Test drive: Subaru Forester 2.0 petrol and LPG

We drive the Subaru Forester in its bi-fuel version, petrol and LPG, a versatile 4×4 with real character

Getting behind the wheel of a current Subaru Forester after some time away is like meeting up again with an old friend you shared so many good and varied moments with, adventures and misadventures always overcome and always remembered fondly, one whose looks the passing years have shaped and whose behaviour they have improved.

A travelling companion for whom the passage of time revives the belief that good wine improves with age. That is not generally true, but in the case of the Subaru Forester on this test, it is.

The genetics of the Subaru Forester

With each new generation or update, the Subaru Forester only strengthens what keeps it as a benchmark among crossovers with off-road attitude and its ability to adapt to urban traffic on the black asphalt.

The test unit is a Subaru Forester with a horizontally-opposed, naturally aspirated 2.0-litre boxer engine, bi-fuel hybrid, as it runs equally well on petrol or LPG. Above all, it is a car that stays faithful to a model and a brand. The starting price of the Subaru Forester is 27,900, according to current promotional prices, to which you add 1,750 € for the LPG conversion. The test car, with the LPG kit fitted, Executive trim and metallic paint, would cost 35,450 euros.

At first glance, the latest update to the Subaru Forester was subtle: exterior styling touch-ups and an improvement in quality with updated multimedia systems, especially in terms of smartphone connectivity, and a more complete specification for the test unit.

The cabin layout makes the Subaru crossover suitable for daily and family use. Whether on tarmac or off it, the seats, particularly the front ones, offer a correct fit, although over potholed surfaces one may miss firmer lumbar support.

The comfort of its five approved seats, the available space and the freedom of movement in any of them is appreciated, all the more so in segments where the arrival of SUVs creates false expectations regarding comfort and interior space in these fashionable vehicles.

For that reason, the Subaru Forester deserves, on its own merits, to be considered beyond fashion and stands out as a car well worth considering when you want a balance between roominess and practicality.

Driving the Subaru Forester LPG

The horizontally-opposed cylinder layout, combined with Symmetrical All Wheel Drive permanent all-wheel drive, both unmistakable hallmarks of Subaru, has for more than five years been paired with a torque-converter automatic gearbox. A gearbox that, while not always a success on every Subaru model and engine, is very pleasant in this case, as it takes control of the gear in use, helped also by the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel, which are very useful for downshifts and overtaking.

Here, Subaru offers the option of using liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, at the driver’s discretion, via a simple button. The drawback of this dual-fuel setup is that the spare wheel is removed from the boot, where the tank is installed, but on the plus side it extends the vehicle’s range compared with petrol-only use. In my case, more than 440 km covered using gas exclusively.

Taking into account the price of 0.73 euros per litre of gas and the stated average consumption of 8.2 litres/100 km, the running cost is under 6 euros per hundred kilometres driven in the Subaru Forester with LPG. Furthermore, thanks to its classification as a DGT ECO-labelled car, I was able to freely enter areas restricted to other vehicles such as Madrid Central.

On fast roads or in urban traffic, the comfort of the Subaru Forester is such that it recalls that of MPVs, which are known for comfort and a high driving position.

It is a vehicle that is very enjoyable to drive because, moreover, its engine, although the CVT Lineartronic transmission requires some learning and anticipation to optimise pull-aways from rest, is smooth and progressive and, though not overflowing with power, makes good use of the 150 CV and 198 Nm of torque.

On the move, Intelligent mode takes over standard driving, and Sport mode is only used for specific moments when it is also advisable to act on the gearbox, as mentioned earlier. It then delivers torque at lower revs.

The driver aids, particularly the EyesSight collision risk assessment system, work wonderfully when combined with cruise control.

In dense traffic, the effectiveness of this pairing is evident and lets you trust it, especially when the distances to cover are considerable, leaving the driver’s role practically to supervising that speed is appropriate and controlling the steering wheel, although it also has lane departure assist with corrective steering.

The more rugged side of the Subaru Forester

But it is when leaving the tarmac that it is worth indulging in driving the Subaru Forester. A vehicle that justifies its nature as a crossover, distanced from the SUV craze but without reaching the demands of a proper off-roader, which is why this car pleases me for its balance.

A vehicle capable of being a family car suited to long distances, urban journeys and occasional excursions beyond the big city, where the challenge is set by the terrain. Incidentally, however difficult that terrain may be, the Subaru Forester can tackle it thanks to aids such as X-Mode. An off-road programme that adapts the drivetrain and mechanical setup to get out of situations where others would hardly venture.

It should also be noted that the test Subaru Forester was fitted with Yokohama Geolandar tyres, tyres designed for SUVs with qualities suited to both tarmac and off-road driving. Although not A/T tyres, they are a good companion for vehicles like this Subaru crossover, which likes to challenge itself with every generation by tackling demanding terrain.