Take A Look At The Facelifted 2022 Subaru Forester

The current generation (SK) Subaru Forester first came out in the global market in 2018, and then in the Philippines by 2019, which means it’s the right time for Subaru’s popular compact crossover SUV to receive a makeover. This is the 2022 Subaru Forester, which gets a Levorg-inspired face and a number of interior and technical improvements.

The most prominent change made to the 2022 Subaru Forester are all in its front end. The brand’s “Bolder” design language means it has adopted a number of design cues from the recently-unveiled Levorg wagon. These include the new LED headlights, redesigned grille, new bumpers, and larger foglight housings. The side and the rear remain largely unchanged, though the new Forester gets a new set of alloy wheel designs.

As for its interior, the design remains largely unchanged. What’s new for the 2022 model year are the various interior material choices, at least for the Japanese market. These interior materials range from water-resistant polyurethane, black leather seats, microfiber (suede), and even plush Nappa leather, depending on the variant.

As for powertrain choices, there are two that will be offered at launch, both of which seem to be carry over powertrains. Most variants will come with the e-Boxer hybrid powertrain, which combines a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine and an electric motor to give a combined output of 150 hp and 194 Nm of torque. On the other hand, the Sport variant gets a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged boxer engine that first made its debut in the new Levorg. This powertrain produces 177 hp and 300 Nm of torque.

Both powertrains are mated to a Lineatronic CVT, driving all four wheels. New for the hybrid variant is e-Active Shift Control, though the Japanese website nor the press release did not elaborate what this feature does to its performance.

As for safety, the 2022 Subaru Forester comes with the next-generation of the brand’s EyeSight suite of safety tech. The stereoscopic cameras are now mounted directly at the windshield, just like in the new Levorg. This enables the system to have a wider field of view, plus owners do not need to worry about their tints affecting EyeSight’s performance.

The 2022 Subaru Forester is scheduled to go on sale in Japan on August 1, while a Philippine launch could happen by next year at the soonest.