SG · 2002–2008
The turbo XT arrives, and a JDM-only Forester STi that never crossed the Pacific.
Introduced at the 2002 Chicago Auto Show as a 2003 model, this generation added a turbocharged XT trim to the US lineup in 2004, with a 2006 update raising compression and power to 230 hp / 235 lb-ft — an engine reportedly named International Engine of the Year in 2006. Separately, and JDM-only, Subaru built a 2004 Forester STi using most of the WRX STi's running gear on an EJ255-block turbo four (265 PS / 261 hp, 186 lb-ft) with the WRX STi's six-speed manual, claimed at 5.2 seconds 0–60 mph — confirming that a Forester STi existed, but exclusively in Japan (and possibly other non-US markets not yet confirmed in the research corpus).
US-market XT turbo trim from 2004; a separate Forester STi was built in 2004 but sold exclusively in Japan — never offered in the US.
CoverageGeneration tracer-bullet · 23 July 2026
Powertrain
Engine options
| Engine | Years | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|
| XT Turbo (US, 2006 update) | 2006–2008 | 230 hp | 235 lb-ft |
| Forester STi (JDM-only) | 2004 | 265 PS / 261 hp | 186 lb-ft |
Configuration
Trims and transmissions
The JDM Forester STi is a genuinely different car from the US XT trim — full WRX STi drivetrain versus a Forester-tuned turbo four — and was never federalized for US sale.
Identify & buy
Identification and ownership notes
A US-market car claiming 'Forester STi' badging would be inconsistent with the documented JDM-only sale of that model.