Subaru Forester

The updated Subaru Forester has recently been named as ‘Junior Crossover of the Year’ by the specialist off-roading magazine, Total 4×4. The Forester is now available with a choice of revised petrol and diesel Boxer engines, faced stiff competition from the likes of a Toyota Urban Cruiser, Suzuki SX4 and Skoda Octavia Scout. 

However, thanks to its Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive configuration, car-like driving dynamics and exceptional practicality, the Total 4X4 magazine judges singled-out the Japanese crossover for the highest praise, saying: “Typically of Subaru, the Forester does very good things without making a fuss of it. The combination it offers of quality, value, practical usability and driving talent makes it very hard indeed to beat.

The 2.0-litre Boxer diesel Forester range, which returns an impressive 47.9 combined mpg, starts at £23,070 (on-the-road) for the entry-level 2.0D X, rising to £25,070 for the 2.0D XC, and £29,070 for the range-topping 2.0D XS NavPlus. If you prefer petrol power you have a choice of two models – the Forester 2.0X and 2.0XS, costing £21,370 and £25,370 respectively in manual guise.  Automatic versions are available at a £1,000 premium and Subaru contract hire prices are on the site now.

Subaru

Subaru has provided the judges of the Heart of England in Bloom competition (a key part of the national England in Bloom initiative) with a quartet of all-wheel drive vehicles to assist in their travels on a seven county judging tour. The cars provided include a Legacy 2.0D SE NavPlus, Legacy 2.5 SE NavPlus, Outback 2.0D SE NavPlus and a Forester 2.0D XS NavPlus.

Many of these vehicles feature Subaru’s “Boxer” diesel engine which returns a figure of 44.1 combined mpg and emits 167g/km of CO2, which for an all-wheel drive vehicle is pretty impressive.  Marketing Director of Subaru UK , Kenyon Neads, said: “We’re excited to be the driving force behind the Heart of England in Bloom campaign. The vehicles selected are the pick of an impressive bunch, offering the go-anywhere versatility and practicality demanded by the judging panel. Pair this to the fuel efficiency of our diesel models and the Heart of England in Bloom campaign judges have a winning combination”. Subaru contract hire is available on the site now.

Top Safety Pick

A new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in America has found that Subaru vehicles are among the safest on the road. 

The insurance backed organisation conducted a series of stringent frontal, side, rear and rollover crash tests on a wide variety of vehicles and found that Subaru was the only manufacturer to receive enough points to be awarded its “Top Safety Pick” award for every car model it entered. Subaru outperformed other contenders from the likes of Audi, Honda, Ford, Volkswagen and Volvo.

Subaru’s five IIHS Top Safety Pick awards came in four different categories as follows;

- The new Legacy and Outback were recognised in the Midsize car group.

- The Imprezza was picked for the Small car category.

- The Forester was awarded the small SUV section.

- Finally the Tribeca was awarded the Midsize SUV class.

Subaru car leasing prices on all the range are available off the site now.