Business Fleet, November/December 2018

WITH ITS BOXY FRAME HIGH ride and subtle styling cues the Subaru Forester always owned the moniker of functional crossover and owned it well The compact SUV gets a substantial makeover for the 2019 model year and doesnt stray from its roots yet widens its appeal with added capabilities and features The 2019 Subaru Forester improves in roominess horsepower and fuel economy It comes in five trim levels with the top of the heap Touring trim added for this latest iteration We tested the Premium trim a step up from the base trim presumably where most fleet sales would fall The Premium trim offers upgraded interior appointments power drivers seat rear air conditioning and X Mode with hill descent a suite of controls to limit slipping tires Fleets should like the extra room for people and stuff Forester has grown in headroom hip and shoulder room as well as rear seat legroom Cargo space increased 14 cubic feet while the rear gate opening grew 53 inches to 512 inches a bragging point against compact SUV competitors On the styling front Forester still retains its unapologetic boxy stance though subtle styling cues such as an updated hexagonal grille a squared off bumper more prominent shoulder lines and trim cuts across tail lights give the Forester a more strikingly refined look Engine choice has been narrowed to one an update of Subarus 25 liter boxer engine The engines four cylinders offer 182 horsepower 12 more horses than the previous model On paper the new Foresters power ratings fall in the middle of competitors such as Honda CR V Nissan Rogue Mazda CX 5 Ford Escape and Toyota RAV 4 In our testing the 2019 Forester had more than enough muscle off the line and entering freeway traffic Heres the payoff the 2019 sits at the top of the segment in fuel economy 29 mpg combined Fleets will also like fewer trips to the pump the fuel tank has increased from 159 gallons to 166 gallons Subarus driver safety suite EyeSight moves from optional to standard equipment The driver assist technology monitors traffic movement optimizes cruise control and warns you if you sway from your lane Subarus standard AWD combined with a segment leading 87 inches of ground clearance is a safety bonus for fleets in inclement weather climates The upgrades to the Subaru Forester are impressive in light of a minimal 500 addition to starting price The 2019 Subaru Forester is available now 2019 SUBARU FORESTER PREMIUM BY CHRIS BROWN WWW BUSINESSFLEET COM 17 BUSINESS FLEET November December 2018 PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUBARU Fleets should like the extra room for people and stuff Forester has grown in headroom hip and shoulder room as well as rear seat legroom