Subaru Forester SG

The launch range, announced and on sale on 12 February 2002, was the X and X20 (2.0-litre SOHC, naturally aspirated) and the XT (2.0-litre DOHC turbo), all TA-SG5. The naturally aspirated cars came with E-4AT or a dual-range five-speed manual; the XT with E-4AT or a five-speed manual. In the first two weeks Subaru reported 3,000 orders: 60.0% XT, 39.7% X20 and 0.3% X.

That is an order sample, not production. The Cross Sports followed in October 2002, the L.L.Bean editions (X20 and XT) were in the February 2004 range, and the STi Version arrived on 3 February 2004. Subaru's retrospective lists a major revision in January 2005.

Subaru's February 2002 catalogue rates the XT manual at 220 PS (162 kW) at 5,500 rpm and 309 N·m at 3,500 rpm from the intercooled-turbo EJ20. It is 4,450 × 1,735 × 1,585 mm and 1,390 kg, on 215/60R16 tyres with rear discs, and takes premium unleaded. The X20 manual is rated 137 PS (101 kW) and 186 N·m, weighs 1,320 kg, runs 205/70R15 tyres on rear drums, and takes regular from a 50-litre tank. Subaru quotes 200 mm of ground clearance and a 600 mm hip point, and claims about 30 kg less weight than the previous model from body-structure changes and aluminium.

Cross Sports was announced on 24 October 2002 and went on sale on 31 October. The original car has the 2.0-litre turbo with a five-speed manual or a Sportshift E-4AT; the automatic uses VTD-4WD. Subaru lowered it (ground clearance down 30 mm) and held the height to 1,550 mm for multistorey car parks, with inverted front struts.

The October 2002 manual is rated 220 PS and 309 N·m, weighs 1,410 kg and runs 215/55R16 tyres. The revision on sale from 24 June 2005 offers a 2.0i (SOHC, E-4AT) and a 2.0T (turbo, 5MT or E-4AT), with upright front struts and 215/55R17 summer tyres. The 2.0T automatic has VTD-AWD.

Subaru announced the STi Version and put it on sale on 3 February 2004. It uses the 2.5-litre EJ25 turbo rated at 195 kW (265 PS) at 5,600 rpm and 378 N·m at 3,600 rpm net, with a dedicated six-speed manual, torque-sensitive limited-slip differentials front and rear, Brembo brakes and 225/45R18 tyres on 18-inch cast wheels.

The April 2004 catalogue lists the TA-SG9 at 1,490 kg and 8.2:1. The seats are dedicated STi-logo buckets with Alcantara. UK press quotes the standard imported car at 260 bhp, a different unit from Subaru's PS. A revised STI Version was announced on 25 April 2005 and went on sale on 6 May 2005.

Check the chassis number is SG9, the gearbox is the six-speed manual, the brakes are Brembo and the dedicated equipment matches Subaru's specification. Every other documented Japanese SG grade is a 2.0-litre SG5 with a five-speed manual or E-4AT, so an SG5 with STi badges is not an STi Version. Subaru's release lists torque-sensitive limited-slip differentials at the front and rear and does not mention a centre differential or DCCD; no source here establishes DCCD. STi Version production, colour split and surviving-car counts are not established, so no rarity claim is made.

Recall 1220, filed 15 September 2004, covers turbocharged manual cars: low axial force on the oil-control-valve cover bolts could let them loosen under sustained high load and rpm, leaking oil and, in the worst case, causing fire. The remedy is to retighten the bolts. The SG range is SG5-002008 to SG5-035644, built 25 January 2002 to 6 February 2003 (2,749 Foresters listed).

Recall 1788, filed 7 December 2006, covers HID cars fitted with the optional auto-light, where the headlamp auto-levelling might not work; the remedy adds wiring. It lists SG5-103001 to SG5-115845 and SG9-007001 to SG9-007505, built December 2005 to September 2006. Ranges can include unaffected cars, so use Subaru's lookup or a dealer.

US: the age-based safety exemption under 49 CFR 591.5(i) applies at 25 years from the individual car's manufacture date. EPA code E separately uses calendar-year age of at least 21 and requires original unmodified configuration. A replacement engine must be the original model or come, with any aftertreatment, from a certified vehicle no older than the imported car. State rules vary.

Canada: vehicles older than 15 years are outside the Motor Vehicle Safety Act at import; age is primarily the manufacture month and year. CBSA entry requirements still apply. Provincial registration is separate, and some provinces refuse right-hand-drive cars.

Car and Driver describes the US model-year 2004 2.5XT as a custom-made 2.5-litre DOHC turbo rated 210 hp and 235 lb-ft. That is a US specification and does not describe the Japanese 220 PS XT. UK press says the Forester STI was only sold in the Japanese Domestic Market, so a US-market XT is not a factory STi Version, and UK STi cars are imports. UK-market and other export specifications are outside this page.