The kilometers fly for the Subaru. A aptitude test is on the agenda: a trip with caravan. The Forester seems to be put in the cradle for that. With caravan manufacturer Kip in Hoogeveen we hook up a vision, with a maximum total weight of 1,200 kg in principle a breeze for the SOEB.
How often have you encountered a Subaru Forester with caravan, tandem axle or horse trailer? It seems rather rule than the exception. Logical, the Subaru has the right genes to make a trip with a heavy trailer a success. Reliable technology, four -wheel drive and a high towing weight. No less than 1,870 kg is allowed behind our endurance tester. That is quite a lot, given the modest engine power. The four -cylinder boxer has no turbo, so the maximum torque is only released at a fairly high speed (182 Nm by 4,000 rpm). The lack of instant decisiveness comes especially if you want to insert or catch up quickly.
Despite the two bicycles on the drawbar, the rear suspension hardly drops.
The engine is linked to a continuous variable transmission (CVT) and between the moment of full gas and actually acceleration is just a little too much time. That is why we are extra curious how that will go with a caravan on the towbar. Is the two -liter boxer able to quickly get the three -tons -weighing combination and then keep it up to speed? There is only one way to find out: test.
Sufficient living space
The vision that we take with us is the largest model of chicken. It is 5.74 meters long, 2.10 meters wide, weighs 860 kg and costs at least € 31,500. In addition to the showroom in Utrecht, you can also go to the factory in Hoogeveen for a chicken, where a small museum has even been set up on the first floor. Just like the small shelter and the slightly larger compact – both around 1.85 meters wide – the vision also has a lifting roof. This way you have a less high fence behind the car.
At Kip Caravans in Hoogeveen you will find a nice museum on the first floor.
In the front part is a large sitting group that can be transformed into a bed of almost two by two meters. In the intermediate part the kitchen and in the rear part there is two seats and a table. More than enough living space for two people and expanded with the easy -to -set awning (additional cost € 1,295), although with such a fixed canopy with cranks you are ready even faster. With the roof up you have a standing height of just over two meters, only then you have to stoop again to get out through the much lower door.
Spacious and light interior with a seating area that can be converted into a bed of almost two by two meters.
We set course for the Belgian Ypres, where we have reserved a place at the Urban Gardens city campsite. Driving with a caravan is always getting used to. No more visibility in the interior mirror, not too tight and plan extra space when crossing, given the length and the slower acceleration. Because the chicken is wider than the soeb, we mount a set of caravan levels. You also feel the extra weight that presses on the bullet, but the rear feathers and shock absorbers know how to compensate well.
The awning can be set up quickly, under the lifting roof the Vision offers almost two meters of headroom.
With the passing of the kilometers it starts to get used to it. On the highway we set the cruise control at 100 km/h. This way we are slightly above the legal maximum, but it is a lot more pleasant if you catch up with a truck. Another option is to simply linger behind a truck. In most cases it comes down to a speed of about 90 km/h on the counter and in combination with the adaptive cruise control you will ride extremely relaxed. And of course a little more economical. What is also striking is the stability of the entire combination. The Subaru Forester cannot be brought up and the chicken follows its track without swinging.
Headwind yields a lot of extra consumption
We are talking about the consumption, first of all keeping the performance up to the light. The boxer has to struggle a lot to get to speed from a standstill. The stepless machine allows the engine speed to rise to around 4,000 rpm, but if you push the accelerator pedal a little less deep, it will switch to one of the pre -programmed moves. Once up at speed, the tachometer needle is often near the two thousand, to walk to three thousand at a climb in the Belgian hills. Anyway, the engine seems to have no problem holding the speed and is hardly audible at constant speed. That also has to do with the slightly too prominent rolling noise of the tires.
The solid additional consumption is financially compensated in Belgium at the pump.
On the outward journey we note an average consumption of 11.5 l/100 km after refueling (1 in 8.7). Very acceptable. If we had driven this ride at the same speed without a caravan, that would be approximately 7L/100 km, we know from experience. On the return trip there is strong wind on the combination. You feel that and it can be seen at the constantly higher speed. Unfortunately also on the consumption: 13.7 l/100 km (1 in 7.3). But in this case the Forester has realized its reputation as a draft horse and the chicken as a pleasant travel companion.
The Kilometers Fly by For The Subaru. A Test of Competence is on the agenda: a trip with a caravan. The Forester Seems born for this. At Caravan Manufacturer Chicken in Hoogeveen, We Hook Up A Vision, With A Maxim Total Weight of 1,200 kg, in principle a piece of cake for the soeb.
How Often Have You Come Across A Subaru Forester with A Caravan, Tandem Axle, Or Horse Trailer? It seems more the rule than the exception. Logically, the Subaru Has the Right Genes to Make a Trip With a Heavy Trailer A Success. Reliable Technology, Four-Wheel Drive, and A High Towing Capacity. No less than 1,870 kg is Allowed Beind Our Long-Term Test Vehicle. That’s QUITE A LOT, Considering the Modest Engine Power. The Four-Cylinder Boxer Doesn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn’tn, So The Maxim Torque is only released at a fairly high RPM (182 Nm at 4,000 RPM). The Lack of Instant Power is eSpeciate NoticeBey when you want to merge or overtake quickly.
Despite the Two Bicycles on the Drawbar, The Rear Suspension Hardly Sags.
The Engine is Coupled to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), and there’s just a bit too much time between the moment you fully depress the gas pedal and actually acceleration. That’s why we’re extra curious how that will go with a caravan on the Tow bar. Is the Two-Liter Boxer Able to Get the Combination, which Quickly Weighs Three Tons, Going and Then Keep It At Speed? There’s only one way to find out: testing.
Sufficient Living Space
The Vision We’re Taking Along is Kip’s Largest Model. It’s 5.74 Meters Long, 2.10 Meters Wide, Weighs 860 kg Empty, and Costs at Least € 31,500. BEENIJNES THE SHOWROOM in Utrecht, You can also go to the chicken factory in Hoogeveen, where there is just a small museum on the first floor. Like the Small Shelter and the Slightly Larger Kompakt – Both Around 1.85 Meters Wide – The Vision also has a lifting roof. This gives you a less high fence behind the car.
At Kip Caravans in Hoogeveen, You’ll Find A Nice Museum On The First Floor.
In The Front Part, There’s A Large Seating Area that Can Be Transformed Into A Bed of Almost Two by Two Meters. In the middle part, the Kitchen is and in the Rear Part, Two Seats and A Table. More than Enough Living Space for Two People and Expandable with the Easily Set-Up Awning (Additional Cost € 1.295), Althegh You’re Ready Even Faster with Such A Fixed Awning with A Crank. With the roof up, you have an interior height of just about two meters, but then you have to bend down a lot to get out through the much lower by.
Spacious and Light Interior With A Seating Area In The Front That Can Be Converted Into A Bed of Almost Two by Two Meters.
We set Course Towards Ypres in Belgium, where we have reserved a spot at the urban gardens city campsite. Driving with a caravan always take some getting used to. No More Visibility in The Rearview Mirror, Not Taking Corners Too Sharply, And Planning Extra Space When Crossing, Given the Length and Slower Acceleration. Because the chicken is wider than the soeb, we mount a set of caravan mirrors. Furthermore, you Feel the Extra Weight Pressing on the Ball, But The Rear Springs and Shock Absorbers Compensate for That Well.
The Awning is Quick to Set Up; Under the Lifting Roof, The Vision Offers Almost Two Meters of Headroom.
As the kilometers pass, you start to get used to it. On the highway, we set the cruise control to 100 km/h. That’s slightly above the legal maximum, but it’s a lot nicer when you overtake a truck. Another Option is to simply hang behind a truck. In most cases, that come down to a speed of around 90 km/h on the speedometer, and in combination with the adaptive cruise control, you drive extremely relaxed. And of Course, A Little More Economical. What is also noticeable is the stability of the entire combination. The Subaru Forester Cannot Be Disturbed and the Chicken Follows Its Track Without Swaying.
Headwind Results in a lot or extra consumption
We’ll talk about consumption in A Moment, But First, Let’s Examine the Performance. The boxer does indeed have to work hard to get up to speed from a standstill. The Stepless Automatic Transmission Lets the Engine RPM Rise to About 4.000 RPM, But If You Depress The Gas Pedal A Little Less, It Shifts to One of the Pre-Programmed Gears. Once at Speed, the Needle of the Rev Counter is of Near Two Thousand, Only to Rise to Three Thousand Duration a Climb in the Belgian Hills. Anyway, the Engine Doessn’t Seem to Have Any Trouble Maintaining the Speed and Is Barely Audible at A Constant Speed. That also has to do with the slightly too prominent rolling noise of the tires.
The Substantial Extra Consumption is financial compensated at the Pump in Belgium.
On the outward journey, we record An Average Consumption or 11.5 L/100 km (1 in 8.7) After refueling. Very Acceptable. We had driven this ride at the same speed wood a caravan, it would have leg about 7l/100 km, we know from experience. On the Return Journey, Strong Wind Buffets The Combination. You can feel that, and it can be seen in the constantly higher rpm. Unfortunately, also in consumption: 13.7 l/100 km (1 in 7.3). But in this case, the forester has lived up to its reputation as a workhorse and the chicken as a pleasant travel companion.