A Closer Look at the Subaru Forester Sport and Premium

The Subaru Forester Sport and Premium sit at the upper end of the Forester range, offering the same core SUV strengths with added comfort, convenience and visual appeal. Both models are powered by Subaru’s 2.5-litre Boxer petrol engine and feature standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, strong practicality, generous safety equipment and a well-equipped cabin. The Sport introduces a more adventurous look and feel, while the Premium adds the most comfort-focused specification in the Forester range. 

Exterior design 

The Forester Sport and Premium both feature a confident SUV design, with LED headlamps with auto-levelling, LED side lamps, automatic headlights, steering-responsive headlights, LED front fog lamps and LED rear fog lamps fitted as standard. Both models also receive a roof spoiler with a high-mounted stop lamp, black front and rear under guards, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, UV protection glass for the windscreen and front side windows, and an exhaust tip. 

The Sport rides on 18-inch black alloy wheels and features matt black ladder-style roof rails, gloss charcoal door mirrors and matt black side garnish, giving it a more rugged and outdoorsy appearance. The Premium, meanwhile, rides on 18-inch black and silver machined alloy wheels and features black gloss low-profile roof rails, gloss black door mirrors and gloss black side garnish for a more polished look. 

Both models are fitted with a double-volume power sliding sunroof with a sunshade cover, adding to the sense of space and light inside the cabin. 

Performance and efficiency 

The Forester Sport and Premium are both powered by Subaru’s horizontally opposed 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. It produces 136 kW at 5,800 r/min and 247 N.m of torque at 3,700 r/min, and is paired with Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT. 

Both models feature Subaru’s Active Torque Split all-wheel-drive system, giving the Forester added confidence on wet roads, gravel surfaces and everyday urban routes. Performance is identical across both derivatives, with a 0-100 km/h time of 9.7 seconds, combined fuel consumption of 7.9 L/100 km and CO2 emissions of 180 g/km. 

The Sport and Premium also feature Vehicle Dynamics Control, Active Torque Vectoring, Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Control, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Traction Control. Both models are equipped with X-Mode with Hill Descent Control in two modes, giving them added capability when conditions become more challenging. 

Practicality 

The Forester Sport and Premium offer the same practical SUV packaging, with generous passenger space, strong visibility and a useful load area. Both models measure 4,655 mm long, 1,830 mm wide and 1,730 mm tall, with a 2,670 mm wheelbase and 220 mm of ground clearance. 

Boot capacity is listed at 496 litres with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1,174 litres when the rear seats are folded. Both models feature 60/40 split-folding rear seats with a reclining, one-touch fold-down arrangement, making the cabin easy to adapt for luggage, family gear or weekend equipment. Both derivatives also have a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 kg. 

Standard features 

The Forester Sport and Premium both come generously equipped, with keyless entry and push-button start, a powered rear gate with kick sensor, electric parking brake, paddle shifters, power windows, dual-zone air-conditioning, one-touch lane changer, two 12-volt accessory power outlets and a tilt- and telescopic-adjustable steering wheel. 

Both models also feature a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, a power-adjustable passenger seat, rear seat ventilation, rear USB power outlets and a white luminescent colour TFT meter panel. 

The Sport features polyurethane seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with green stitching, giving the cabin a more distinctive character. The Premium adds leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with brown stitching and a leather-wrapped gearshift knob, creating a more refined interior finish. 

Technology 

Both the Sport and Premium are fitted with an 11.6-inch touchscreen display and voice command functionality for audio, air conditioning and telephony. Steering-wheel-mounted controls allow the driver to manage audio, mobile phone and cruise control functions without taking their hands off the wheel. 

The Sport is equipped with a six-speaker sound system, while the Premium upgrades this to a 10-speaker Harman Kardon system, giving it the strongest audio offering in the Forester lineup. 

Safety 

Safety is a key part of the Forester package, and both the Sport and Premium come standard with Subaru EyeSight technology. This includes Pre-Collision Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Autonomous Emergency Steering, Lane Centring Control, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, Lead Vehicle Start Alert and High Beam Assist. 

Both models also feature Emergency Driving Stop System, Reverse Automatic Braking, a reverse camera, front camera, reverse-linked tilt-down door mirrors, Blind Spot Monitoring with Lane Change Assist, Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection, a side-view monitor and Auto Vehicle Hold. 

Occupant protection is comprehensive, with front SRS airbags, front side airbags, curtain airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, a front passenger seat cushion airbag and a far-side airbag fitted as standard. ISOFIX child-seat anchors with tether anchors are also included. 

Service and warranty 

The Subaru Forester Sport and Premium are backed by a five-year/150,000 km warranty and Subaru Assist. Both models also receive a five-year/105,000 km maintenance plan, with extension options available from 1 August 2026. Service intervals are set at 15,000 km.