6th Generation Offers More Modern Design; Hybrid Coming
The 2025 Forester, making its debut this past week (November 16, 2023) at the 116th Los Angeles Auto Show, will be on-sale in dealers in the spring of 2024. Subaru gave members of the automotive media a first-look earlier in November in Santa Barbara where we spoke with team members that have been working on the all-new Forester for the past several years. One of the biggest pieces of news they dropped on us at the very end of the presentation was the Forester will be offered with a hybrid system at some point. No estimated date was revealed but we would expect it to be for the 2026 model year.
The current fifth generation Subaru Forester, all-new in 2019, has been one of Subaru’s best-selling models. So any redesign had better be spot-on by offering a fresh look while not straying too far from what will sit well with loyal (and they are very loyal!) Subaru owners.
With a redesigned, more modern exterior, increased body stiffness to meet new more stringent crash standards, additional sound insulation, improved seat comfort, a more contoured dash and doors, upgraded connectivity and improved driver safety systems, the 2025 Subaru Forester should remain one of its best-selling models. No reason messing-up a good thing!
Clean Fleet Report will get behind the wheel of the 2025 Forester sometime early next year at which point we will give a full review of its features, performance, ride comfort and pricing. Until then, this is some of what we know so far and a quick look at it in action.
A new look for the 2025 Forester
2025 Subaru Forester Details
Trims
Base
Premium
Sport
Limited
Touring
*Wilderness was hinted but not confirmed*
 Powertrain
The 2.5L boxer engine returns
5-liter 4-cylinder, naturally aspirated, boxer engine
180 horsepower
178 pound-feet of torque
Direct injection with electronic throttle control
87 octane gasoline
Transmission
Lineartronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)
Eight preset ‘gear’ ratios
Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters
Handling and Suspension
Symmetrical all-wheel drive
4-wheel independent suspension
Front: McPherson-type struts, coil springs, stabilizer bar, lower L-arms
Rear: Double wishbone, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Active torque vectoring
Electronic Traction Control
Dual-pinion electronic power steering rack
Electronically controlled power-assisted 4-wheel anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution
Tires with Alloy Wheels
Subaru’s big (19-inch) wheels
Base and Premium: 17-inch
Limited: 18-inch
Sport and Touring: 19-inch
Off-Road
7-inch ground clearance
Subaru Symmetrical all-wheel drive system
Premium trim: Single X-Mode with hill descent control and incline start assist
Sport, Limited and Touring trims: Dual-function X-Mode and incline start assist
Exterior
All-new design with smoother lines and door panels
Larger fenders and wheel arches for off-road driving
Front, side and rear under guards
Deeper and wider front grille integrating the LED headlights
Larger, wrap-around LED taillights
Abundant glass area ensures good visibility
Standard roof rails
Stiffer unibody, increased use of structural adhesives for reduced squeaks and rattles
Increased insulation in roof and front seat areas
Interior
An updated dash
New design with a seamless contour from the instrument panel and dash onto the doors
Five adult seating
Front seat support has been increased to enhance comfort and reduce fatigue
All-weather package includes: wireless phone charger, heated seats, mirrors and wipers
Dual-zone climate system designed to focus on occupied seats versus the cabin space
Base: 7.0-inch high-resolution color touchscreen
Limited, Sport and Touring: Tablet-style 11.6-inch vertical, high-resolution color touchscreen
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
AM/FM HD Radio and SiriusXM
Bluetooth for hands-free phone and audio streaming
Starlink, Tom Tom and SiriusXM Travel Link navigation system with voice activation
Rear vision camera
USB A and C ports and power outlets
Heavy-duty utility hooks in rear cargo area: 3 on each side wall and two on the rear gate
Kick-sensor hands-free power lift gate
60:40 split rear folding seat back
Safety
A new exterior
Starlink safety and security connected services include SOS emergency assistance, enhanced roadside assistance, automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle recovery service and vehicle security alarm notification, remote lock/unlock, remote horn and lights and remote vehicle locator
Rear seat reminder alerting driver to check the rear seat for passengers or pets
Top safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA for the 2024 Forester (same expected for the all-new 2025 Forester)
An available 360º Surround View monitor combining images from four cameras to create a bird’s-eye view
Standard on all 2025 Forester trims: EyeSight Driver Assist Technology
Standard on the Touring trim: The Driver Focus Distraction Mitigation System utilizes a camera angled at the driver’s face and facial recognition software to monitor fatigue or lack of attention
Available automatic emergency steering, blind-spot detection with lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert and reverse automatic braking
On-Sale Date and Pricing
On-sale in the spring of 2024
Pricing for all five trim levels, options, packages and the mandatory delivery fee will be revealed just prior to going on sale
Observations: 2025 Subaru Forester
As close as we got to getting behind the wheel
As we said at the outset, a redesigned, more modern exterior and interior, beefed up body and NVH (noise-vibration-harshness), upgraded connectivity, and improved advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), Subaru is clearly planning on the Forester remaining one of its best-selling models.
But what about a Wilderness package that would make it the most rugged and trail-capable of all the Forester models? Stay tuned. A hybrid is coming and that’s good news!
Make sure to opt-in to the Clean Fleet Report newsletter (top right of page) to be notified of all new stories and vehicle reviews.
Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Subaru
Our past Subaru Forester experience:
Flash Drive:Â 2022 Subaru Forester
Road Test: 2019 Subary Forester
Road Test:Â 2014 Subaru Forester
The post News: All-New 2025 Subaru Forester Introduced first appeared on Clean Fleet Report.
