Upgraded Subaru Forester now on sale

Subaru have upgraded their best-selling Forester SUV with a raft of changes to its interior and powertrain for 2015, writes Trish Whelan.

The upgraded Forester will go on sale immediately here in Ireland, and continues to offer Subaru's five year / 160,000km warranty.

The most significant change is the addition of a diesel-Lineartronic CVT powertrain to the Irish model line-up, the first Forester to offer such a powertrain.

Pairing the 2.0 148hp horizontally-opposed 'Boxer' diesel engine with Lineartronic, means a more relaxing drive while at the same time boosting its off-road capabilities. Paired with the standard AWD drivetrain, Lineartronic brings with it Subaru's Hill Descent Control and the X-Mode system which intelligently manages the car's power and torque, brakes and drivetrain to maintain traction on even the most slippery surfaces.

This Lineartronic transmission is the same CVT found on the powerful 240hp XT Turbo model and is engineered to manage the diesel engine's high 350 Nm torque output. It has a claimed combined cycle return of 46.3mpg and 158g/km C02 and can go from 0-100km/h in 9.6 seconds.

Improvements to the cabin include the use of higher quality materials, greater soundproofing, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system; full Bluetooth capability allows users connect their smartphone to the car via StarLink, for weather and traffic reports, wireless audio and news updates. An extra USB jack is also provided.

Prices are from €37,995-€41,295.