Subaru drops Forester entry price
BY TIM NICHOLSON | 3rd Feb 2014
The price cut is for the base 2.0i matched with a six-speed manual gearbox. There is no automatic transmission available with this variant. A with all Foresters, the base variant is all-wheel-drive, unlike many rivals that kick off their ranges with a front-drive version.
Therefore, the Forester technically undercuts entry AWD versions of key rivals such as the Ford Kuga ($31,490), Honda CR-V ($32,790), Toyota RAV4 ($34,690), Mitsubishi Outlander ($32,890) and Mazda CX-5 ($32,880).
However, they all feature an automatic transmission as standard, unlike the Subaru.
The next variant up in the Forester line-up to offer a self-shifter is the petrol 2.5i from $32,990.
Subaru managing director Nick Senior said the Forester is now better value than ever thanks to the price drop and it compares well against its competitors.
“Forester has long been a winning package for Subaru and our new entry-level price will further underline the formidable value that it represents, combined with its great reputation for safety, engineering, durability and retained value,” he said.
“The safety benefits and flexibility of All-Wheel Drive are another Forester plus as some other brands charge a considerable premium for the technology, way above their entry-level two-wheel drive variants.”Subaru launched its fourth-generation Forester locally in February last year, offering both petrol and diesel powertrains and as with all Subaru models besides the BRZ sportscar, all-wheel drive as standard.
Sales of the Forester have tracked well since launch, with 13,649 examples sold last year, making it the third best-selling compact SUV in its segment behind the top-selling Mazda CX-5 20,129 and the new Toyota RAV4 on 16,983 sales.
The Forester’s result is an 18 per cent improvement over its 2012 sales haul of 11,533 units and places it above rivals including the Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander.
