Getting tired of Black Edition models from any number of automakers" Too bad! Subaru has belatedly entered the fray with a new $1150 Black Edition option package for its 2018 Forester crossover. The kit is only available on the 2.5i Premium model, which sits above the base 2.5i and below the Limited and Touring iterations.

Predictably, the Black Edition comes with black-painted 18-inch wheels, black exterior trim, and a black cloth and faux-leather interior with silver and gloss-black dashboard trim. The option can only be combined with the 2.5i Premium automatic model?so you can’t get the stick-shift available on the 2.5i Premium without the Black gear?but the Black Edition does get the paddle shifters that are normally reserved for the turbocharged 2.0XT models. The 2.5i Premium Black Edition also includes hill descent control, adaptive LED headlights, special silver stitching on the steering wheel and shift knob, floor mats, heated mirrors and windshield spray nozzles, and heated front seats. All-in, this darkened Forester will set buyers back $28,260. As for the rest of the Forester lineup, Subaru applies only minor changes to each version’s equipment levels and pricing. Top-of-the-line Touring models now come standard with Subaru’s camera-based EyeSight active safety gear (automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning). The setup remains optional on the Premium and Limited, although every EyeSight-equipped ...