The boxer gives the Forester punch
The automotive talk today is mostly about batteries and electric vehicles (EVs), but that does not stop Subaru from promoting pistons in its fiery flirtation with internal combustion.
If you are not much of a petrolhead, you would be bemused when the motoring fraternity raves about the power of the boxer under the Subaru hood.
OK, for the newbie, this has nothing to do with the power-packed punch of Muhammad Ali or the Tysonesque exploits of children boxing their way out of the ghettos.
It does refer to the push-pull, in-out, or forward-backwards motion of a boxer’s extended and recoiled fists while standing upright (no – more accurately while lying prone, actually), delivering a one-two punch.
That describes what happens in the Subaru Forester’s combustion chamber’s innards. We delve into the technicalities – and the automotive engineering feat of boxing later.
First, set the scene that makes this SUV – the Subaru Forester 2.0i-L EyeSight to give it its full nameplate designation – tops for utility.
To begin with, it is from the stable of four facelift Foresters available, fully imported from Thailand after the launch in May this year – the 2.0i-L being the base model.
For this test drive, three things were demanded – one, that it could carry a huge load. Secondly, it could open up new vistas for this writer in exploring an off-the-beaten-track destination suitable for relaxation and finally, to travel long distances with speed and safety.
I took possession of the Subaru i-L on a Tuesday morning and had three days of Kuala Lumpur traffic to put it through its city driving mode. Leaving the Motor Image showroom in Petaling Jaya, the marketing spiel to “Experience larger living when you’re confident and secure. Get ready to take on every journey, and make them exciting adventures” rang in my ears.
In the city’s streets, the i-L is not exactly unobtrusive – neither a bulky behemoth nor a smallish shrinking violet.
Its SUV qualities shone through as it easily negotiated tricky ‘terrain’ where roads became flowing brooks with hidden deep ruts due to the seasonal inter-monsoon deluge.
Hence, with the assistance of the X-Mode and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, we overcome the “obstacle course” easily with peace of mind.
Friday allowed me to put the i-L through its paces out of its city comfort zone. It involved a 300km drive from the Sungai Besi toll plaza to the Air Hitam highway exit.
From there, it was on to Batu Pahat, with Parit Raja as the final destination, where a consignment of angling gear and fishing lures was packed and ready to be transported to Kuala Lumpur.
We were rushed for time as the items were to be delivered, unloaded, and put on display at the Martrade exhibition centre by our self-imposed midnight deadline – the same Friday!
Matrade was the venue for a two-day anglers convention called Pasar Pancing that brought together purveyors of fishing gear from simple hooks to steel-hulled and fibreglass boats suitable for fishing at sea.
The return trip had three occupants, which was fine as the car allowed us to fold the rear double-seater – leaving the single-seater upright.
Packed to the gills – yes, we are talking fish after all, and fully loaded – we hit the highway again, this time Kuala Lumpur-bound.
The drive was less spirited and took longer since we arrived in Kuala Lumpur late evening, and the weekend rush to balik kampung in the city’s choke points was pretty bad.
But, we soldiered on in fits and starts, with the i-L ever willing but never plodding to reach the Matrade building around 6pm. That gave the team ample time to set up the intended fishing tackles display booth.
I am glad to say that all the automotive exertions culminated in a successful outcome for a newcomer to the angling accessories outfit over the next 48 hours.
The day after the weekend required the team to transport leftover merchandise and bits of detritus from the event to be carted back to Parit Raja.
The return journey was less hectic, with no deadline, which allowed us to take the i-L off the beaten track.
We heard of a newly opened beach off the Batu Pahat coast called Pantai Sungai Lurus and promptly Wazed our way there.
While the journey was laden with expectations, the destination was a bit of a letdown. We were taken in by the rave reviews (outdated) and pretty pictures (what was pristine 24 months ago is pockmarked and pitifully pathetic, to say the least).
The access roads, the amenities (this is no bathing beach, by the way – more of a beachfront for strolling), and uneven concrete walkways have seen better days.
This beachfront was built during the pandemic and quickly became a go-to recreational destination among locals.
From the rather rundown, unkempt, and rickety facilities on offer, this out-of-towner perhaps won’t be in a hurry for a repeat trip.
So, there you have it. The Subaru Forester i-L did what was demanded, and we got maximum utility from this SUV. (I hasten to add that while the beach foray was a tad disappointing, it opened new vistas anyway!)
This just leaves the clever box-of-trick under the hood that gives this Forester its oomph. Unique to the Subaru stable – save for some models of the Porsche – the ‘boxer’ engine features the horizontal movement of the pistons mimicking a pair of fighters trading punches, in contrast to the usual sequential up-and-down vertical movement of traditional pistons in an engine’s combustion chamber.
This horizontal arrangement results in a lower centre of gravity of the engine – hence giving the entire vehicle better handling characteristics, especially when taking corners. The counter-punching stance of the pistons deadens vibrations and lessens noise intrusion.
The worth of the boxer was borne out during the test drive, especially when we had to manoeuvre past the rutted roads to get to Pantai Sungai Lurus.
Mission accomplished is my verdict for a satisfying outing with this Subaru Forester. There are three other iterations of this, the fifth edition of the brand in Malaysia.
Should there be a need to make a similar expedition, we will know what is up to the task. Well, we know what works, so maybe we opt for the other models in the stable to see how they fare in comparison when Pasar Pancing comes around again.
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