The Forester Gets a New Look and Tech for 2017

2017 Subaru Forester (Credit: © Subaru)

The Subaru Forester is due for an update as it has been overshadowed by more-comfortable crossovers in recent years. Today, Subaru announced the details surrounding the 2017 Forester, which seem to address some of the problems folks have had with the current Subaru crossover.

The first changes buyers will notice are to the body. While it retains the same basic shape as it’s had since its 2014 redesign, there are mild tweaks like a new front bumper on non-turbo models, a revised grille, updated headlights with a C-shaped design and black bezels, a body-colored rear spoiler on Premium trims, and a power liftgate on 2.5i Premium models.

The 2017 Forester’s cabin also gets slight visual tweaks, including a new Saddle Brown perforated-leather option on the Touring trims, a restyled steering wheel with audio, Bluetooth, and cruise-control switches, a heated steering wheel on 2.5i Touring and 2.0XT Touring models, and more. One big problem with the Forest—the reason my family picked the RAV4 Hybrid over it—has long been the noise level in the cabin. Subaru addresses this in 2017 with thicker door glass, new door seals, additional underfloor insulation, and an acoustic windshield.

Under its hood, the Forester continues with its standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, but its fuel economy with the CVT jumps from 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined to 26 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined. The more performance-oriented, 250-horsepower 2.0XT gains Subaru’s Active Torque Vectoring to help reduce understeer and hold the driver’s intended path in the corners.

Subaru also addressed safety for 2017 by adding Lane Keeping Assist to the optional EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. Also new is standard blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert in Limited, Touring and Premium models with EyeSight, available automatic high-beams, and available steering-responsive headlights. The latter two features come standard on the 2.5i Limited and Touring, and the 2.0XT Touring models with EyeSight.

The 2017 Forester will arrive at dealers in July 2016 and prices will come later.