Russia Gets Two Engines In New Forester; What Is Subaru Thinking?

The all-new 2019 Subaru Forester is the brand’s number-one selling vehicle around the globe and launches in Japan, the U.S., and Australia with just one gasoline engine, the new direct injection 2.5-liter Boxer. The new fifth-generation Forester SUV has been announced in Russia and it’s coming with two engines. In addition to the newly-revamped 2.5-liter gasoline boxer, Russian customers also get a 2.0-liter Boxer engine in the newly-remodeled Forester SUV.

Performance fans don’t have to be upset, this isn’t a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine sourced from the Forester 2.0XT model that’s been discounted. It’s the same 2.0-liter naturally aspirated power plant in the Crosstrek with 152hp. This engine has also received the newest engine upgrades with direct injection, and 80 percent of its parts are new.

Offering the 2.0L Forester doesn't make sense

Subaru Russia released fuel mileage estimates for the 2.0L and 2.5L engines. Fuel economy (mixed cycle) is 7.2 l/100km for the 2.0L and 7.4 l/100 km for the 2.5L Boxer. In the U.S., the lighter Crosstrek with the 2.0L gets 27/33/29 city/highway/combined mpg, the new 2019 Forester 2.5-liter with 182hp gets an improved 26/33 city/highway mpg, and 29 combined mpg. We can’t imagine why customers would opt for the smaller engine with considerably less power and similar fuel-efficiency.

Both Russian 2.5-liter and 2.0-liter Boxer models will be mated with the Lineartronic CVT automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels. Subaru discontinued the 6-speed manual gearbox in all global markets.
Subaru Corp gave the CVT a complete overhaul by expanding the gear ratio range and reducing the overall weight to improve dynamics and reduce fuel consumption.

Russian customers can order the all-new 2019 Subaru Forester with the new 2.5-liter with direct injection and 2.0-liter Boxer engines. It doesn’t make sense for Subaru Corp to offer the all-new 2019 Forester SUV in Russia with the 2.0-liter gasoline engine. Why would anyone buy the new Forester with the naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter engine?

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Photo credit: Subaru Russia