward and lateral visibility. The facial recognition system, which stores and automatically recalls your seat settings, works a treat. Families with more than one driver will appreciate it.

The cockpit remains user-friendly, thanks to the balance between digital and physical controls

The infotainment system is easy to get to grips with thanks to the relatively simple menu layout, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Interestingly, the air-con's fan speed controls have been digitised, but the temperature and de-misting functions still have physical switches.

Although the SUV's wheelbase remains unchanged at 2,670mm, both headroom and legroom are generous, and the floor protrusion is minimised. However, there's been no improvement to practicality, as the door bins still cater more to bottles than loose items.

There's still lots of room in the backseat, but the door bins should have grown larger to boost practicality

Also, because of the battery pack under the cargo area, boot capacity has been reduced from 509 litres to 487 litres with the rear seats in place. Folding the seat backs expands this to 1,877 litres.

Designers have injected a bit of fun into the new Forester by hiding 'easter eggs' that hint at its outdoorsy character. There's a silhouette of a bird on the windscreen and sunroof, while symbols of a compass, telescope, and gas lantern can be found in the boot. There's also a recurring topographical pattern on the door sills and the inside of the boot lid.

The boot area has the most 'easter eggs' - you can find the telescope, compass, and lantern symbols here

Tech lesson

Unlike the preceding Forester with a mild hybrid system, the one in the latest one is a full hybrid. In a mild hybrid, there's a starter-generator that draws power from a small battery pack to assist the engine and help reduce its load.

But unlike a full hybrid, mild hybrids cannot power the driven wheels. Apart from a larger 2.5-litre flat-four (it used to be a 2.0-litre), the new Forester also has a larger battery pack and more powerful electric motor delivering 90kW (121bhp) and 276Nm of torque, which can power the car solely on electricity under the right conditions.

The new Forester has a hybrid display on the instrument cluster - the previous one didn't

For instance, if the battery is full and you're driving in a traffic jam, the electric powertrain takes over. You can also cruise at higher speeds on battery power alone.

But after covering around 65km in one afternoon, I only managed 11.1km/L - far from the claimed 16.9km/L average. Perhaps it was because the car hadn't been run-in yet. Still, it betters the 9.8km/L my colleague achieved in the preceding Forester.

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On the plus side, the meatier low-end results in the century sprint dropping from 11.8 seconds to 9.4 seconds. The Forester feels more capable than before, with more responsive acceleration and a stronger mid-range.

Complementing this is an improved Lineartronic CVT that integrates the drive motor, power generator, front differential, and electronic coupling. Compared to the one in the previous model, it feels less elastic and has less CVT drone. Instead, there's a sort of rorty soundtrack that doesn't sound as annoying.

Talking points

There's plenty to like about the new Forester. It looks good, its cabin is functional and user-friendly, and despite the higher-than-expected consumption, it's still more efficient than the older model.

At time of writing, the new Forester is priced at $219,800 with COE. It costs more than the 1.6-litre Hyundai Kona Hybrid and Kia Niro Hybrid, Cat A models that have better fuel economy but less performance. But it is a lot less expensive than its 2.5-litre rival, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

The Forester's draw is its character. The smooth flat-four, together with the symmetrical all-wheel drive, can't be replicated elsewhere. It's still approachable and driver-friendly, and with a new hybrid system, gives eco-conscious buyers something unique to consider.

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