2025 Subaru Forester

Overview

The compact Forester SUV is all-new for 2025, and it's a dramatic update—at least on paper. This is the two-row, five-passenger Forester's sixth generation, and it offers more passenger space and a quieter ride than the previous model. While its looks have been modernized, it's still recognizable as a Forester, continuing the well-known formula that has made it a long-term success. Every Forester comes with a flat-four engine, all-wheel drive, a continuously variable transmission, and enough extra ground clearance to comfortably handle moderate off-road treks. And like its many competitors, the Forester's tidy size makes it both garageable and easier to stuff into crowded urban parking spaces than larger three-row SUVs like Subaru's own Ascent. While meaningfully improved in many categories, the 2025 Forester hasn't been granted the one enhancement we value most: driving enjoyment.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

#10 in Best Compact SUVs

1

Honda CR-V

STARTING AT: $30,850

2

Mazda CX-50

STARTING AT: $31,720

3

Volkswagen Tiguan

STARTING AT: $30,305

4

Mazda CX-5

STARTING AT: $30,720

5

Ford Bronco Sport

STARTING AT: $31,390

10

Subaru Forester

STARTING AT: $31,090

What's New for 2025?

The Forester enters 2025 with a fresh exterior design and a moderately updated chassis. It still offers all-wheel drive as standard, and its powertrain is virtually the same as the one employed by the outgoing Forester—although a hybrid will be added to the lineup later on. There's a new electric power-steering rack onboard, which Subaru says shares components with the feisty WRX performance sedan, and a new foot-activated hands-free power tailgate joins the options list. The new Forester goes on sale in spring 2024.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The Forester has a sweet host of standard features, including remote keyless entry, LED headlights, and "welcome lighting," which casts a beam of light on the exterior front door handles at night. We recommend the Sport trim level because it's a good mix of equipment, appearance, and price within the Forester lineup. The Forester Sport gets attractive bronze trim and exclusive wheels, including some additional creature comforts such as heated front seats and a good-sized 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen. Interestingly, Subaru says the current 2024 Forester Wilderness will continue alongside the new 2025 Forester models until an unnamed future date; we expect the Wilderness trim to move to the new model in 2026. Price for the 2024 Forester Wilderness remains unchanged at $36,265.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Under the hood is a 2.5-liter flat-four engine, a continuously variable transmission, and all-wheel drive. Output is a meek 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. Subaru says a hybrid powertrain is coming next year. Although the Forester uses a dual-pinion electronic power steering rack similar to what Subaru installs in the WRX sports sedan, the SUV isn't nearly as fun to drive. Steering feedback is minimal and the suspension is tuned for comfort above all else. Pitch the Forester into a corner at speed and you'll feel a little wiggle in the rear end, which can feel unnerving in that second before it settles in. If your driving style is more sedate and you're hoping for a plush ride, the Forester delivers exactly that.

0–60-MPH Times

At our test track, the Forester Sport we sampled dragged itself to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds, its flat-four engine groaning along the way. Around town, acceleration feels more than adequate though, and under light throttle, the engine's gruff demeanor isn't as noticeable.

View Photos

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

EPA fuel economy estimates for the 2025 Forester land at 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, with the exception of the Sport and Touring trims, which give up 1 mpg in each measure. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route, the Sport trim we tested managed 31 mpg. For more information about the Forester's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The two-row Forester is a politely comfortable affair. Starting with mid-level trims on up, its interior offers a good mix of materials, including a leather-wrapped gear selector and heated and ventilated front seats. A spacious back seat offers plenty of head, hip, and leg room for adults, while the rear cargo space, even while that second row is in use, is spacious. The rear seats split 60/40 and, when folded flat, open up 75 cubic feet of cargo space. Subaru claims the new-generation Forester has more sound dampening than before, which should result in a quieter cabin. Every Forester also comes with roof rails. A hands-free powered tailgate has been added as an available feature.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

Inside, a large 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard on all but base models. The system comes standard with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability. The system also includes a wireless smartphone charging pad. The base model gets a dual 7.0-inch display similar to what was on the previous-generation Forester, which incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

All models come standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite of camera-based driver-assistance features. For more information about the Forester's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking
• Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

The Forester's warranty is basic, and buyers will be paying out of pocket for maintenance visits. Rivals such as the Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson, both of which offer a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and the RAV4, which offers two years of complimentary scheduled maintenance, all provide more value here than the Subaru.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

Specifications

Specifications

2025 Subaru Forester Sport
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $35,890/$37,590
Options: Harman/Kardon stereo, power liftgate, and automatic reverse braking, $1700

ENGINE
DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 152 in³, 2498 cm³
Power: 180 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 178 lb-ft @ 3700 rpm

TRANSMISSION
continuously variable automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.4-in vented disc/11.8-in vented disc
Tires: Bridgestone Turanza EL450
235/50R-19 99V M+S

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 105.1 in
Length: 183.3 in
Width: 72.0 in
Height: 68.1 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 58/49 ft³
Cargo Volume, behind F/R: 69/28 ft³
Curb Weight: 3656 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 8.3 sec
1/4-Mile: 16.6 sec @ 87 mph
100 mph: 23.0 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 8.9 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.7 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 6.4 sec
Top Speed (mfr's claim): 127 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 172 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.82 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
75-mph Highway Driving: 31 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 510 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 28/25/32 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs