Get ready, the turbo Forester is coming back!

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
10/25/2020 at 16:09 • Filed to: News

With less power than the n/a version.

Granted there’s a moderate torque bump but it seriously has less horsepower than the base engine and they’re slapping a “Sport” badge on it.

Oh, also it’s CVT only because fuck you.

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DISCUSSION (34)

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 16:21

Cool, I wish I had a turbo or the supercharger kit for my TSX. My old CRV could have used a turbo.

WilliamsSW > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 16:24

That’s...

stupid.

flatisflat > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 16:24

I’ll give it...6 months before the Subaru-legos afficionados stick a 6-speed into one of those.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > WilliamsSW
10/25/2020 at 16:26

Yes.

HammerheadFistpunch > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 16:28

The old turbo was a 2.0? I was under the impression it was the 2.5, mine was. EDIT: yup, looks like it went to 2.0 in the 4th gen. Interesting.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 16:34

Premium fuel for a 182-hp NEW car that weighs ~ 3,500 lbs. Dope.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 16:37

“Sport”

Nick Has an Exocet > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 16:37

Subaru is the only car maker I know of that has an enthusiast following for cars that in 2020 are still slower to 60 than an NA Miata.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Nick Has an Exocet
10/25/2020 at 16:44

It’s funny how standards change. This car has almost identical weight, power, and torque specs to my 2000 528i, which was considered sorta quick, yet we call the Forester unforgivably slow.

Grant ed it’s a second and a half slower to 60 but we can chalk that up to transmission and gearing.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
10/25/2020 at 16:46

Yes, papa?

Saracen > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 16:50

Miserytronic CVT.

notsomethingstructural > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
10/25/2020 at 16:58

Sporps

Boxer_4 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 17:13

This isn’t an XT, and it isn’t trying to be an XT.

There have been rumors in the past that Subaru will be transitioning away from N/A engines entirely and this CB18 is a move in that direction. This replaces the FB25D in the Japanese market Forester - the lineup now consists of the FB20D eBoxer hybrid and the CB18. It will be interesting to see where all the CB18 will be deployed - the added torque over the FB25D is likely well worth the slight drop in horsepower, and I expect that torque will be available reasonably down low in the rev range.

As for the “Sport” badg ing - I think a lot of automakers have lost the plot at this point in that regard ( basically any truck with the sport in the name from the ‘90s, also, the Outback Sport ). Regardless it doesn’t really make sense to me.

HammerheadFistpunch > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/25/2020 at 17:20

Probably doesn’t need premium.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Nick Has an Exocet
10/25/2020 at 17:23

Subaru is the only car maker I know of that has an enthusiast following for any cars that has been doing everything possible to discourage them for the last 10 years.

Cancelling almost all of their turbo cars. (Outback, Forester, Legacy, all cancelled, not even counting oldies like Leone RX-II or XT4 Turbo.)

If they don’t cancel them, they don’t update them. (AKA STI, and not much for WRX, either.)

If they do cancel them, they might bring them back as a very pale shadow of their former selves. (Legacy, Outback, Ascent, and now Forester...)

If they come out with anything new... it isn’t turbocharged as one of the most likely cars that should be, (AKA the BRZ... the Crosstrek could be a contender with some real performance, too.)

I used to be an enthusiast, now you couldn’t pay me to own a Subaru over other, better, or even USED options. I’d buy a high mileage base 718 Cayman over a BRZ OR a WRX... and there is no reason other than Subaru’s product planning for that.

Turbo Forester Sport with meager power output? That is no XT, let alone a Subaru Forester STI...

How much is a used Macan again? Or a Jeep Cherokee, or a Hyundai, or pretty much anything else with more than 225hp/tq out of a turbocharged engine?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > notsomethingstructural
10/25/2020 at 17:24

Spert

HammerheadFistpunch > Boxer_4
10/25/2020 at 17:27

Sport now equals = cheap, but not broke.

HammerheadFistpunch > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 17:28

Im for the change, The new engine will surely have way more average power and more area under the curve even if it misses out on the peak number. The trouble is the crap CVT. Lineartronics are weaksauce.

Nick Has an Exocet > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 18:01

2020 Toyota Camry TRD does 0-60 in 5.7.

Crosstrek 2.0i: 10.3s

1990 Mazda Miata: 9.0s

2018 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0i Limited: 9.1s

Better watch out, 30 year old Miata, that 2020 Crosstrek is coming for you.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 18:19

Frankly if the entire US highway system still had a 55 mph speed limit Subaru would be entirely adequate across the product line. It is not 1978 tho...

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 18:28

20 years is an eternity in automobiles. Think of any 20 year gap between two cars and how much technology changes in that time. How did your 2000 stack up to a 1980 5-series?

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch
10/25/2020 at 18:30

Knowing turbo cars, I bet it loses 10-15% of those headline performance numbers on regular.

HammerheadFistpunch > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
10/25/2020 at 18:31

Subaru is kind of bad about that, but here’s hoping they rate it using 87

notsomethingstructural > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
10/25/2020 at 18:31

Sparsh

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Nick Has an Exocet
10/25/2020 at 18:42

My 528i is rated at 6.8 with the manual transmission

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
10/25/2020 at 20:47

“Spork"

way2blu does a rev update > HammerheadFistpunch
10/25/2020 at 21:40

The 2014 Forester Turbo in my family would not be happy on anything less than premium. It made 250 horsepower though, and the fact that the new generation only has the slow motors means it might be our “forever Subaru.”

way2blu does a rev update > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 21:47

221 lb-ft is actually a big upgrade over the NA 2.5, so this new turbo will probably be a bit quicker. That said, the previous generation (SJ) Forester XT makes 250 hp/tq.

This new turbo should be a bit cheaper than what an XT would cost on this platform though, and the real benefit is going to revolve around high-altitude performance. The NA models are probably pitifully slow up in the mountains (where a Subaru should shine) so Subaru is offering a more capable motor for those adventures.

Overall, if this isn’t priced too much higher than the NA models, it’s actually a decent option.

HammerheadFistpunch > way2blu does a rev update
10/25/2020 at 22:08

Yeah mine too but the ej wasn’t great that way.

wafflesnfalafel > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 22:31

I sn’t that the motor they are replacing all the 2.5 NA motors with? (So it really isn’t comparable to an XT for example.) I thought I heard that anything with a 2.5 NA would eventually get that new “little” turbo...

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > wafflesnfalafel
10/25/2020 at 22:36

THEY PUT A “SPORT” BADGE ON IT

wafflesnfalafel > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/25/2020 at 22:49

right - you can get a “Sport” right now with the same NA 2.5 as the very base model. It’s just got goofy stripes and funky interior coloring. I had one as a loaner last year, (and honestly didn’t like it - the damn nanny electronics are a PITA....) Basically an appearance package.

Kinja'd!!!