Diesel Forester soon to arrive in Oz.

[aware]

I finally got around to taking one of these for a test drive.

Even putting aside my Subaru loyalty, this is one outstanding engine. I was quite taken by the VW 2.0 TDI (in a Tiguan) engine in terms of power/torque, 'revability' and refinement but the Subaru diesel matches it for power/torque and revability and beats it for refinement. It revs past 3000 rpm with ease, though it's not often necessary to do so even for fast acceleration due to the torque on offer.

It makes for a lovely combination with the 6 speed manual as well. I think first is a little shorter than first in my car, but gears 2 to 5 are more spread out and taller. With the torquey engine this means fewer gear changes around town which makes a nice change from the closely stacked and (in my opinion) too-short third and fourth in my car. I think there is less driveline backlash than in the 5 speed as well. The gate is quite narrow and at first glance would seem likely to promote incorrect changes, but actually just needs slight pressure to the left for 1 and 2, no pressure left or right for 3 and 4 and slight pressure to the right for 5 and 6 - easy! The change is slicker than the 5 speeder as well and didn't strike me as 'rubbery' as has been reported.

My thoughts on the general SH Forester package (compared to SG) remain the same:

Pluses:

• outstanding passenger and luggage space for external size
• better refinement
• modern styling
• smoother low-speed ride
• improved clearance and angles
• standard VDC

Minuses:

• more body movement in corners and over bumps when driven quickly (underdamped suspension?)
• cheap-looking, plain and 'bluff' dashboard with some tacky details
• overbonnet visibility slightly reduced, especially for front-seat passenger
• VDC doesn't have an offroad mode and the traction control function takes too long to brake spinning wheels

A great car overall though and I will probably find myself in a 2.0D Premium at some point (though I will might change the dampers and add a rear LSD for offroading!).

Thanks for the great review Simon. I'm quite interested in taking one of these for a drive, but I'd like to find a dealer who'll let an 18 year old P Plater go for a test drive. We'll be looking for a new car next year, and are only considering one brand :iconwink:. Pity Dad's company car isn't permitted to be manual otherwise we'd have a Diesel Foz/Outback in the driveway next year.

Interesting you mention about 1st gear being quite short between your car and the Diesel. I know when getting out of my car, and into's Mum's 09 XS, first is much shorter. Seems to be a change they've made for the newer models.

 

[hoadie]

I finally got around to taking one of these for a test drive.

Even putting aside my Subaru loyalty, this is one outstanding engine. I was quite taken by the VW 2.0 TDI (in a Tiguan) engine in terms of power/torque, 'revability' and refinement but the Subaru diesel matches it for power/torque and revability and beats it for refinement. It revs past 3000 rpm with ease, though it's not often necessary to do so even for fast acceleration due to the torque on offer..

That's interesting feedback, because I drive the Tiguan when it came out and HATED the engine. Having driven both the Tiguan and the Passat, which had the more powerful of the 2 2.0 TDI engines, I found the Tiguan lacking in power and puff - it didn't rev and 1st gear seemed too low to me for driving in traffic.

 

[Escher]

Good to see discussion of the Boxer Diesel continue!

Can anybody compare Subaru's 2.0 diesel to the 2.2 liter turbo-diesel in Nissan's X-trail? I've been very happy with the turbo-diesel and 6-speed combination in our used X-trail. And I would love to get a Subie with the Boxer Diesel and 6-speed stick when we're in a country with authorized Subaru dealers again. It'll be a Forester by default, although I may consider an Impreza (incl. WRX) if my wife opts for a larger car.

 

[simxs]

That's interesting feedback, because I drive the Tiguan when it came out and HATED the engine. Having driven both the Tiguan and the Passat, which had the more powerful of the 2 2.0 TDI engines, I found the Tiguan lacking in power and puff - it didn't rev and 1st gear seemed too low to me for driving in traffic.

The Tiguan manual's first definately is short (less than 7km/h per 1000rpm IIRC). A few owners and reviewers have noted this and it would take some getting used to for on road driving. Handy offroad though.

I'm surprised you didn't like the 103TDI though. Each to their own I guess.

 

[simxs]

Can anybody compare Subaru's 2.0 diesel to the 2.2 liter turbo-diesel in Nissan's X-trail? I've been very happy with the turbo-diesel and 6-speed combination in our used X-trail.

Haven't had a go of one of those. Renault-sourced engine I believe. I've read that manual ones like yours go really well (127kw and 360Nm), the autos not quite so well but still worthy (110kW and 320Nm). Reportedly, they are not as smooth as the VW diesel though so probably not as smooth as the Subaru diesel either.

 

[Escher]

Haven't had a go of one of those. Renault-sourced engine I believe. I've read that manual ones like yours go really well (127kw and 360Nm), the autos not quite so well but still worthy (110kW and 320Nm). Reportedly, they are not as smooth as the VW diesel though so probably not as smooth as the Subaru diesel either.

Thanks for the thoughts, Simon.

Renault generally makes solid diesels, but certainly not as smooth as VW Group's TDI and brethren. Interestingly, the X-trail's 2.2 doesn't offer much of its torque at low RPM. Even after several months of ownership, I occasionally stall it when doing stop-and-go's. Launching rapidly in 2nd gear is a no-no in the X-trail. Once the turbo kicks-in, though, the X-trail feels like a rocket-ship!

For the Land Cruiser, my wife rarely uses 1st gear and just keeps it in 2nd, even when launching from a complete stop. That level of low-rev torque is a big plus off-road. The kids call it the "Bulldozer." :ebiggrin: Of course, the 2008 Nissan has twice the gas mileage and double the top speed of the 1998 Toyota.

 

[hoadie]

The Tiguan manual's first definately is short (less than 7km/h per 1000rpm IIRC). A few owners and reviewers have noted this and it would take some getting used to for on road driving. Handy offroad though.

I'm surprised you didn't like the 103TDI though. Each to their own I guess.

Probably a case of what I thought was poor matching of gearbox. And it's not as powerful as the same size engine that was available for the Passat & A6, so I was feeling a bit underwhelmed I guess.

 

[guzzla]

Probably a case of what I thought was poor matching of gearbox. And it's not as powerful as the same size engine that was available for the Passat & A6, so I was feeling a bit underwhelmed I guess.

And it appears that it is slower than the Forester diesel as it should be with less power and torque and more weight. "Wheels" magazine did 17.6 secs over the standing 400m with a manual Tiguan TDI and 16.8 secs in the new Outback diesel (the Suzuki Grand Vitara diesel took more than 19 secs!)

 

[hoadie]

That's actually pretty impressive. I remember my 1984 RX7 was quoted as having a standing 400m time of around 16secs, and I think a Commodore of that era had a similar time.

 

[Tannin]

Put me down as another one in the queue for one of these. Will be a while though. My faithful 2004 manual Forester has done just on 200,000k now and I plan to go to 300,000 before I trade it on a diesel version.

 

[bandido]

Hi everyone, Diesel forever!!!!, 1st gear in 6 speed gear box is really short, no like low range, but anyway the engine have 350 N at 1800 RPM, turbo lag is no so much, the fuel consumation is very small,but i have doubs about the endurance of this engines because the electronic of the engine is really critical,(injectors,pump..) no like petrol, more strong.

 

[Campbell9]

There is a subaru 4wd WA club member (30 year membership) who has a diesel forester. The only off road I have seen it on is beach sand, Sand dunes at Lancelin (see some of my album photo's). He had no problems getting up some very steep sand dunes (at least 60 - 70 degree incline). The high torque at low rev's and the fact that 1st gear is lower than 1st gears in other cars goes a long way to make up for the lack of a low range gear box. I do not know how far it can be modded ie, suspension, increased tyres etc. But the club member is very happy it and the improved fuel consumption.

 

[joel.dedman]

I test drove a Diesel Forester a couple of months ago, it went really well. I was testing it with OutbackBen, and the salesman found a decent grassy slope, which he stopped part way up. The car just climbed up the hill no dramas.

Regards,

Joel