Subaru’s 2022 Forester named NZ4WD Medium SUV of the Year

The 2022 Subaru Forester has won NZ4WD magazine’s Medium SUV of the Year award.

Although the 2022 Subaru Forester has only just arrived on New Zealand’s shores, it has already won the NZ4WD magazine’s Medium SUV of the Year award.

Subaru’s popular mid-sized SUV, received a mid-life makeover for the 2022 model and has continued to be a top pick for the public and award judges alike.

NZ4WD magazine editor and judge Mark Baker says: “The Forester took its category win with a vehicle that blends Subaru’s outdoorsy image with the practicality of an urban wagon, adding a tougher edge to what is already a sophisticated SUV.”

Subaru of New Zealand’s Managing Director Wallis Dumper says the NZ4WD award is fitting for the durable, capable, family-friendly Forester.

“The current generation Forester’s sales are booming, and it’s sold out through to the second quarter of 2022, with supply an ongoing challenge. Kiwis have acknowledged Forester’s genuine All-Wheel Drive flexibility, which is unrivalled by most medium SUVs on the market.”

The 2022 Forester variants add features to the Subaru EyeSight® clever crash avoidance technology and the suspension and off-road technology have been enhanced for even greater driver confidence.

For more challenging All-Wheel Drive terrain, Subaru’s off-road technology X-Mode has been improved to automatically re-engage once the vehicle speed drops to 35 km/h or less.

Forester models equipped with facial recognition software, which powers the Driver Monitoring System (DMS) also gain gesture-controlled temperature adjustment for the air-conditioning. This new Subaru feature enables drivers to simply wave their hand in front of the DMS to increase the temperature or make a fist to decrease the temperature. This new feature is in addition to the standard DMS functionality, which includes both a personalisation and safety package. It allows you to personalise your settings, as well as having driver distraction and drowsiness alerts.

Subaru’s Forester was awarded New Zealand Car of the Year in 2019, and since then has added to the range, launching the rugged Forester X Sport. Its orange accents,18" black alloy wheels and water repellent upholstery, further boosted sales of this technology-laden model.

Subaru’s 16 Authorised Subaru Centres offer a five-model 2022 Forester line-up, which includes the self-titled Forester, X Sport, Premium, e-Boxer Hybrid and Premium e-Boxer Hybrid variants.

Now in its 25th year of publication, NZ4WD is a leading magazine catering to the 4WD ute and SUV owner and brand audiences in New Zealand.


Read more about the 2022 Subaru Forester here.


Catherine Pattison

Public Relations

Subaru of New Zealand

M  +64 (0)27 44 55 389
E  catherine.pattison@subaru.co.nz

subaru.co.nz