Subaru Forester Hybrid (2025 Launch) for the U.S.: What we expect

Update (August 21, 2024): ‘Specifications’ revised.

The 2025 Subaru Forester marks the entry of the Japanese automaker’s compact SUV, renowned for practicality, versatility, and capability, into its sixth generation. The fully redesigned model is now at U.S. dealerships. Like the fifth-gen model, the sixth-gen model has a Hybrid variant, but the big news is that the electrified offering will be available in the U.S., starting in 2025.

Here’s everything we know about the new Subaru Forester Hybrid.

Subaru Forester Hybrid U.S. confirmation

Presenting the new Forester in Los Angeles, Subaru’s global President & CEO, Atsushi Osaki, confirmed that the Subaru Forester Hybrid would be sold in the United States.

The all-new Forester will begin sales with the ICE engines, and the next-generation Hybrid Forester will follow in about a year. This will be the first-ever Subaru Forester Hybrid. It represents the next step in our new electrification plan with more electrified models to follow quickly.

Atsushi Osaki, Subaru President & CEO at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2023 on November 16, 2023

Jeff Walters, President & COO of Subaru of America, in his address at the premiere, confirmed that the Subaru Forester Hybrid would be offered “about a year after launch” of the gas-powered SUV.

Design

When the all-new Subaru Forester Hybrid hits dealers around Spring 2025, I expect it to have no major design changes from the new gas model, which is pictured in this story.

The 2025 Subaru Forester features a rugged exterior featuring a conventional shape and aggressive details. When I saw it at the 2023 LA Auto Show, I liked its strong front-end, which gives it a confident, assertive look.

The prominent radiator grille with chunky horizontal bars, the technical-looking headlamps, and the muscular bumper featuring hexagonal inserts in the lower part give it a sporty and athletic first impression. I expect these features to be carried forward to the Hybrid.

On the sides, I think the 2025 Forester gets a little humdrum. Its tall and flattish roofline descends subtly, and that, along with the squarish windows and rugged wheel arches lend it an authentic SUV character. The straightness of the beltline, the large window size, and the peculiar shape of the rear-quarter glass contribute to a somewhat mundane appearance.

The design of the wheel arch cladding also seems like an area where Subaru could have enhanced the look. On a positive note, the available 19-inch bronze wheels are an attractive option, and I hope that it would be extended to the Hybrid version.

In my opinion, the rear-end of the 2025 Forester isn’t its strongest angle. The clear lens taillights have an odd shape, and the trim stripes linking them to the Subaru logo come across as tacky. The faux dual exhaust housing in the bumper feels unnecessary and overdone. However, the license plate area, often an overlooked feature in most vehicles, is quite well-executed in this compact SUV.

Interior

The interior of the 2025 Subaru Forester bodes well with its tough SUV design. Customers who prefer old-school cabins with features like analog dials, a hefty dash, and vertical AC vents would find themselves right at home.

Subaru does have a 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster in its inventory, and in my opinion, it should’ve offered it as an option in the 2025 Forester. It’ll be interesting to see if the Hybrid version gets changes in this respect.

The quality of plastics, soft-touch materials, and trim surfaces Subaru has used in the 2025 Forester is better than the outgoing model. I liked the textured surface on the passenger-side dashboard, and the decor element below it that mimics wood.

The doors also have padded material, along with suede. The physical buttons and switches have a nice feel to them. Subaru has put a lot of effort into uplifting the feel of the cabin, and it has worked.

Subaru’s new 11.6-inch Starlink system is improved, but there’s no comparing it with what Toyota, Kia or Hyundai offer in their SUVs in design, resolution and snappiness. It supports wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto.

I’m also happy to report that a wireless smartphone charger is available in the redesigned model, which is a glaring omission in the outgoing SUV. The storage box below the central armrest is cavernous and is practical for everyday accessories.

Seeing the initial photos, I expected the 2025 Forester to make up for what it lacks in style on the sides with excellent visibility. It seemed that Subaru intentionally designed the windows, rear-quarter panels, and belt line to enhance the view for both driver and passengers, which also applies to the large, nearly upright rear glass.

Sitting in the car in Washington, my experience confirmed this, as the all-around visibility in the redesigned model was excellent, further aided by the digital rearview mirror.

Ingress and egress for a six-footer like me was easy. The steering wheel, which allows manual adjustment for reach and height, felt firm to grip. Lumbar support was adequate and under-thigh support was equally good, in this prototype vehicle. In the back, there’s enough space for three adults like me to sit comfortably on a long journey. Under-thigh support here was also sufficient.

Specifications

Subaru has confirmed that it will use Toyota’s hybrid system in future models starting in the mid-2020s. The switch from in-house technology to a Toyota-developed system will address the complaints of many customers who criticize hybrid Subarus for being not as fuel efficient as comparable Toyotas, which lead their segments. Subaru has scheduled the start of production of the next-gen HEV system this fall, and the next-gen Forester Hybrid should be the first recipient.

However, unlike the RAV4 Hybrid, the new Forester Hybrid won’t be a FWD-biased crossover. Subaru is re-engineering Toyota’s Hybrid System for its longitudinal power unit and AWD.

As we go on, we are planning to fuse the core technologies of Subaru, the horizontally-opposed “Boxer” engine, symmetrical AWD, and Subaru Global Platform with Toyota Hybrid System (THS) technology.

Information compiled from Subaru’s Technology Briefing held on January 20, 2020

Subaru has developed a new generation of its e-Boxer hybrid system which it intends to use in the new Forester Hybrid. In the current system, the electric motor doubles as a generator that recharges the battery pack using kinetic energy. The next-gen system will add a dedicated generator that converts mechanical power produced by the engine into electrical power and transfers it to the battery pack. This additional energy stored in the battery pack could allow customers to drive efficiently and smoothly in electric mode for longer distances.

The power control unit typically occupies some of the fuel tank’s space, but in the next-gen e-Boxer system, Subaru will mount it in the engine bay. This will allow it to use a larger fuel tank and further increase the driving range of the Forester Hybrid.

The outgoing fifth-gen Forester Hybrid delivers a fuel economy of 14.0 km/l according to Japan’s WLTC method, which is quite low and not a substantial gain from the gas-powered Forester’s 13.6 km/l rating. This likely explains why the company doesn’t offer the electrified model in the U.S. The current engine develops 107 kW and 188 Nm of torque, while the electric motor, powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, produces 10 kW and 65 Nm of torque.

Price & Release Date

Given that the gas models are priced in the USD 31,090-USD 41,390 range, I expect the Forester Hybrid models to be placed in the USD 35,000-USD 45,000 price bracket when it reaches U.S. dealers in late Spring 2025, approximately a year after the new gas-engined Forester.

The Forester Hybrid model will be built in Lafayette, Indiana, where the company reportedly plans to invest $64.5 million in expanding production, as per filing documents seen by BasedInLafayette.com.

TopElectricSUV says

The Subaru Forester Hybrid will appeal to buyers with its reasonably stylish exterior, highly practical interior with ample cargo space, and an efficient powertrain developed in collaboration with Toyota. If it’s priced around USD 40,000, I believe it would be an excellent choice for a five-seat compact SUV, offering a well-rounded option for American shoppers seeking a vehicle equally suited for light adventures and daily commutes.

U.S.-spec Subaru Forester Hybrid FAQs