Priced from RM 173.5k, 2023 Subaru Forester facelift launched in Malaysia with EyeSight 4.0

MerleneJShaffer June 29, 2023No Comments

Previously spied in Malaysia, TC Subaru Sdn Bhd, the Malaysian distributor of Subaru in Malaysia has just launched the facelifted 2023 Subaru Forester at Sunway Pyramid.

Fully-imported (CBU) from Thailand, the updated Forester is offered in Malaysia in 4 variants:

2.0 i-L EyeSight – RM 173,500
2.0 i-L EyeSight GT Lite – RM 179,500
2.0 i-S EyeSight – RM 183,500
2.0 i-S EyeSight GT Edition – RM 195,500

Power on all 4 variants of the Forester comes from a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre 4-cylinder boxer engine that makes 156 PS and 196 Nm. This is mated to the Subaru Lineartronic CVT and power is sent to all 4 wheels via the Symmetrical AWD system.

Also read: Japan’s 2021 Subaru Forester facelift wears a new look, comes with better EyeSight ADAS

Visually, the Malaysian-spec Forester now comes with GT Lite and GT Edition bodykits for the 2.0 i-L and 2.0 i-S variants respectively which consist of the front and rear lip extensions, side skirts, and a roof spoiler.

The 2.0 i-L variants come with 17-inch alloy wheels while the 2.0 i-S variants are equipped with bespoke 18-inch wheels.

However, the biggest improvement on the updated Forester is the enhanced EyeSight 4.0 ADAS suite which offers a better-expanded field of vision thanks to a new set of stereo cameras and allowed Subaru’s SUV to have Level 2 autonomous driving.

Among the features offered are:

Pre-Collision Braking
Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection (SRVD)
High Beam Assist (HBA)
Autonomous Emergency Steering
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Lane Centering Function (LCF)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) with Lane Departure Prevention (LDP)

The last 3 features (Autonomous Emergency Steering, ACC with LCF, LDW with LDP) are new to the Forester.

Also read: Since 2008, Subaru has sold 5 million cars fitted with EyeSight

Another improvement to the Forester facelift is Subaru’s X-Mode which complements the Symmetrical AWD system. This includes an Auto Restore feature that switches to ‘standby’ mode when exceeding 40 km/h and subsequently comes back on when the speed drops below 35 km/h. Previously, X-Mode would deactivate at 40 km/h and must be reactivated manually.

Meanwhile, the X-Mode’s Hill Descent Control (HDC) now operates more smoothly when the driver decides to accelerate during a gradual descent with X-Mode activated. Subaru claims there is no longer a delay between the driver’s accelerator input and HDC’s auto modulation of the brakes when driving slowly down a slope at 20 km/h or less.