10 THINGS TO EXPECT FROM THE 2025 SUBARU FORESTER

Subaru has been known for its ability to listen to what the consumers had to say since it started shipping cars to the American markets back in 1968. It is a common misconception that the company hit the ground running, taking off from day one as a very successful carmaker. That was not the case, though, because, like most other manufacturers in the industry, they had some ups and downs. One of those ups came in 1995 when Subaru introduced the Forester to the world at the Tokyo Motor Show.

The Subaru Forester was well received by the masses, so production began, and sales started in 1997 for the Japanese market and later in the same year for the American market for the '98 model year. The idea of building a crossover was brought to the industry by Volkswagen engineers, but the Forester was one of the first to actually be sold on the open market.

The current-gen Forester debuted in 2018 and received a mid-cycle refresh in 2021. Six years after its premiere, the sixth generation Forester will hit showrooms, with Subaru hoping that it will be as popular as its predecessors.

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The New Generation Of Forester Will Debut In Spring 2024

Subaru unveiled the 2025 Forester at the 2023 L.A. Auto Show. Though Subaru hasn't announced pricing information, it has stated that the new-gen SUV will appear in showrooms in Spring 2024. Customers will have a choice of five trims.

2025 Subaru Forester Trims

The Base will be the cheapest and will probably have the lowest number of standard offerings. The quality and number of features and price will increase as you climb up the trim ladder, culminating in the Touring trim, which will feature niceties like heated and ventilated front seats. Automakers are seemingly locked in a race to see who can offer the most standard features, which should benefit consumers as they get more value for money. The 2025 Forester will come with a long list of standard equipment.

2025 Subaru Forester Standard Equipment

A Hybrid Forester Will Arrive In 2026

It is not a far stretch to ask for a hybrid powertrain on the next-generation Subaru Forester here in the Northern Hemisphere, especially since it already exists in places like New Zealand and Australia. They would not even have to make a new platform in the assembly plants to build one because the company is already set up to assemble them.

Subaru Confirmed That A Hybrid Forester Will Come To North America

The first hybrid Forester will arrive a year after the sixth-gen model debuts, Subaru head Atsushi Osaki revealed at the L.A. Auto Show. He didn't reveal much about the electrified Forester but said that its release forms part of Subaru's plan to release more electrified models. The hybrid Forester will compete with similar offerings from Toyota the uber-popular RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

The 2025 Forester Features A Redesigned Exterior

The last decade has brought some interesting designs to the market. Just take a look at some of the front ends on SUVs like the Lexus RX. Large grills can make a vehicle look aggressive, which is the look that Subaru has been going after with some changes they have made.

The Forester's Front Fascia Features A More Prominent Grille

The 2025 Subaru Forester's design is an evolution of the fifth-gen's design - elements like a boxy design and a giant glass roof remain. However, the front fascia is new, featuring a larger grille that blends with the LED headlights and an enlarged badge. Black trim lines the flared wheel arches and features on the A-and D-pillars. The slightly modified rear features trendy, partially clear taillamp elements.

Each trim features unique exterior elements that extend into the interior. For instance, the bronze accents that line the outer shell of the Sport variant also appear inside the vehicle. The Base and Premium trim feature 17-inch wheels, the Limited comes with 18-inch rollers, and the Sport and Touring variants get 19 inches.

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The 2025 Forester Features A Slightly Detuned 2.5-Liter Flat Four

Forester fans who were hoping for a sportier 2025 model perhaps expected that it would feature the 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer mill powering the WRX, the last-surviving AWD sedan with a manual. However, realistic observers aware of Subaru's pragmatism knew deep down that the tried and tested 2.5-liter flat-four would remain.

The 2025 Forester's Flat-Four Mill Produces Two Fewer Horsepower Than The Outgoing Engine

The 2025 Forester's naturally aspirated engine produces 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet, while the outgoing model's power unit churns out 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet. Two fewer horsepower and two more pound-feet of torque shouldn't affect the vehicle's performance too much. However, the 2025 Forester might feel more vigorous as peak torque arrives earlier than it did previously.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Has An Improved AWD System

Subaru Says It Has Improved The Forester's AWD System

Power from the 2025 Forester's engine routes to all wheels via a CVT, which features a manual mode in all trims other than Base and is tuned to mimic conventional automatic gearbox shifts at wide-open throttle. Subaru claims it has improved the AWD's systems response time. Trims above the Base get a selectable X-MODE, which improves the AWD system.

The Premium gets X-MODE with Hill Descent Control. Higher variants get a dual-function X-Mode, which allows drivers to tune the AWD system depending on the road surface. Available selections include snow, dirt, and deep snow/mud. All Forester trims get incline start assist, which prevents the vehicle from rolling backward as the car sets off on a hill.

The 2025 Forester Should Handle Better Than The Outgoing Model

The Subaru Forester isn't typically known for its handling - its fame lies in its practicality, efficiency, and simplicity. Nevertheless, Subaru has made some improvements to the Forester's drivability.

The Forester Features Enhanced Electronic Steering

The new Subaru SUV sits on the same platform as the outgoing Forester. However, the 2025 Forester's chassis is 10 percent stiffer thanks to the use of more structural adhesives and welds. Subaru adds that the sixth-gen Forester is more agile and more stable. The automaker's attempts to improve the Forester's handling are visible on the front wheel arches, which feature openings on the trailing edge.

These slots have an aerodynamic function: they provide an avenue for free movement of air from the wheel wells, increasing the Forester's stability at highway speeds. The new Forester also features a dual-pinion electronic power steering plucked from the WRX that's supposed to improve steering feel and responsiveness.

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The Forester Has More Cargo Space And Redesigned Seats

The all-new Forester is slightly wider and longer than the outgoing model, with enhancements that have increased cargo space. Subaru also promises that the Forester's occupants will enjoy riding in the new car more than they did in the departing model.

The 2025 Forester Will Be Quieter Than The 2024 Model

The 2025 Forester features 29.6 cubic feet of space behind the second row, an improvement of 0.7 cubic feet. Lower the rear seats and the volume increases to 74.4 cubic feet. Subaru has made loading cargo easier by installing a hands-free tailgate. Like before, customers on both rows get ample headroom and legroom.

Subaru says it has redesigned the seats to improve comfort and minimize fatigue. The front seats feature trimmed-down shoulder areas, increasing visibility and facilitating easy access to the rear seats. A welcome bit of news for people who frequent vehicle users is that the 2025 Forester should be significantly quieter than the outgoing model.

Next-Generation Subaru Forester Gets A Bigger Infotainment Screen

Sitting inside the new Subaru Forester may inspire a feeling of déjà vu - a sense that you've seen that layout before. That's probably because you have seen it elsewhere, in other Subarus, like the Subaru Outback.

Most 2025 Forester Trims Get an 11.6-inch Infotainment Screen

The fifth-gen Subaru Forester on the market right now comes standard with a 6.5-inch display, with some models giving an optional 8.0-inch screen when ordering. 2025 Forester trims above the Base will feature a vertically-installed 11.6-inch touchscreen running Subaru's Starlink software and equipped with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. With nearly all physical knobs and dials gone, you'll have to control most vehicle and media functions using the screen.

The Base model gets two 7.0-inch displays, with the top one controlling multimedia functions and the bottom screen controlling vehicle settings. All 2025 Forester trims feature a hybrid gauge cluster with a small digital display sandwiched by an analog speedometer and tachometer.

The New-Gen Forester Features The Latest EyeSight Driver Assist Tech

Subaru has long been a leader in car safety, and it is set to raise the bar again when the 2025 Forester debuts with the latest iteration of Subaru EyeSight Drive Assist tech. The Forester will feature improved and new safety features.

The 2025 Forester Features Improved Driver Aids

Subaru claims that EyeSight in the 2025 Forester operates faster and more smoothly thanks to improved software and a wider field of view. The automaker claims that the system can identify pedestrians and cyclists sooner, alerting the driver and applying brakes when necessary.

Standard on the Touring Trim is a system that monitors driver fatigue and attentiveness via a camera trained on their face. If it concludes that a driver using adaptive cruise control is unresponsive, a new feature dubbed emergency stop assist stops the vehicle activates the hazard lights, unlocks the doors, and calls emergency services via Subaru Starlink.

2025 Subaru Forester Driver Aids And Safety Features

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Will The 2025 Subaru Get A Wilderness Trim?

When the 2025 Forester debuts in spring 2024, it'll only be available in the five aforementioned trims. However, there is still no official confirmation from Subaru about a Wilderness trim for the Forester, just yet.

The Wilderness Trim Is Tuned For Off-Roading

Featuring AWD, plastic cladding, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the Forester in stock form has decent off-roading prowess. The Wilderness trim, however, supercharges the Forester's abilities off the beaten track. As observed on the fifth-gen Forester Wilderness, it adds ground clearance, all-terrain tires, enhanced approach, departure, and break-over angles, and off-road hardware.