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SUBARU Forester 1997-2000 Photos, engines & full specs

Body style: SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle)
Segment: Crossover
Production years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

SUBARU Forester 1997-2000 3 Photos
SUBARU Forester (1997-2000)SUBARU Forester (1997-2000)SUBARU Forester (1997-2000)

Without any experience in the off-road segment, but with vast experience in all-wheel drive technology, Subaru introduced the Forester crossover in 1997 and fueled people's desire for these kinds of leisure vehicles.

At the beginning of the '90s, the MPV mania was on top of most carmakers' lists. Whoever couldn't make a minivan by itself forged alliances with their competitors to fill that segment with something. But Subaru thought differently. It took the successful Impreza platform, built a new bodywork on top of it, and created the Forester.

While the people from Subaru were visionary in terms of technology, they lacked in terms of design, and the Forester is living proof for that. It looked more like a heightened station wagon than an SUV. Its flat, low front fascia had an appropriate size for a compact hatchback. But the steep, slim A-pillars and the high roof looked like they were carried over from a Toyota Land Cruiser. One bonus point for the frameless doors, which was already a Subaru signature since most of the cars produced by them shared the same idea. At the back, the flat, almost vertical tailgate was designed to provide a maximum opening width.

Inside, there was a simple dashboard design with an instrument cluster where the classic four-dial panel gathered the fuel gauge, followed by the speedometer, tachometer, and the coolant temperature on the right. Still, the odometer was shown on a small LCD. Thanks to the tall greenhouse, the carmaker could install higher-mounted seats, and that led to better legroom for the rear passengers.

Under the hood, Subaru placed the same boxer-four engine carried over from the Impreza, mated to a standard five-speed manual gearbox that sent the power in all corners.

SUBARU Forester 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
  2 gasoline engines
  • 2.0L 5MT AWD (125 HP)
  • 2.0L Turbo 5MT AWD (170 HP)

SUBARU Forester
2.0L 5MT AWD (125 HP)

ENGINE SPECS - 2.0L 5MT AWD (125 HP)
Cylinders:L4
Displacement:1994 cm3
Power:92 KW @ 5600 RPM
125 HP @ 5600 RPM
123 BHP @ 5600 RPM
Torque:136 lb-ft @ 3600 RPM
184 Nm @ 3600 RPM
Fuel System:Multipoint Injection
Fuel:Gasoline
Fuel capacity:15.9 gallons (60.2 L)
PERFORMANCE SPECS
Top Speed:111.2 mph (179 km/h)
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph):11.4 s
TRANSMISSION SPECS
Drive Type:All Wheel Drive
Gearbox:5-Speed manual
BRAKES SPECS
Front:Ventilated Discs
Rear:Drums
TIRES SPECS
Tire Size:205/70 R15
DIMENSIONS
Length:175.2 in (4450 mm)
Width:68.5 in (1740 mm)
Height:63 in (1600 mm)
Front/rear Track:58.3/57.1 in (1,481/1,450 mm)
Wheelbase:99.2 in (2520 mm)
Ground Clearance:8.9 in (226 mm)
Cargo Volume:14.4 cuFT (408 L)
WEIGHT SPECS
Unladen Weight:2744.7 lbs (1245 kg)
Gross Weight Limit:4133.7 lbs (1875 kg)
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC)
City:19.7 mpg US (11.9 L/100Km)
Highway:31.8 mpg US (7.4 L/100Km)
Combined:26.1 mpg US (9 L/100Km)
CO2 Emissions:215 g/km

SUBARU Forester
2.0L Turbo 5MT AWD (170 HP)

ENGINE SPECS - 2.0L Turbo 5MT AWD (170 HP)
Cylinders:L4
Displacement:1994 cm3
Power:125 KW @ 5600 RPM
170 HP @ 5600 RPM
168 BHP @ 5600 RPM
Torque:177 lb-ft @ 3200 RPM
240 Nm @ 3200 RPM
Fuel System:Multipoint Injection
Fuel:Gasoline
Fuel capacity:15.9 gallons (60.2 L)
PERFORMANCE SPECS
Top Speed:123 mph (198 km/h)
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph):8.4 s
TRANSMISSION SPECS
Drive Type:All Wheel Drive
Gearbox:5-Speed manual
BRAKES SPECS
Front:Ventilated Discs
Rear:Discs
TIRES SPECS
Tire Size:215/60 R16
DIMENSIONS
Length:175.2 in (4450 mm)
Width:68.5 in (1740 mm)
Height:63 in (1600 mm)
Front/rear Track:58.3/57.1 in (1,481/1,450 mm)
Wheelbase:99.2 in (2520 mm)
Ground Clearance:8.9 in (226 mm)
Cargo Volume:14.4 cuFT (408 L)
WEIGHT SPECS
Unladen Weight:2932.1 lbs (1330 kg)
Gross Weight Limit:4299 lbs (1950 kg)
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC)
City:18.4 mpg US (12.8 L/100Km)
Highway:28.7 mpg US (8.2 L/100Km)
Combined:23.7 mpg US (9.9 L/100Km)
CO2 Emissions:236 g/km
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