The New 2022 Subaru Forester Was Just Spotted In The Wilderness

The 2021 Subaru Forester offers value for SUV shoppers now, and it gets better for the 2022 model year change coming next spring. We don't have permission to use the new Forester's recent spy photos, but you can see them here. Forester won't get a complete remodel, but it gets a refresh in the fourth year of its lifecycle.

The 2022 Forester will get new front restyling with minor upgrades to the bumper and side moldings. The spy photos could be the all-new Forester Wilderness model Torque News reported on last month. The 2020 Forester should begin production next spring with a dealer launch next summer. Will this model get a new turbocharged engine?

Here's what we know about the 2022 Subaru Forester

Subaru will give the compact SUV a "refresh" with some exterior and interior modifications to upgrade its appearance, but the significant changes will come underneath its sheet metal.

The 2022 Forester will likely get the new-generation EyeSight X driver assist safety system. It offers 360-degree sensing by combining the front and rear radars. The new EyeSight X uses 3D high-precision map data with road information for each lane.

The 2022 Subaru Forester could also come with the Japan-spec Levorg's new Drive Mode Select with five selectable driving modes. Subaru says you can change the vehicle's character by choosing Comfort, Sport, Individual, Normal, and Sport+ Modes. The Individual Mode allows customization for up to five drivers that automatically recognizes the custom driving style for each user.

Subaru engineers also redesigned the Lineartronic CVT automatic transmission to provide smoother acceleration throughout the power curve. They expanded the gear range to achieve stronger acceleration and work in concert with the 7-speed manual mode in the Forester Sport, Limited, and Touring trim levels.

Will the 2022 Forester come with a turbocharged engine?

Subaru is upgrading all its models with fuel-efficient direct-injection turbocharged (DIT) Boxer engines. The Outback, Legacy, and Ascent have the new DIT powerplant, and the Forester is likely the next model to get one. The new engine will be more efficient than the current naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine.

The Japan-spec Forester just received a new 1.8-liter turbocharged Boxer engine, but it's likely for the Japanese market. It's our guess, Subaru of America knows customers in the U.S. want more power than the 1.8-liter engine's 175 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. The Forester's 2.5-liter naturally aspirated Boxer engine produces 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque.

The Outback, Ascent, and Legacy's 2.4-liter direct-injection turbocharged Boxer engine produces 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque and would satisfy the American thirst for power. Subaru could bring back the Forester XT offering a 2.4-liter direct-injection turbocharged engine.

We are speculating; the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness trim would be the model to get the new turbocharged engine upgrade. The 2020 Forester will begin production next spring with a dealer launch next summer. Stay tuned.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: Subaru