- 2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X 2.5-liter gets a moderate increase in displacement.
- Horsepower remains 170, while torque increases to 174 pound-feet.
- The 2.5XT Limited trim has been dropped for 2011.
CHERRY HILL, New Jersey — For model-year 2011, the Subaru Forester gets a revised base engine and some trim level changes.
The flat-4 engine in the 2011 Forester 2.5X grows slightly in displacement, from 2,457cc to 2,498cc. Output remains the same, at 170 horsepower, but torque climbs a bit, from 170 to 174 pound-feet. On both manual- and automatic-transmission versions, the EPA city fuel economy rises from 20 to 21 mpg, while the highway number is 27 mpg.
Subaru is introducing a new Forester 2.5X Touring model above the 2.5X Limited, with lots of additional equipment as standard. The turbocharged Forester 2.5XT will now be available in Premium and Touring versions, with the Limited version dropped for 2011.
A new audio system with rear back-up camera is standard on the Forester 2.5X Touring and 2.5XT Touring, while an optional TomTom navigation system is available on the Forester 2.5X.
Inside Line says: Looks like a quiet year for the Forester. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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dt63944 says:
09:54 PM, 11/01/2010
One thing for sure, having owned Foresters since 1999, is that they now fully measure up to the Outback, in terms of overall value. The Forester is a little more personalizable, a little more fun to drive, but not quite at the same level of interior luxury. Foresters have hardly had "quiet years" at times, just constant refinement. When you consider that you can option up a 2011 X3 to about twice the price of a 2010 XT Limited, looks like a pretty good compromise on Subaru's part. No doubt about it, the Forester is clearly and obviously as good a value as the Outback - at a different price point.
mtnrunner2 says:
11:44 AM, 09/06/2010
Although the 2010 Forester is a fine vehicle compared to other manufacturer's brands, it does not measure up to their own Outback.
A few features missing: no CVT, less interior soundproofing, bad center console, lack of interior door padding (ouch on the elbows). The standard engine and especially the 4-speed auto are positively brutal in the mountains. At 45-50 mph uphill there is just no good gear choice. Not sure I want to spend an additional $6k just for turbo, when a CVT would at least make the weak standard engine effective.
Pluses: great visibility, trail clearance, AWD, clear interior controls, fuel mileage (~28 mpg).
Nonetheless, I won't be buying another Forester unless they bring it on par with the Outback, because -- at the very least -- the naturally-aspirated engine/transmission combo is frustrating to drive.
gearhead8 says:
05:24 AM, 09/03/2010
The "minor" changes in the standard engine are big news. The displacement increase is accomplished through a bore and stroke increase. This means new pistons, connecting rods and probably a new crankshaft.
The switch from SOHC to DOHC means entirely new heads that offer true variable valve timing instead of the variable valve lift that it replaces. This means better valve timing over a broad RPM range.
Subaru put a lot of work into this "minor" change. The apparent goal was to increase efficiency and economy while improving drivability. Those who lock in on the 170 horsepower number, apparently don't realize that almost nobody uses that horsepower, but they do use the torque. Four ft/lbs of torque can be felt in the seat of the pants in normal everyday driving. And if you must have more, get the turbocharged engine.
I wish Subaru had offered the new, improved engine in the 2011 Outback.
I must agree with others that the four speed automatic transmission is long overdue for replacement. The CVT in mt Outback does a great job of matching engine output to the demands of propelling the vehicle to a desired speed at the desired acceleration rate.
The Forester deserves this option for those who want an automatic transmission. The five speed manual is fine the way it is except for the somewhat rubbery shift linkage. If you add more speeds, it means the driver has more work to do pulling away from every stoplight. Some won't mind because the benefit of closer ratios can improve acceleration and more flexibility. But when I chose my 2011 Outback, the thought of shifting 6 times every time I came away from a stop, made me ante up the extra $1000 for the CVT.
orbit9090 says:
08:16 AM, 07/23/2010
What about a standard telescopic steering column? Hello?!
nonohonda says:
10:26 AM, 07/06/2010
The forester is an excellent vehicle. My area is littered with them. Fuji Heavy Industries owns Subaru and they have done a great job in managing the product line (except for the bug eyed WRXs, that was really bad.)
Let's not forget that during the financial crisis (is it over yet) Subaru was one of the only auto companies to have sales increases. Not too shaby if you ask me.
Now there entire line has the best rating from the IIHS? They seem to be doing just fine.
Room for improvement? Sure! The new legacy styling is really drab. I hope that subaru doesn't suffer the same fate as Mazda did with the redesigned 6. You can't give a new mazda 6 away.....
k55 says:
10:22 AM, 07/06/2010
More is always better to some of you dipsticks isnt it?. Yes a 4spd is out of step .........but 8spd? ............be real . Why stop at 8sp? Lets make it an even 12 spd . This is Subaru not Mercedes and more isnt (always) better. They do need to keep up with the Joneses and offer a 5 or 6 spd but Subaru is much smaller than many of the manufacturers and cannot afford to do too much at once. ......and all the put down comments of how 170hp isnt really enough for all you "real Men" out there . Its not a way to show everyone your Johnson now is it? Yes,yes,yes we all realize that the "real man" needs at least 5 liters to make them feel like a real man . Now grow up and get back to class junior.
lions208487 says:
07:47 AM, 07/06/2010
I own an 09 Legacy GT( slush box), and while I would prefer at least a 5 speed, the 4 speed does just fine on the daily drive.
I am not really sure why Subaru does not upgrade to at least a 5 speed auto; perhaps it has something to do with the boxer engine attached to a durable transmission that doesn't ever have any problems.
This upgraded Forester is a little light on the HP, even with more torque. It is an attractive little sport ut in person, and does the job quite well, and for the size and all wheel drive, 21/27 MPG is pretty good. Since the Rav4 only gets 26 hwy, I would say the Forester is still the better buy.
ed124c says:
07:43 AM, 07/06/2010
Subaru doesn't have the cash of bigger companies. They need more time to make big changes.
But, they have responded well to customer gripes-- such as with the WRX suspension, etc., and the elimination of folding mirrors on the new Legacy/Outback.
Subaru has some advanced technology-- like the CVT on the Legacy/Outback. I have driven both vehicles with the CVT and, as a manual transmission person, I can say that the CVT works perfectly. It has paddle shifters which use a computer created six speed shift mode, but the CVT works so intuitively in regular D mode, that the paddles are basically superfluous.
As to 4 or 5 speeds vs. more gears, Subaru's new 6 speed manuals on the Legacy/Outback are nowhere near as satisfying as the previous 5 speed (still available on the Forester, and my Subaru of choice-- with manual, of course.) So more speeds doesn't guarantee more fun, or even more economy-- the Legacy/Outback with the 6 speed manual gets slightly WORSE mileage than the 5 speed manual. That bugs me no end.
More gears help with reducing RPMs on the highway-- my .05 Outback with manual revs at allmost 4200 at 70 mph. The fact that this is tolerable is a testament to Subaru's supposedly rough boxer engine. The CVT Legacy/Outback rev at about 2000 RPM at 70-- one reason why the Legacy gets 31 mpg highway EPA and the Outback 29 mpg highway EPA, which are great numbers for AWD vehicles their size.
charlesb says:
06:44 AM, 07/06/2010
This remains one of Consumer Reports top picks for smallish SUVs, despite the four-speed automatic and middling mileage, so Subaru must be doing something right. These look pretty nice out on the road too.
tdiluv says:
03:43 AM, 07/06/2010
A real nice wagon and Subaru continues to do well. The only thing that has kept me from owning any SUB over the years is the drive train. They just are not with it and behind in todays technology. Like a direct injection engine and 6 speed transmission would put SUB into another realm!!