Technology

With a Subaru, you can enjoy the feeling of staying connected on the road, with clever innovations all around. From ground breaking EyeSight® technology, Subaru Vision Assist and seamless smartphone connectivity, we make every drive feel easy.

Subaru Vision Assist - Clever Thinking

Imagine if your wing mirrors could alert you when there’s something in your blind spot. Or if your car could guide you perfectly into a parking spot. We made all this happen – and more – with Subaru Vision Assist technology.

Our proactive safety technologies are always at work.

Blind spot detection: If a vehicle is in your blind spot, a light symbol in your side mirror lights up - on either side of the car - to let you know. Featured on the WRX Premium and WRX STi Premium, Legacy 3.6RS, Outback 2.5i Premium, and Outback 3.6R, XV 2.0i Premium, Forester 2.5 Sport Plus, Forester 2.5 Premium and Levorg 2.0 GT-S models.

Rear cross traffic alert: If you’re reversing and a vehicle drives past behind you, you will receive an audible and visual warning. Perfect for Saturday morning shopping. Featured on WRX Premium, WRX STi Premium, Legacy 3.6RS, Outback 2.5i Premium, Outback 3.6R, XV 2.0i Premium, Forester 2.5 Sport Plus, Forester 2.5 Premium and Levorg 2.0 GT-S models.

Lane change assist: If you’re changing lanes and a fast approaching vehicle is behind you, a light symbol will warn you of its presence.  Featured on WRX Premium, WRX STI Premium, Legacy 3.6RS, Outback 2.5i Premium, Outback 3.6R, XV 2.0i Premium, Forester 2.5 Sport Plus, Forester 2.5 Premium and Levorg 2.0 GT-S models.

Auto-dimming rear view mirror: Hate the glare of night-time driving? When bright headlights fill your rear view mirror, the mirror will auto-dim to minimise the glare. Featured on WRX Premium, WRX STI Premium, Legacy 3.6RS, Outback 2.5i Premium, Outback 3.6R, XV 2.0i Premium and Levorg 2.0 GT-S models.

Auto high beam assist: If you’re approaching oncoming traffic at night, the auto high beam assist will sense on coming vehicles and automatically switch to low beam. Featured on WRX Premium, WRX STI Premium, XV 2.0i Premium and Levorg 2.0 GT-S models.

Adaptive high beam: Subaru's EyeSight high-performance stereo cameras accurately detect the presence of vehicles ahead and in oncoming lanes, and with adapative high eam can smoothly adjust the range of the high beams in a continuous range by means of shields inside the headlights. Adaptive high beam makes it possible to obtain plenty of visibility for safe, comfortable night-time driving, without the need to worry about disturbing other drivers with high beams. Featured on Forester Sport Plus, Forester Premium, Outback 2.5 Premium, Outback 3.6R, Legacy 2.5 Premium and Legacy 3.6RS. 

Side view monitor: While you’re reverse parking, side view monitor indicates the distance from the kerb or a parked vehicle. Perfect for guiding you into that parallel parking spot.  Featured on MY18 WRX Premium and WRX STi Premium models, Outback 2.5 Premium, Outback 3.6R, Forester 2.5 Sport Plus and Forester 2.5 Premium. 

Front View Monitor: Designed for areas with poor visibility such as intersections and enclosed parking spaces, front view monitor lets you check the area immediately in front of the car on the Multi Function Display (MFD). Available on WRX Premium, WRXI STi Premium and Levorg 2.0 GT-S models, Outback 2.5 Premium, Outback 3.6R, Forester 2.5 Sport Plus and Forester 2.5 Premium. 

Driver Monitoring System (DMS)

Our newest safety feature, the Driver Monitoring System debuts in new Forester, adding further convenience and safety.

We believe this advanced system is a first within this category, not only having the potential to detect driver distraction and drowsiness, but automatically alerts them. Using Facial Recognition Technology, DMS also sets up driver preferences within the cabin to personalise your drive. A dedicated camera installed in the visor of the Multi-Function Display, recognises the driver’s face and constantly monitors the seat area. Up to five drivers can be registered in the system, which greets each driver when they get behind the wheel of the Forester and adjusts the cabin environment tailored to their preferences.

Personalise your drive: The Forester is the first Subaru that can recognise the driver and adjust to your personal preferences. When the driver is seated, the cameras detect the driver and automatically adjust to the drivers preferred door mirror angle, Multi Function Display settings, air conditioning settings, seat position and other instrument cluster displays.

Wandering Eyes: Another feature of the Driver Monitoring System is a Wandering Gaze Warning – if the driver continues to look away from the road ahead the system warns both passengers and the driver through a visual and audio alert. The Driver Monitoring System can also detect if the driver is dozing or getting drowsy. This warning system once again uses facial recognition technology to determine if the driver is dozing off – this is presumed if they continue to close their eyes while driving. Drowsiness is recognized by calculating the time ratio the driver’s eyes are closed.

Find out more about this new safety technology on the Subaru Forester here.

^{DMS currently available on the Forester 2.5 Sport Plus and Forester 2.5 Premium models and e-Boxer Hybrid Forester models.} 

Lineartronic™ :

Lineartronic™ is the world’s first longitudinally mounted system for AWD production vehicles. Unlike a conventional automatic transmission, which uses fixed gear ratios, our Lineartronic provides infinite variability between the highest and lowest available ratios with no discernable steps or shifts. It delivers a smooth gear change by selecting the optimum gear ratio for the driving condition at that particular moment in time.
There is the option to choose ‘manual mode’ by using the paddle gear shifts on the steering wheel/column or by moving the gear shift to manual mode. If this option is preferred, there are 6 preselected gear ratios to use.

Lineartronic™ is available in all our models except for the WRX STi. Please check the full feature list for each model to confirm.

Stay Connected with Intuitive Infotainment:

Your favourite music at the ready. Sat Nav guiding the way. USB ports and AUX jacks close at hand. Smartphone responding to your voice. We’ve thought of hundreds of ways to make your drive more fun, more connected.

Our integrated infotainment system includes AM/FM radio, a CD player, as well as the ability for wireless Bluetooth®¹ connectivity to play music from your own smarkphone, or on selected models, connect via USB to use Apple CarPlay™ or Android Auto™. 

Use our bigger and brighter touch-screens with ease, thanks to intuitive navigation and touch, swipe and pinch functionality. Or make it even more of a breeze by activating voice commands. All the while our helpful Sat Nav tells you where to go.

Check out each model to find out which features come as standard. 

EyeSight®:

EyeSight® driver assist technology was developed to help keep you much safer on the roads. It’s like your second pair of eyes, spotting potentially dangerous situations like cyclists up ahead.

Read more about our award winning technology along with other Subaru safety features and technology here.

1. Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG Inc. System operation ability is subject to Bluetooth® wireless technology specification of individual phone.