Subaru Forester
SH5Stock varies — page stays liveThe third-generation Forester departed from the traditional station-wagon appearance to become a modern, spacious compact SUV. The SH5 chassis utilized the reliable EJ20 boxer engine, featuring enhanced double-wishbone rear suspension and a significantly roomier passenger cabin.
Engine
EJ20 DOHC / EJ205 Turbo
Displacement
1,994 cc
Drive
4WD
Gearbox
4AT / 5MT
Fuel
Petrol
Body
SUV
Subaru Forester — representative 3rd gen (SH) imageChassis variants of the Forester
ChassisEngineDisplacementDriveGearbox
SG5EJ20 DOHC / SOHC1,994 cc4WD4AT / 5MTSH5EJ20 DOHC / EJ205 Turbo1,994 cc4WD4AT / 5MT
SHJFB20 DOHC NA1,995 cc4WD4AT / 5MTDimensions & 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
SH5-002001XXXXXXDec 2007 – Sep 2010Pre-facelift (Applied Model A-B)
SH5-085001XXXXXXOct 2010 – Oct 2012Facelift (Applied Model C-D)
Import eligibility by country (2007–2012)
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
What is the key difference between the SH5 and SHJ chassis?
The SH5 is powered by the older belt-driven EJ20 engine, whereas the SHJ (introduced late 2010) features the next-generation, chain-driven FB20 engine.
Does the SH5 utilize a timing belt or timing chain?
The SH5 uses a rubber timing belt that requires routine replacement every 100,000 kilometers (60,000 miles) or 7 years.