Subaru has a well deserved reputation for being a rather quirky brand, which is why when it came time for a more efficient engine to join the range the company went out and built its own. Many other companies buy diesel engine technology from suppliers, but Subaru decided to build its own horizontally opposed diesel engine and here it is in the Forester 2.0D Euro Spec.
High Power Diesel Engine in Forester
Plenty of work has gone into the engine because it produces some impressive numbers, with 108kW (144hp) and 350Nm (258lb ft) of torque. The turbocharged powerplant also produces boost from the moment the driver presses the accelerator, and straight line performance is very impressive.
Subaru claims a combined fuel consumption of 6.3L/100km (37mpg) but even the 7.8L/100km (30mpg) achieved largely in urban areas in testing is impressive for a mid-sized SUV.
Six Speed Manual Gearbox in Forester
The six-speed manual gearbox – no automatic is available – is very awkward to operate though, with a very notchy gearchange. It’s a trait that most Subaru manual gearboxes share although it is much more noticeable in the Forester diesel.
As with the rest of the Forester range, the diesel model handles much like a car, with a flat cornering stance and plenty of traction from the constant all wheel drive system.
Subaru All Wheel Drive
Unlike much of the competition, which tends to have part time all wheel drive which kicks in when a wheel begins to spin after losing traction the Forester is always in all wheel drive, which means excellent traction both on and off road.
There is no low range transfer box in the modern day Forester, but the low rpm torque from the diesel engine would help off road – not that many vehicles in this class ever see anything more ‘off road’ than a gravel track.
Forester Safety Features
Active safety spec in the Forester Diesel is impressive, with ABS, stability control, Electronic Brake Distribution, traction control, and Brake Assist. For passive safety there are also dual front, side and curtain airbags.
Forester Interior Features
Heated front seats are standard, as is cruise control, climate control air conditioning and an MP3 stereo with an auxiliary plug for iPods and other music storage devices.
For those wanting an economical SUV that has good interior space and specification the Subaru Forester 2.0D Euro Spec would be a good choice. But unfortunately without an automatic, the Forester diesel is unlikely to ever become a big seller in a market where the majority of buyers want automatic gearboxes in their vehicles.
Sam Domett - I have been a motoring journalist for over 15 years, beginning with my own website. I then moved on to the Manukau Daily News. My next job ...
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