Subaru's latest special edition, the Forester XT-Edition, celebrates 50 years of AWD for the brand. This new edition, based on the base Sport trim, boasts a range of visual upgrades, such as Geyser Blue paintwork and 18-inch dark metallic aluminum wheels. Inside, Blaze Gun metallic is the accent color, and the upholstery is made of water-repellant fabric and synthetic leather. Subaru has also included the EyeSight Safety Plus driver-assistance suite.

The JDM Foresters come with a 1.8-liter direct-injection turbo motor, which sends 174 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque to all corners via the Lineartronic CVT. American models, on the other hand, get a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated motor with 182 hp and 176 lb-ft. Although priced at 3,355,000 Yen, the XT-Edition is pretty affordable for an AWD crossover.

However, some critics have pointed out that Subaru could have done better than a mere design package to pay homage to one of the world's most accomplished AWD systems. They also suggest that a better name could have been chosen for the XT-Edition. Perhaps the next-gen Forester, rumored to feature a Toyota-derived hybrid system, will be more appealing when it is revealed next year. Until then, US buyers can enjoy the affordable pricing of the fifth-gen Forester for the 2023 model year.