2025 Subaru Forester

Overview

The compact Forester SUV is all-new for 2025, and it's a dramatic update. This is the two-row, five-passenger Forester's sixth generation, and it promises to have more passenger space and a quieter ride than the previous model, which debuted in 2019. While its looks have been modernized, the new Forester in other ways continues the well-known formula that has made it a long-term success. Every Forester once again 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.

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 option 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

Much has changed about the next-gen Forester, but there's a lot of same-old-same-old under the hood. Back again is the 2.5-liter flat-four engine, continuously variable transmission, and all-wheel drive. Output is marginally different this time, with 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, compared with the last generation's 182 horses and 176 pound-feet. The important difference here is that peak torque arrives sooner in the rpm range, which should make the Forester feel a bit more lively than before. Subaru says a hybrid powertrain is coming next year. Another update that could make the Forester feel more engaging from behind the wheel is its new dual-pinion electronic power steering rack, which is similar to what Subaru installs in the WRX sports sedan. We haven't driven the new Forester yet but a previous model that we tested in Wilderness trim—which comes with additional ground clearance and all-terrain tires—reached 60 mph in a relaxed 8.0 seconds. A Wilderness model hasn't been announced for the new-gen Forester yet, but we'll update this space with driving impressions and info on other trim levels when we've driven them.

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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. When we get a chance, we'll take the new Forester on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route and update this story with its real-world 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 74 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, an important update is a larger 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen 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 old 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