To give the Forester a more family-friendly image, the new model has new, narrower four-lamp cluster headlamps, which cut
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| To give the Forester a more family-friendly image, the new model has new, narrower four-lamp cluster headlamps, which cut into the hood's profile. (Photo: Subaru Canada) |
into the hood's profile. Sandwiched between the lights is a new, larger grille with a deeper inset which keeps the upside-down trapezoid shape. Coincidentally, the grille's outline can be traced to the lower valance, which gives the Forester an Audi-esque appearance. Smaller projector-beam fog lamps replace massive, rally-style lamps which flow into rolled fender arches and the rest of the body-colour cladding. Subaru coins the new facelift as elegant, but it's hard to be convinced with the less than delicate shapes and sizes. One thing is for sure though, the Forester has lucked out and is unaffected by the controversial corporate face which has made its first North American appearance on the B9 Tribeca. While the Forester's side profile will be carried over from the last update, there are a few changes made to the junior-sized 'ute for 2006. Reshaped tail lamps with jewel-like clear lenses accompany a chrome trim panel below the rear window. New badging, including the six-star Subaru logo replaces the corporate Subaru text. Other miner alterations were also made, including standard body-colour bumpers for base models, and body-colour mirrors with integrated turn signals (unavailable on base trim level). The range-topping L.L. Bean models will be the only Foresters available with a two-tone paint scheme, in either platinum silver, or steel gray.
If the appearance of the new Forester doesn't quite move you, the upgraded engines certainly will. The naturally aspirated
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| Reshaped tail lamps with jewel-like clear lenses accompany a chrome trim panel below the rear window. (Photo: Subaru Canada) |
2.5-liter boxer (horizontally opposed) four-cylinder has received its first major boost in power since 1997. Since then, the 165-horsepower 2.5-litre H-4, featuring 162 lb-ft of torque, has been the staple engine for most North American Subarus, including the Legacy and the Impreza. In this update, the trusty and reliable DOHC 16-valve unit gains Active Valve Lift System (AVLS), which is Subaru-speak for variable valve timing. Horsepower has been bumped up to 173, but nevertheless fuel consumption and emissions have been improved. All Foresters equipped with this motor are badged as 'X' models.
