MR_Y
Well-known member
So, I was around a Subaru dealer recently and decided to test drive a new Forester 2.5i Sport. If I had to replace my Volvo V60 CC, this would have been a good contender, or so I thought. (The Outback may be a better like-for-like competitor, given that it is a raised station wagon, but the Outback's engine is the same and space/spec similar to the Forester.)
This is the facelifted Forester with the NA 136kw 2.5 flat four. Local reviews have mostly been favourable with some commenting on it being the best CVT they have driven.
My impressions:
Extremely lethargic off the line and that droning sound from the CVT and engine is hard to live with. There is a Sport mode that is meant to improve gearbox responsiveness with fake gearshifts, but this just makes the droning worse. I have driven a CVT in a Honda CRV before and I don't feel that Subaru have done much better.
Overtaking on the freeway requires a stomp of the pedal and while it appears to move decently at higher speeds, that drone drives one crazy. I can imagine that it may be torturous driving this car fully loaded up Van Reenen's Pass.
Granted this is no performance SUV, but my 2016 Mazda CX5 2.0 with only 121kw/210Nm and a normal 6 speed auto felt more lively and quicker. It was not that much lighter either.
Space is very good. The rear space rivals SUVs from a class above and boot space is great. The spare is a space saver, but has a decent rubber profile to look like a proper tyre.
The safety tech is good. Autonomous braking, lane departure warning, etc. But nothing really groundbreaking over my 6 year old Volvo.
The interior is decently put together, but has a mid-level budget Japanese feel to it. Mazda CX-5 interior is a cut or two above this. If you want full leather and a Harman Kardon system, that is R60k extra to get you the ES model.
I didn't do any offroading in this, but it did deal well enough with bumps and potmarked roads.
The sticker price is R611k, with some dealers offering this facelift (note the 2022 model has sharper looking headlights vs the 2021) at R599k. 2021 models, with low mileage are selling at R550k to R580k.
In my view, even given the fact that the market has moved overall in price, I feel that this Subaru is a bit overpriced for what it offers. That offroad ability has to be super great to warrant paying this money. Also, that 3 year/75,000km maintenance place is a bit short compared to its competition (granted, they have service plans, but are longer).
After driving the Subaru, I have a renewed appreciation for my V60CC. It may not be as spacious nor as hardcore as an offroader, but it is more luxurious and has significantly more oomph.
A suitable Japanese contender (with normal autoboxes) may be the Mazda CX5 2.5 AWD (143kw) or the RAV4 2.5 VX AWD (154kw), but these are significantly more expensive, even used low mileage ones. Also, both are NA motors.
Bottom line, if you are in the market at this price level, rather go for a 2018/19 X3 20d with 30-40,000km for slightly more money. (Volvo XC60s are good, but ludicrously overpriced on the used market).
Picture below is of the 2022 model from Autotrader.
This is the facelifted Forester with the NA 136kw 2.5 flat four. Local reviews have mostly been favourable with some commenting on it being the best CVT they have driven.
My impressions:
Extremely lethargic off the line and that droning sound from the CVT and engine is hard to live with. There is a Sport mode that is meant to improve gearbox responsiveness with fake gearshifts, but this just makes the droning worse. I have driven a CVT in a Honda CRV before and I don't feel that Subaru have done much better.
Overtaking on the freeway requires a stomp of the pedal and while it appears to move decently at higher speeds, that drone drives one crazy. I can imagine that it may be torturous driving this car fully loaded up Van Reenen's Pass.
Granted this is no performance SUV, but my 2016 Mazda CX5 2.0 with only 121kw/210Nm and a normal 6 speed auto felt more lively and quicker. It was not that much lighter either.
Space is very good. The rear space rivals SUVs from a class above and boot space is great. The spare is a space saver, but has a decent rubber profile to look like a proper tyre.
The safety tech is good. Autonomous braking, lane departure warning, etc. But nothing really groundbreaking over my 6 year old Volvo.
The interior is decently put together, but has a mid-level budget Japanese feel to it. Mazda CX-5 interior is a cut or two above this. If you want full leather and a Harman Kardon system, that is R60k extra to get you the ES model.
I didn't do any offroading in this, but it did deal well enough with bumps and potmarked roads.
The sticker price is R611k, with some dealers offering this facelift (note the 2022 model has sharper looking headlights vs the 2021) at R599k. 2021 models, with low mileage are selling at R550k to R580k.
In my view, even given the fact that the market has moved overall in price, I feel that this Subaru is a bit overpriced for what it offers. That offroad ability has to be super great to warrant paying this money. Also, that 3 year/75,000km maintenance place is a bit short compared to its competition (granted, they have service plans, but are longer).
After driving the Subaru, I have a renewed appreciation for my V60CC. It may not be as spacious nor as hardcore as an offroader, but it is more luxurious and has significantly more oomph.
A suitable Japanese contender (with normal autoboxes) may be the Mazda CX5 2.5 AWD (143kw) or the RAV4 2.5 VX AWD (154kw), but these are significantly more expensive, even used low mileage ones. Also, both are NA motors.
Bottom line, if you are in the market at this price level, rather go for a 2018/19 X3 20d with 30-40,000km for slightly more money. (Volvo XC60s are good, but ludicrously overpriced on the used market).
Picture below is of the 2022 model from Autotrader.
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