Japanese Car Auction Find – 2013 Subaru Forester 2.0XT

A few days back we looked at a teaser for a new Mitsubishi Outlander that will make its appearance at the upcoming 2015 New York Auto Show. Since we showcased a Mitsubishi Outlander auction find not too long ago, today we’re going to showcase one of the Outlander’s primary competitors from another underdog Japanese automaker. And that brings us to today’s auction find – a 2013 Subaru Forester 2.0XT.

This is a fourth-generation Forester, so basically the exact model that any new Mitsubishi Outlander will be competing against. Even though it’s technically a 2013MY, it’s still a worthy comparison to make today. Let’s start with the exterior, which is Crystal Black Silica for this model.

The Forester has a surprisingly distinguished aesthetic. Where other automakers home in on a flowing, fluid body style, which is in turn accompanied by excessively large grilles, the 2015 Subaru Forrester we see here is rugged and edgy. It doesn’t have the swooping body lines you’d find on a Mazda CX-5 or, to a lesser degree, one of the new Toyota RAV4s. This is a car that really looks like an SUV.

We’ll also point out that even though it’s not overbearingly large and looks nothing like a swoop or a smile, the grille on the Forester here is actually quite stylish. It has a bold chrome outline over a simple trapezoidal spindle grille. It stands out because there’s not much chrome throughout the rest of the body; the fog lights are the only other element to make use of that material.

Any research at all into the redesigned fourth-generation Subaru Forrester will reveal a host of positive reviews. Consumers at Kelley Blue Book rated the fourth-generation Subaru Forester (which would’ve hit Japanese dealerships as a 2013MY) at 8.1 out of 10 for its reliability, good fuel economy (without sacrificing all-wheel drive) and a well-appointed interior. The Forester is generally regarded as an SUV with great all-around value.

Since this is a Forrester 2.0XT, you will find a powerful 2.0L turbocharged engine paired with a Lineartronic CVT transmission. System output is rated at 280PS or 276 horsepower. This model also comes with EyeSight Driver Assist System, which was newly integrated in the refreshed 2013MY.

Since this is an XT model, you’ll enjoy a sport-tuned suspension with 18-inch alloy wheels (see pictures above) and chassis bracing to better handle the extra output from the turbocharged engine. This means flatter cornering and better overall handling, without having any effect on ride comfort. And, you get all that with an EPA rated 32 mpg highway.

To learn more about this 2013 Subaru Forrester Japanese car auction find, just keep reading below the auction sheet for a full translation of its specs:

“Grade 5, interior A, first registered June 2013, 12,424KM, 2.0 XT i-Sight model, 2WD, FAT, AAC, service book, original alloy wheels, power steering, power windows, original navigation system, airbag, one owner, digital TV, reversing rearview camera, cruise control, half-leather seats, seat heater, push button starter, smart key, HID, power seat, original 18 inch AWs, 1 x spare smart key, scratches and dents, marks as per map”