2019 Subaru Forester: range details leaked

Subaru Forester buyers will have fewer choices when the company’s all-new SUV arrives next month, with just four variants to be offered across three specification grades - compared to the nine currently on offer.

Turbocharged petrol and diesels won’t form a part of the new Forester range for the foreseeable future, which is the key reason why the 2019 range will shrink so dramatically. In the current generation, diesel and turbo petrol Foresters account for six of the nine variants available.

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WhichCar can reveal the launch line-up will be comprised of 2.5i, 2.5i-L and 2.5i-S grades, with the entry level 2.5i to be optionally available with an additional safety package that bundles reverse-autonomous braking and a driver-monitoring system that detects fatigue.

That’s on top of an already-generous standard spec that sees all Foresters coming equipped with adaptive cruise control and the latest version of the Japanese carmaker’s EyeSight driver assist system (which brings autonomous emergency braking as standard) making it the most advanced base variant of any Subaru model.

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Other features new to the 2019 Forester include Subaru’s latest-generation infotainment system incorporating digital radio (DAB+) and multi-mode AWD settings.

Visually, the 2.5i will come with new-design 17-inch alloys, while the 2.5i-L and 2.5i-S will roll on flashier 18s.

Despite the extra kit, WhichCar believes price rises across the 2019 Forester range will be marginal, though the entry-level gap will appear wider because of the absence of a cheaper manual option.

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As previously revealed, the 2019 Forester will be available with just one powertrain at launch, a 136kW/239Nm 2.5-litre flat-four petrol engine coupled with a CVT auto.

That said, a 2.0-litre mild-hybrid version is slated to join the range by the end of next year, potentially bringing entry-level pricing down further.

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