2014 Subaru Forester wildly popular after only one month

Subaru has announced today that the all-new 2014 Subaru Forester orders in Japan have exceed 8,000 in its first month and more than quadruple their monthly target. Orders for the all-new crossover have reached 8,149 units as of December 16 in just one month after its launch on November 13. This breaks the monthly sales target of 2,000 units by more than fourfold.

We wonder whether Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., who is the maker of Subaru automobiles, has set their goals a little too low for the new 2014 Forester. The new 2014 Forester was launched in Japan just a month ago with much media and consumer interest and it appears the new fourth-generation all-wheel-drive Forester is already a big hit. The car just made its U.S. debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show and drew a lot of attention among U.S. buyers.

Fourth-generation Forester has been completely redesigned

The new 2014 model has been completely redesigned and features a newly designed exterior, roomier interior, improved performance and improved fuel economy across the line. A new 250 horsepower 2.0-liter direct-injection turbocharged Boxer engine leads the list of new features for the crossover and it will also be powered by a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter naturally aspirated Boxer engine.

The 2014 model will jump to the head of its segment in all-wheel drive fuel economy. The 2.5 models with the automatic CVT will achieving manufacturer-estimated fuel mileage ratings of 24 mpg city / 32 mpg highway / 27 mpg combined. That’s just slightly less than the new 2013 XV Crosstrek that gets 33 mph highway which is the best rating for any all-wheel-drive car. First one-month sales figures of the new XV Crosstrek also more than quadrupled their initial target.

Most buyers choosing new EyeSight feature

According to Subaru, buyers are choosing the naturally aspirated engine with the excellent fuel mileage over the turbo by 61.4 percent of the orders. The majority of buyers are also choosing the new EyeSight-equipped models. The new safety system works like a second pair of eyes that monitors the road ahead and recognizes potential dangerous driving situations.

EyeSight uses three-dimensional images captured by cameras mounted at the top of the windshield, and features audible and visual warnings to prompt the driver to take action. The new safety system will also apply automatic braking intervention, when necessary, to help avoid or reduce the severity of a detected frontal collision.

With the strong demand and positive customer feedback, Subaru's latest SUV is making a great start with its overall enhancement in drivability, safety and versatility. Look for pricing to be announced on the all-new 2014 Subaru Forester closer to its on sale date in the U.S. next spring.