Launching next month, the refreshed 2015 Subaru Forester 2.0D will get a CVT auto for the first time, with the diesel engine and interior also coming in for revision.

CONSIDERED THE MOST significant change for the Forester range, Subaru has announced it will offer the refreshed 2015 range with a diesel CVT powertrain. Set to launch in March, the 2015 Subaru Forester 2.0D is the first diesel-powered Forester to offer a diesel engine with an automatic transmission, in this case Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT (continuously-variable transmission).

Subaru has borrowed the CVT from the Forester XT for use in the Forester 2.0D. This means, for the first time, the diesel-powered Forester will get Subaru’s X-Mode systems which adjusts the car’s power, torque, brakes and drivetrain to maintain traction.

More than just a new transmission option, the 2015 Forester 2.0D gets a revised engine that’s been tweaked to improve noise, vibration and harshness as well as fuel economy. According to Subaru, “a new common-rail injection system enables more precise combustion control, while new glow plugs speed up engine heating for greater fuel efficiency from a cold start. Other changes include revised turbocharger settings while a new radiator, oil cooler and radiator fans have been adopted for diesel models, aiding engine cooling”.

Specifications of UK-delivered models have already been revealed, but we’ll wait for final confirmation of Australian-spec cars when it’s launched in March. Practical Motoring will be attending the launch, so stay tuned for a first drive of what could be the most important update of the Subaru Forester (as far as sales go, at least) for a very long time.