Subaru may be late to the party, but buyers looking for a solid, attractive crossover making solid power and delivering great mileage likely won’t mind once they check out the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid. Did we mention it boasts plenty of welcome safety, comfort and convenience features – as well as the Japanese brand’s off-road X-Drive technology? Here’s our review.
Subaru got a helping hand developing the Forester’s new hybrid system from Toyota.
At a time when automakers struggle to deliver even a mile or two a gallon of extra fuel economy, Subaru drew lots of attention when it rolled out the 2025 Forester Hybrid at the Chicago Auto Show in February.
Equipped with the Japanese automaker next-generation gas-electric drive system it not only delivers 40% better mileage than conventional, gas-powered Foresters, but a whopping 10 mpg more than the prior gas-electric drivetrain could muster.
That alone would be good reason to check out the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid, but I found a lot more to like about the compact crossover during a day’s driving, both on and off-road, during a visit to the northern California coast late last month.
What’s new
The Hybrid joins an expanding line of Subaru Forester variants. It has also added an off-road-focused Wilderness model.
Subaru launched an all-new version of its mainstay Forester model at the start of the 2025 model year. It’s since rolled out two distinctive variants, starting with the rugged Wilderness package specifically aimed at those who want to go off pavement. Now comes the Forester Hybrid.
Subaru was relatively late to the party when it comes to electrifying its product line-up but it’s been racing to catch up with products such as the all-electric Solterra and the original Forester and Crosstrek models. The new hybrid package in Forester has a lot going for it, including EPA fuel economy numbers of 35 mpg city, 34 highway and 35 combined.
Like the rest of the Forester line-up, the Hybrid gets a new, more appealing design. And it adds plenty more technology, including the latest version of Subaru’s Eyesight advanced driver assistance technology. That’s just one tech upgrade – but more to follow.
Next-generation hybrid drivetrain
The new Subaru Forester Hybrid drivetrain gets about 10 mpg better mileage than the gas package.
There’s no question Subaru needed to update and upgrade its original hybrid technology and it found the right partner to help out. While it turned to Japanese ally Toyota, it didn’t simply lift the package found in the latest RAV4 Hybrid and plug it into Forester. The Toyota system uses three motors, two built into the transmission, a third to provide power to the rear axle. It’s an acceptable solution but Subaru wisely went with a more conventional all-wheel-drive layout that pushes power to the rear axle from the combined internal combustion and two-motor drive system up front.
The hybrid’s primary motivator is a 2.5-liter internal combustion engine, the two motors drawing juice from a 1.1-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. That’s enough, if it matters, to get about a mile’s range in EV mode – limited to under 20 mph. But the internal combustion engine will shut off in some circumstances, such as coasting downhill or even on occasion when cruising on a freeway.
The package makes a combined 194 horsepower – 14 more than the gas package. Subaru declined to provide torque figures and that’s justifiable as there are no industry standards for hybrid systems and the method used can vary widely from one manufacturer to another. Sufficient to say there was more than enough to launch off a light and, just as importantly, to handle the off-road trail I tested the Forester Hybrid on.
As with other versions of the Forester, the Hybrid offers driver-selectable X-Mode. It’s a three-mode system that, at low to moderate speeds, enhances the way the standard Subaru all-wheel-drive system delivers torque to individual wheels. That’s something the Toyota version of the hybrid drivetrain couldn’t achieve. Subaru’s also allows torque vectoring for improved cornering at higher speeds.
More Subaru News
- First Look: Subaru Forester Hybrid
- The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness is Ready for Adventure
- Subaru’s Project Midnight Pushes The Envelope of WRX Performance
Driving Impressions
The Forester Hybrid’s all-wheel-drive and X-Mode proved extremely useful off-road.
I’ll start out by saying I’ve been impressed with the experiences I’ve had with other versions of the 2025 Subaru Forester. The latest-generation is a big improvement over prior versions in terms of ride and handling. It offers a more refined and confident feel, whether cruising down the highway, dealing with urban gridlock or weaving down country roads.
Based on what I knew from my experience with the prior generation Subaru hybrid technology I had most expectations for the new gas-electric package. I was quickly and pleasantly surprised. The drivetrain was quiet and smooth, with little of the “rubber band” effect normally associated with CVT-style transmissions – the most common with hybrids.
Perhaps the biggest complaint about the gas-powered Forester is its relatively anemic boxer-four engine which, at just 180 hp and 178 lb-ft, takes more than 8 seconds to reach 60. You won’t burn rubber with the hybrid, but it is quicker.
What I did appreciate was the fact that the Forester Hybrid retained the confidence-building capabilities of the gas model’s Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive. That proved particularly welcome as I turned off the highway and headed up a rough and winding rock, gravel and mucky trail that quickly gained several thousand feet of elevation. I found the “Dirt” setting extremely useful compared to having X-mode shut off. As pleased as I was, the surprised look on the face of a Jeep Wrangler driver heading the other way said everything.
While all the sheet metal was redesigned for the 2025 Forester, the look remains familiar.
Design
The look of the 2025 Forester won’t shock those already familiar with the compact Subaru crossover, though the automaker has updated virtually all of the 2025 model’s sheet metal.
A more upright and aggressive grille now blends into Forester’s updated LED headlights. New shoulder lines are meant to emphasize Forester’s overall dimensions. There are a number of aerodynamic improvements, as well, including air curtains that help channel air through the front wheel wells to reduce lift, improve stability and enhance fuel efficiency, according to Subaru.
Ground clearance comes in at 8.7 inches for mainstream versions of the 2025 Subaru Forester, including the Hybrid. (Add another inch with the Wilderness package.) Depending upon the trim, the 2025 Forester is offered with 17, 18 or 19-inch wheels and tires.
The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid delivers plenty of room for both rows, and up to 70 cf for cargo.
Hybrid models get a more well-appointed cabin than found on some gas trims. That should come as no surprise considering there’s a price premium of around $1,400 for the gas-electric technology, depending upon trim. Offered only in two-row configuration, Subaru has managed to squeeze in plenty of space for both front and rear passengers. With that 60/40 split back row folded flat, meanwhile, you’ll get as much as 70 cubic feet of cargo space. A moonroof is standard on all Hybrid trims.
Technology and upgrades other upgrades
All versions of the Forester Hybrid feature a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and 11.6-inch infotainment screen. One welcome feature, whether parking or navigating a rough trail: multiple forward facing camera views accessible with the touch of a button.
With a touch of a button you get several camera views, useful for both parking and when off-road.
The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid gets an upgraded version of the brand’s Eyesight advanced driver assistance technology. It boasts a wider field of view and other enhancements meant to prevent collisions, not only with other vehicles but pedestrians and bicyclists.
A new feature, notes Subaru, is Emergency Stop Assist which comes into play “if the driver becomes unresponsive to warnings while using Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control. The new standard safety feature will stop the vehicle, activate the hazard lights, and unlock the doors. Subaru Connected Services will then place a call to emergency services.”
Other technology includes a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with navigation and Apple Maps compatibility. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, If you pair an iPhone and plug in a destination you can have your map displayed on the gauge cluster. It seems like a minor feature but it reduces the time your eyes spend looking away from the road.
A gas, yes, but Subaru showed how many eggs you’d buy for the price of the new Forester Hybrid.
Pricing and availability
The various gas-powered versions of the 2025 Subaru Forester have been on sale for months at U.S. showrooms. The Hybrid is just now available.
There are four separate trim levels, starting with the Forester Premium Hybrid priced at $34,995. At the upper end, the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Touring comes in with pretty much all possible options at a price of $41,695. Add $1,395 in delivery fees.
Do be aware that prices are likely to go up by several thousand dollars as a result of the new Trump tariffs which cover both autos and auto parts. While all versions of the 2025 Forester are being assembled in Indiana, the tariffs impact both import and domestically assembled vehicles since they all use some foreign-made parts and components.
The new Hybrid’s biggest plus: more power and better mileage without sacrificing what we like about the gas model.
The last word
There are plenty of reasons why little Subaru has grown from a niche player to a mainstream brand over the last several decades. And the Forester, first introduced in 1997, played a significant role.
It started out as a relatively spartan, albeit affordable, package. Over the years it has grown, larger, more capable and better equipped. The 2025 makeover was another step forward. Now add the Hybrid and it takes things to a new level.
The temptation would be to add “for those who want maximum mileage.” And it’s true, the gas-electric model really does deliver impressive fuel economy. But what’s even more impressive is how the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid retains all the features we’ve come to appreciate on the gas package. No wonder the automaker expects this addition to the line-up to be the option of choice for a significant number of buyers.
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