2011 Subaru Forester Changes

With the introduction of the 2011 Subaru Forester, a number of changes were made by the manufacturer. So let's take a closer look at what these changes mean for the consumer.

The 2011 Subaru Forester fuel economy (non non-turbo) is rated at 21 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. Those values apply to both the manual and automatic transmissions. All models feature all wheel drive with VDC (vehicle dynamics control) stability.

2011 Subaru Forester X Model

The X model is the base model. It features the new Subaru FB25 engine. It has a bit more power than earlier 2.5L engine models, and supposedly is a bit smoother in power output. An interesting feature of the FB25 is the engine oil filter location. The filter is at the top of the engine, recessed into a small well. That's right, you simply open the hood, and the oil filter is right there. It is not necessary to get underneath the vehicle to access the oil filter like on previous models.

The FB25 also has a timing chain rather than the timing belt found on previous EJ25 engines such as were found in the 2006 Subaru Forester and also in the 1998 Subaru Forester. Power output is around 170 brake horsepower. The torque curve sits a little lower in the RPM band than the earlier EJ25 engines, which probably lends to its smoother operation. The FB25 is a dual overhead cam engine. The recommended engine oil is a synthetic 0W20.

The X model has black painted steel wheels with matte aluminum colored wheel covers. An Alloy Wheel Value Package is available as an upgrade.

Subaru Forester 2011 Touring Model

Also for the 2011 model year, Subaru has introduced a touring model of the Forester. It has silver roof rails and is available in a new color for 2011 - Marine Blue Pearl. The roof rails are rated for 150 lbs cargo, which is pretty generous for this type of vehicle.

The touring model has a red back-lit electroluminescent instrument panel. It includes an engine coolant temperature gauge. The touring model also gets a dual zone front climate control with seven fan speed settings.

The Premium, Limited, and Touring 2011 Subaru Foresters get 17" 10 spoke premium wheels that have been redesigned for 2011.

2011 Subaru Forester XT Touring Model

The Forester XT has long been the sporty model in the lineup. And that remains true for 2011. It has an optional front underspoiler that gives a unique look. It has a 2.5L turbocharged and intercooled engine. It is the same as the previous turbocharged EJ25 engine; it is not a turbocharged FB25. The hood scoop is functional, to feed air over the top mount intercooler (TMIC). The power output is around 224 brake horsepower. The fuel economy for the 2011 Subaru Forester turbo is listed at 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.

Read more about the Subaru Forester here. If you have questions or comments about this Subaru car, please feel free to visit our Subaru Forester forum.