While Subaru has offered a hybrid powertrain in North America in the past, make no mistake in thinking this is the same old thing. Also, make no mistake in thinking that because partner company Toyota had a hand in it’s engineering and development, that this hybrid system is an off-the-shelf powertrain from a RAV4. This new second-generation hybrid powertrain is all Subaru.
Under the hood is a tried and true 2.5-liter horizontally opposed “Boxer” 4 cylinder engine. It uses the Atkinson Cycle of combustion which is a leaner and more efficient timing scenario better suited for hybrid duty.
It’s connected up to an all-new longitudinally mounted ECVT, a two-motor hybrid transmission that can operate in both parellel and serial modes. With no relation to the standard Subaru CVT, this transmission features the same design operating format that Toyota made famous with a planetary gearset and an orchestrated symphony of the gasoline engine, a powerful traction motor and a motor generator to make it all work smoothly.
The engine itself offers 162 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque. The traction motor has 118 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. Together the total system output is 194 horsepower. An air-cooled 1.1 kWk lithium-ion battery pack resides under the rear cargo floor in the back where the spare tires once was.
In the Forester hybrid we tested, the system is rated at 35 mpg city, 34 mpg highway and 35 mpg combined and it has a maximum tow rating of 1,500 lbs.
Subaru loyalists will be happy to know that a mechanical all-wheel drive system remains with a driveshaft to the rear axle, which provides superior articulation and traction management over other systems that lose the driveshaft for a separate electric motor at the rear axle. A full suite of X-Mode driving and traction software toys are provided to match a variety of off-road and slippery scenarios.
A look around the engine bay shows a setup nearly identical to that of a standard gasoline Forester. The big differences are the large hybrid power control unit mounted at the top rear of the engine and the substantial orange high-voltage wire harnesses connected to it.
Furthermore, the AC compressor is not belt driven, but powered by the high-voltage hybrid battery so that cold air continues to flow even when the gasoline engine is powered off.
DIY maintenance of the Subaru Forester Hybrid is as simple as it’s standard gasoline counterparts. It’s air filter is located at the passenger side front of the engine bay and is easy to get into without tools.
It’s oil check dipstick is located at the front of the engine, easily seen with its bright yellow handle. The oil filler cap and the oil filter both can be accessed at the top driver side of the engine. Engine coolant can be found at its reservoir is located at the front driver side, clearly marked.
Brake fluid is found at the expected location at the driver side firewall, the reservoir sitting atop an electronically controlled brake unit. The main consumer grade fuse box is just ahead of it with a fuse removal tool included inside.
The 12V battery and windshield washer fluid is easily seen an accessed at the front driver side of the engine bay.
