All-new 2025 Subaru Forester uses same recipe for success

The Subaru Forester is like the weird middle child in the Subaru lineup. Sandwiched in between the more popular Outback and Impreza, the Forester has always had a solid following and those loyal to the Subaru brand continue to find it appealing. For the 2025 model year, Subaru had redesigned the Forester and I have been given an opportunity to check it out.

The Subaru Forester has been around since 1997 and since then has gone through six generations. For 2025, the Forester has been redesigned but continues with the same original recipe in that it is a five-passenger, 2-row compact SUV.

According to Subaru, every exterior body panel on the 2025 Forester is new. Yet oddly enough, the new Forester looks much like the old one, with its continued generic styling and tall, upright greenhouse. In fact, even the dimensions haven’t changed. The most obvious change that I have seen is with the front end where slimmer headlights and a larger grille give the Forester a more modern look. I suppose if you like how the previous Forester looked, you’ll be happy with the new one. However, if you were looking for the new Forester to take on a new appearance, well you’ll be disappointed.

Inside, changes are more noticeable with a new dash that uses more soft-touch plastics and has incorporated some fun Easter eggs like paw prints embossed on the interior door panels and a small bird printed on the windshield. There is a large 11.6-inch tablet-style touchscreen (standard on all Foresters except for the base model, which gets a pair of 7-inch screens) that has large, legible touch-sensitive selections. For those of us that prefer physical buttons, there are redundant toggles for the radio, temperature and HVAC controls.

Under the hood is an updated version of last year’s 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder engine. For 2025, it produces 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, which is essentially the same as before – but according to Subaru, the engine makes more of its power at lower rpms, so it feels punchier off the line. It is mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and sends power to all four wheels. Subaru says a hybrid version of the Forester will be coming out soon, but other than that, no information has been provided.

I recall the last time I was in a Forester was back in 2022 and I found its only flaw was its acceleration, or rather lack of it. So far, in my initial drive of the new Forester, I find it still lacks power, but it is not as apparent as it once was. On the flip side, what does stand out is just how quiet the new Forester is. Subaru says they enhanced the body structure quite a bit along with improving the sound-deadening material in the floor, roof, fenders, and firewall. While I initially waved it off when I heard about this, one drive makes you realize these improvements did indeed improve the ride and drive of the new Forester.

Of course, a key element to owning a Subaru is its ability to take you just about anywhere. And with the Forester’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System, it can. This system consists of three components: full-time All-Wheel Drive (AWD), a horizontally opposed boxer engine, and a four-wheel independent suspension. All three pieces working together provide a confident feeling behind the wheel of the Forester, regardless of if you are on a road or not. And if you’re off-road, it’s nice to know that you’ll have 8.7 inches of ground clearance. A nice thing about Subaru’s All-Wheel Drive system is that because it is working all the time, there are no buttons to push or levers to pull, unless you find yourself in extreme conditions, in which case you can enable X-Mode. X-Mode controls the engine throttle, keeps the transmission in gear longer and maximizes traction to all wheels.

And while the Forester can go just about anywhere, it can do so with a lot of cargo in it. Cargo capacity remains generous at 28 cubic feet with the back seats up and 69 cubic feet when they are lowered. And loading is super-easy with the large liftgate.
So overall, the new Forester is a similar version of the outgoing model but improved. It has a great ride, is comfortable, has plenty of cargo room and features great visibility. The Forester delivers the versatility and confidence drivers need, and as long as you don’t expect WRX-type performance, the 2025 Subaru Forester owner will be very happy.
– Christopher A. Randazzo

By The Numbers:

2025 Subaru Forester Premium

Base Price: $31,995.00
Price as Tested: $34,590.00
Layout: front-engine / all-wheel drive
Engine: 2.5 liter horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT automatic
Horsepower: 180 hp
Torque: 178 ft-lbs torque

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