Subaru Forester
SJ5Stock varies — page stays liveThe SJ5 chassis is the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter variant of the fourth-generation Forester. It introduced the Lineartronic CVT, Subaru's X-Mode AWD control system, and a suite of advanced safety features like EyeSight.
Engine
FB20 2.0L DOHC NA
Displacement
1,995 cc
Drive
4WD
Gearbox
CVT / 6MT
Fuel
Petrol
Body
SUV
Subaru Forester — representative 4th gen (SJ) imageSJ5 in stock now● 6 in stock now
View all in stockChassis variants of the Forester
ChassisEngineDisplacementDriveGearbox
SF5EJ20 2.0L SOHC/DOHC Turbo/NA1,994 cc4WD4AT / 5MTSG5EJ20 2.0L SOHC/DOHC NA/Turbo1,994 cc4WD4AT / 5MTSH5EJ20 2.0L DOHC NA/Turbo1,994 cc4WD4AT / 5MTSHJFB20 2.0L DOHC NA1,995 cc4WD4AT / 5MTSJ5FB20 2.0L DOHC NA1,995 cc4WDCVT / 6MT
Dimensions & shipping volume
Length
4,595 mm
Width
1,795 mm
Height
1,695 mm
Weight
1,460 kg
Shipping volume
13.98 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
SJ5-1XXXXXXNov 2012 – Oct 2015Pre-facelift
SJ5-2XXXXXXOct 2015 – Jun 2018Facelift
Import eligibility by country
Age limits are counted from the month of manufacture, not first registration. This SJ5 was produced 2012–2018; the statuses below are checked against Jul 2026.
KenyaNot eligible
8-year limit from manufacture — all units now exceed it.UgandaEligible
Within the 15-year limit from manufacture.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 SJ5
What is X-Mode in the SJ5 Forester?
X-Mode is an electronic control system that coordinates the engine, transmission, AWD system, and brakes to maximize traction on slippery or rough surfaces.