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Subaru Forester

SH5Stock varies — page stays live

The SH5 chassis represents the third-generation Forester, which transitioned from a wagon-like profile to a traditional compact SUV shape. It offered increased cabin space, double-wishbone rear suspension, and EJ20 powerplants.

Engine
EJ20 2.0L DOHC NA/Turbo
Displacement
1,994 cc
Drive
4WD
Gearbox
4AT / 5MT
Fuel
Petrol
Body
SUV
Subaru Forester SH5Subaru Forester — representative 3rd gen (SH) image

Dimensions & shipping volume

Length
4,560 mm
Width
1,780 mm
Height
1,675 mm
Weight
1,430 kg
Shipping volume
13.6 M³

Manufacture year vs. registration year

Japanese paperwork shows the first registration date, but African customs count age from the month of manufacture. Verify with the chassis serial before purchase:

Serial prefixProduction periodSeries
SH5-1XXXXXXDec 2007 – Sep 2010Early Model (EJ20 engine)
SH5-2XXXXXXOct 2010 – Oct 2012Late Model (EJ20 Turbo)

Import eligibility by country

Age limits are counted from the month of manufacture, not first registration. This SH5 was produced 2007–2012; the statuses below are checked against Jul 2026.

KenyaNot eligible
8-year limit from manufacture — all units now exceed it.
UgandaCheck unit age
Only units manufactured Jul 2011 or later qualify (15-year limit).
TanzaniaEligible
No age ban; vehicles over 10 years pay additional excise duty.
ZambiaEligible
No age limit; surtax applies to vehicles older than 5 years.
MalawiEligible
No age limit; duty calculated on cc and age band.

Common questions about the SH5

Did the SH5 Forester transition to a larger body?
Yes, the SH generation marked a significant increase in height, width, and length to better compete in the growing compact SUV segment.