Subaru has confirmed details of its freshened-up 2022 Forester range, updating the model which first hit Aussie shores in 2018.

Pricing now kicks off at $35,990 for the entry-level car, a slight increase over the 2021 model’s $35,190.

Safety has been bolstered, with lane centring, lane departure prevention, and autonomous emergency steering added to the Forester’s EyeSight suite.

The front spring and damper layout has been refined, which Subaru says will improve the Forester’s ride comfort and handling response.

The all-wheel-drive ‘X-Mode’ has received similar treatment. The rough-terrain system can now automatically re-engage when the Forester’s speed drops below 35km/h, while hill descent control has also been improved.

Touchscreens across the entire Forester range are now 8” wide, where the 2.5i, 2.5i-L and Hybrid L previously used 6.5” units. The driver monitoring system now boasts gesture-controlled climate control adjustment, allowing drivers to change temperature settings with a hand gesture.

The most obvious external change is a sharpened front end, which now features C-shaped headlights, plus a new fog light, bumper and grille design. New alloy wheel designs for the 2.5i-S and Hybrid S are also standard, alongside a number of small cladding changes. Autumn green, brilliant bronze and cascade green are new colour options, offered on all cars aside from the 2.5i Sport.

Pricing and options

Like the 2021 model, the 2022 Forester will be offered in seven specifications (pricing before on-road costs):

• Forester 2.5i AWD — $35,990
• Forester 2.5i-L AWD — $38,390
• Forester 2.5i Premium AWD — $41,140
• Forester 2.5i Sport AWD — $42,690
• Forester 2.5i-S AWD — $44,190
• Forester Hybrid L AWD — $41,390
• Forester Hybrid S AWD — $47,190

Engine, transmission, and performance

Output from the 2.5-litre, naturally-aspirated petrol four remains at 136kW/239Nm. Introduced to the Forester range in 2020, Hybrid variants feature a 2.0-litre petrol engine good for 110kW/196Nm, plus a 12.3kW/66Nm electric motor.

Both engines are backed by a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Features

The base-model Forester 2.5i AWD’s features include:

• Fog lights
• Reverse camera
• Steering responsive headlights
• 8” LCD touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
• Dual-zone climate control
• 8” LCD touchscreen
• Smart key and push-button ignition
• 17” alloy wheels

The 2.5i-L and Hybrid L AWD add:

• Adaptive driving beam
• Facial recognition
• De-icing wipers
• Heated seats

Moving up to the 2.5i Premium AWD means:

• Eight-way driver and passenger seats
• Premium cloth trim
• Automatic mirror and seat adjustment
• Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) with Intelligent and Sport modes
• 18” alloy wheels
• Passenger side auto-dipping mirror
• Sports pedals

Similar to the Premium in trim, the 2.5i Sport AWD adds:

• Sunroof
• Sport instrument cluster
• Water-repellent cloth trim

Choosing either the top-of the range 2.5i-S or Hybrid S AWD adds:

• Leather-accented trim
• Eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system

Safety

With the new additions mentioned above, all Foresters now feature:

• Seven airbags
• Adaptive cruise control
• Brake light recognition
• Lane centring
• Lane departure prevention
• Autonomous emergency steering
• Lead vehicle start alert
• Pre-collision brake assist
• Pre-collision braking system
• Pre-collision throttle management
• Blind spot monitoring
• Lane change assist

Selecting any model above the base 2.5i AWD gives you:

• Driver monitoring system
• Adaptive driving beam
• Reverse automatic braking
• Side view monitor

Dimensions

The 2022 Forester is 4625mm long, 1815mm wide and 1730mm tall. It’s narrower but taller than the rival Toyota RAV4.

Warranty and servicing

All Foresters are backed by a 5-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and receive an eight-year, 62,500km capped price servicing plan. Hybrid variants have an eight-year, 160,000km high-voltage battery warranty.

Availability

The 2022 Subaru Forester is expected to arrive in Australia from November 2021.