Diesel for Subaru Forester

(News Today) - The popular Subaru Forester now comes with the option of a diesel engine, although it’s only available with a manual gearbox.

The boxy, manual-only Forester 2.0D joins the more car-like Outback wagon as the only two models to share the unique 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that has the cylinders laid out in the traditional Subaru horizontally opposed (or "boxer") configuration.

Two diesel Forester models expand on the three naturally aspirated and two turbocharged petrol-engined Foresters already in the line-up, giving Subaru additional artillery against rivals such as the Nissan X-Trail, Hyundai ix35, Mazda CX-7, Holden Captiva, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Volkswagen Tiguan and petrol-only Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

The base Forester 2.0D is priced from $35,990 plus on-road and dealer costs. While that represents a hefty $5000 premium over the base-model petrol version, the diesel model's level of equipment is more closely aligned with the $34,490 mid-level petrol Forester.

For the money, you get an engine producing 108kW of power – that's 2kW less than in the Outback diesel because the Forester's exhaust is slightly different – and 350Nm of torque from a relatively high 1800rpm, with drive going to all four wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.

The Forester diesel's trump card over its petrol-engined siblings is its fuel economy.

Officially, it is rated at 6.4 litres per 100 kilometres, with carbon dioxide emissions of 168 g/100km. The best figures from the 2.5-litre normally aspirated petrol engine are 9.3L/100km and 220g/km CO2.

Equipment for the Forester 2.0D runs to climate control air-conditioning, cloth trim, a four-speaker single-CD audio system, 16-inch alloy wheels, and a clever braking system that will hold the vehicle on a hill while the clutch engages.

Stepping up to the $39,990 Forester 2.0D Premium adds the likes of a seven-speaker, six-CD audio system, panoramic sunroof, tinted glass, seat-back pockets, powered driver's seat, leather trim, and xenon headlights.

Notable omissions, even on the top-of-the-range Forester Premium model, include parking sensors, satellite navigation and hill descent control.

However, one area where the Forester diesel model will definitely hold appeal over petrol siblings, particularly for grey nomads or outback adventurers, is the towing capacity.

The diesel can tow a big 1600kg braked load – that's 200kg more than the petrol versions – and comes standard with self-levelling rear suspension.

Safety is the same as other models in the Subaru line-up. That means six airbags and a five-star ANCAP crash rating for both diesel variants.

Stability control is also standard on the Forester diesel, but importantly for those wanting to push their car off-road or in slushy snow, it's not a switchable system. There is a button on the dash that switches off the traction control to help a bit with driving along soft and sandy road surfaces, though.

Subaru expects the Forester 2.0D to add about 100 sales a month to the model's already segment-leading dominance of the compact soft-roader market.

However, the company admits it may easily have doubled that figure if it had an automatic gearbox option to offer alongside the manual.

Czech car maker Skoda announced it will have a dual-clutch automatic version of its better featured, Outback-fighting Scout 4x4 soft-roader by the end of the year.

Source : kompas.com

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