2013 Subaru Forester Diesel Manual-only, XV Sticking With Petrol

Subaru's upcoming 2013 Forester range will leave buyers without the choice of an automatic transmission in diesel models, while the XV crossover will soldier on with petrol-only options.

The strong-selling Forester has been without an automatic diesel option since the oiler first joined the local range in 2010, but an auto option was expected to appear with the 2013 model.

However, no such option appeared on the new model’s spec sheet at Subaru’s recent 2013 Forester preview event.

Elsewhere in the range, the new flagship XT 2.0 litre turbo petrol model will go CVT auto-only, dropping the six-speed manual option available in the outgoing range.

Automatic transmissions generally offer driveability benefits when teamed with modern diesels, with an auto often better-matched to a diesel’s torque delivery.

Asked whether a turbodiesel automatic will ever join the Forester range, Subaru Australia boss Nick Senior acknowledged the demand from buyers, but added only that there are no current plans for such an option.

Subaru Australia PR boss David Rowley shared similar sentiments earlier in the year: "It's fair to say that we're well aware of the pent-up demand for auto diesels." 

With manual-biased Europe and the petrol-preferring US soaking up demand for Subaru's production capacity, it remains to be seen if we'll ever seen an automatic diesel Forester, or a diesel XV.

Since 2011, the Forester has slid from its long-held top ranking in the Medium SUV segment, falling behind the Nissan X-Trail, Mazda CX-5, and Toyota RAV4.