There’s a special edition o the Subaru Forester we can’t have in the United States. The STI Forester brings sporty qualities reserved for its home island nation.
If you thought Subaru was done building sporty vehicles because they killed off the WRX STI, you’d be wrong. We might not have ever imagined the STI treatments would make it to an SUV, but now they have. Of course, this Forester isn’t as sporty or dynamic as the now-dead model, but it certainly turns up the fun for those in Japan looking for something special from a domestic brand.
What Does the Japan-Only Forester Include
When you see the STI name on any Subaru, you know the driving system is altered in an effort to make that vehicle more fun and active on and off the roads. This new Forester has specially-tuned dampers, a set of 18-inch wheels painted dark gray, and all-season tires.
The exterior of this SUV includes a set of black accents for the fog light surrounds, bumper trim, and side sills. This vehicle proudly wears the STI badges on the front grille and rear hatchback to let others know what’s going on under the skin.
To finish off the exterior elements, the Subaru Forester STI can be had in Crystal White Pearl, Magnetite Gray Metallic, Ice Silver Metallic, and Crystal Black Silica.
They Didn’t Forget the Interior
Looking in the cabin of this Forster, we see two-tone upholstery with Nappa leather in Black and Bordeaux red. Each headrest has an STI emblem, and you’ll see red contrast stitching everywhere in the cabin. The dashboard features gauges with STI branding and red accents as well. There’s no way you’ll ever forget that STI is part of this SUV.
An Exclusive Powertrain for a Special Forester
Those driving the Subaru Forester STI around Japan will enjoy a 1.8-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine that delivers 175 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. This engine mates to a CVT that sends the power to the expected symmetrical AWD system. While the power doesn’t sound impressive, this small SUV doesn’t need a lot of power to get it going in a hurry.
This new Forester STI Sport goes on sale in Japan soon, with a potential special model heading to the market shortly after. We can’t have this Forester in the United States, but we can admire it from afar.
The Forester We Can Have
Subaru offers the SUV we love in the United States. Yes, the Forester is one of the most popular models from this brand, and it continuously receives awards for its quality, build, and capabilities. This SUV might not be as iconic as the Outback, but it has the panache to be the right choice for many drives who want their compact crossover to have off-road capabilities, easy driving dynamics, and a bit of fun built into the mix. If you’re looking for an SUV that hits the top of the market while delivering an affordable price, the Forester could be the right SUV for you.
You Can’t Argue With Active Torque Vectoring
The Symmetrical AWD system allows you to drive through corners and on wet roads more easily than a standard system. This system includes active torque vectoring which adjusts how much power goes to each rear wheel. This means more power to the outside wheel during a turn to give you a sharper turning radius. If you notice this system working, a smile should certainly cross your face at the impressive intelligence of the Subaru Forester.
Will You Go to the Wilderness Model?
The 2022 model year brought us a new Forester to give you a little more of what you want when you want this SUV to take you on some adventures. The Wilderness model has 9.2 inches of ground clearance. This is an increase over the standard 8.7 inches for other trims, and it does make a difference when facing some obstacles. The Wilderness version also wears all-terrain tires to make off-roading a bit easier for you. If you want the freedom to take on some trails, choose the Wilderness trim when shopping for your Forester.
Does this SUV have Enough Room?
The Subaru Forester is a compact crossover SUV, but it has plenty of room for up to five people to ride along comfortably. Rear passengers enjoy 39.4 inches of legroom, which is more than some midsize models offer. Four full-size adults fit in this SUV for the drive. The cargo room is 28.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat. When these seats are folded, the area expands to 74.2 cubic feet, giving you plenty of room for a bike, surfboard, or other gear you want to take along. If you don’t add the moonroof, some of those items can easily fit on the roof rack.
Subaru Power Where You Need it
Strangely, the Forester we have in the United States has a larger engine and more power than the STI model for Japan. Our Forester uses a 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder engine that makes 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The only way this could be better is with turbocharging added to the mix. Fuel mileage reaches 26 city/33 hwy mpg for most models, with the Wilderness trim achieving 25 city/28 hwy mpg. The low boxer engine gives you a center of gravity that makes this SUV feel easy to drive and engaged with the road.
Will You take the Forester Home Today?
No, you can’t have the Forester STI; that model is reserved for Japan for now. What you can have is an impressive small SUV that’s ready for adventure. Yes, that’s exactly what the Subaru Forester offers, and it doesn’t mix words or confuse anything. Put the AWD system to work, take your hiking gear out to the trails, and have a lot of fun with this SUV offering the way you’ll get where you want to go.
How can you make the Subaru Forester the SUV that you drive when the desire for a wilderness adventure strikes? Head to your local dealer and take one for a test drive today; that’s all it takes.
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