Customers love the puddle lights, but road salt corrodes the electrical connectors. The design has been changed.
Subaru of America is increasing the prices on its hot selling Forester crossover – five consecutive annual sales records – for the 2015 model year. The Forester 2.5i model will be available in base, Premium, Limited and expensive Touring versions starting at $23,045 for the base model 2.5i with six-speed manual transmission. The turbocharged 2.0XT will be offered in the Premium and Touring versions, with the Premium starting at $29,345 and Touring at $30,945. The 2.0XT Premium now has a standard All Weather Package. All prices include an $850 destination charge.
For 2015, the base model 2.5i has a rear vision camera and color multi-function display as standard equipment. Previously unavailable, the 2.5i Premium manual transmission model is now equipped with a moonroof standard. New for 2015, the 2.5i Touring models will receive standard 18-inch alloy wheels. All Touring models have keyless access and start, HID lights and chrome rocker trim. Navigation is now optional on Touring models.
Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist system earned the highest rating given by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a Superior rating, when IIHS conducted its first test of accidence avoidance technologies. The EyeSight system integrates Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking and Vehicle Lane Departure Warning.
EyeSight uses a stereo camera design to provide a detection angle wider than that of radar-based systems. EyeSight option packages are lowered $500 from the previous model year. In keeping with automaker’s bundling of options to increase profits, the All Weather Package with EyeSight is $1,295. EyeSight and Navigation is $1,895.
As with all previous Forester models, the 2015 comes standard with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, a distinction from the competitive models that come with front-wheel drive as standard and offer all-wheel drive as an extra-cost option.
