Finally: Samelet, Subaru’s importer, will soon launch the hybrid version of the Forester in Israel, which will be the Japanese manufacturer’s first hybrid in the country.
As with other Subaru models, the hybrid Forester will arrive in Israel in the American-Canadian version, with the same 2,500 cc non-turbo gasoline engine, but with an additional 14 hp and a combined output rising to 194 horsepower. Most of the power still comes from the gasoline engine, up to 162 hp, while the electric motor adds 118 hp. The continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is identical to the gasoline model.
The performance improvement is negligible, as under US regulations no official performance figures are published, but our colleagues in the United States measured an improvement of 2–3 tenths of a second in acceleration from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h). The main improvement comes in fuel consumption: From an official 12.5 km per liter in the gasoline version to about 16 km per liter in the hybrid.
This represents a significant reduction in fuel costs, but it still cannot compete with other hybrid crossovers. The Toyota RAV4 hybrid with all-wheel drive achieves an official 17.5 km per liter. However, the all-wheel-drive RAV4 is currently sold only in a higher trim level at a relatively high price of NIS 300,000.
The price of the 2,500 cc Forester currently starts at NIS 213,000. Early estimates for the hybrid version’s price premium were NIS 10,000–15,000. Since then, the shekel has strengthened and both the yen and dollar have fallen. Will the gap shrink? In the case of the new RAV4, for example, prices have still increased.
Subaru has recorded a 47% drop in deliveries since the beginning of the year, with only 1,150 units between April and May, amid the transition to the more expensive 2.5-liter version of the Crosstrek and the growing preference among Israelis for more fuel-efficient cars - a trend that has accelerated since gasoline prices jumped to NIS 8 per liter following the war with Iran. A competitively priced hybrid Forester could reverse the trend and also attract customers who previously purchased the RAV4 and are looking for a Japanese vehicle but were surprised by Toyota’s new price levels.