Subaru Announces New Forester XT - The Turbo Model You Want But Can’t Have

Subaru Corporation has announced a new turbocharged 2023 Subaru Forester XT. It's a Forester XT turbo model U.S. customers want but it won't be coming to North America.

Subaru customers in Japan get an early Christmas present, but not in North America. Subaru Corporation announced the 2023 Forester in Japan would get a new XT Edition with a turbocharged engine. The new Forester XT comes with a 1.8-liter turbocharged Boxer engine, but it's not coming to North America. It's another Japan-specification model that will not be offered to U.S. customers.

The 2023 Forester XT-Edition is sold in Japan to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the birth of Subaru's all-wheel-drive vehicles. The Forester XT features a 1.8-liter turbocharged direct-injection (DIT) four-cylinder, lean combustion Boxer engine. It produces 175 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque.

2023 Subaru Forester XT

The new Forester XT offers several upgrades over the standard model.

18-inch aluminum wheels (dark metallic paint)
Front grille wing: unpainted black (geometric texture) + frame: black paint
Front 6-star emblem (dark plating)
Front fog lamp cover with black paint decoration
Unpainted black door mirrors (geometric texture)
Rear bumper guard with black paint decoration
Rear garnish, Roof spoiler, and Roof rail (black paint)
EyeSight Safety Plus (visual field expansion) front view monitor/smart rearview mirror
Blaze gun metallic paint instrument panel decorative panel
Aluminum-like and leather-wrapped center tray decoration (silver stitch)
Ventilation grill decoration (blaze gun metallic paint) (front and rear seats)
Plated inner door handle (blaze gun metallic ring)
Water-repellent fabric/synthetic leather seat (black with silver stitch)
Water-repellent cargo floorboard (with luggage smoother function)
LED cargo room lamp/LED rear gate lamp

2023 Subaru Forester XT

Why did Subaru drop the U.S.-spec Forester XT?

Subaru enthusiasts in the U.S. have asked for a Forester turbocharged model since the Japanese automaker dropped the Forester 2.0XT in 2019. Subaru says it was because of slow sales, but it was also because Subaru wanted to improve fuel mileage across the lineup.

Will Subaru offer a Forester with a turbocharged engine in the U.S.?

This is a question Forester fans have asked for nearly five years. Subaru Australia will likely get the new Forester XT with a 1.8-liter turbocharged engine sometime next year.

Would customers in the U.S. buy the Forester XT with the smaller FA18 turbo? It's possible because the 2023 Subaru Forester 2.5-liter naturally aspirated Boxer engine produces 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The 1.8-liter turbocharged Boxer produces less horsepower but considerably more torque (176 lb-ft vs. 221 lb-ft of torque).

Another option for North America would be for Subaru of America to ask Subaru Corporation for the Forester XT with the FA24 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine upgrade. It would be a logical option for the next-generation 2024 Forester Wilderness trim level.

In an interview at the Chicago Auto Show in 2018, Subaru of America President and CEO Tom Doll said the Japanese automaker would not offer a Forester turbo anytime soon in the U.S. market. Doll said it was because the demand for the newly-redesigned Forester SUV was too high right out of the gate for them to offer a turbo version.

Now is the time because sales of the Forester have dropped in the U.S., and the compact SUV is now third in sales behind the Crosstrek subcompact SUV and the Outback midsize SUV.

The next-generation 2024 Subaru Forester Sport and the 2024 Forester Wilderness would be two trim levels that would be a perfect fit for the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine. For now, Japan, Australia, and likely Europe will be the only markets to get the newly-announced Forester XT-Edition.

Would you buy a 2024 Subaru Forester if a turbocharged engine were available? Would you want the 1.8-liter or 2.4-liter turbo option? Let Subaru of America know in the comment section below.

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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 Corporation