2025 Subaru Forester: Continuity Through Change

Strong points
  • Smooth ride
  • Outstanding visibility
  • Stable handling
  • Spacious and practical interior
  • Habitacle spacieux et pratique
Weak points
  • Rough and somewhat boring engine
  • Fuel economy could be better
  • A few issues with ergonomics
Full report

Subaru’s iconic Forester is all-new for 2025. Well, sort of. Changes to the exterior are relatively conservative, with slimmer headlights and a larger front grille as the most obvious evolution. Designers took a careful approach in the rear, too, slightly shrinking the taillights while revising the bumper.

By favouring continuity through change, the idea was not to alienate longtime Forester customers.

Inside, there are no major changes, either. The dashboard is more upright than before, and the buttons on the steering wheel have been mildly redesigned. A key departure from the old Forester was putting the HVAC and heated seat controls in the lower part of the centre touchscreen. The resulting interface is quite nicely executed and more intuitive to use than some other compact SUVs out there, but you still have to take your eyes off the road, which was not the case in the previous generation.

Beyond that, the cabin is largely identical to what it was prior to the redesign—and that's a good thing. The 2025 Forester is a cleverly designed and practical vehicle for families. Even the gauges facing the driver are the good old-fashioned analog type with physical needles. Granted, they look less technologically advanced than a fully digital instrument cluster, but they still prove clear and easy to read day or night.

As always, the Forester manages to accommodate four adults very comfortably. We can’t complain about headroom or legroom, while visibility is outstanding thanks to the large windows—something that’s missing on many of today’s SUVs.

Photo: Julien Amado

Trunk capacity with the rear seats up amounts to 779 litres (or 838 litres in base Convenience trim and 762 litres in Wilderness trim—the latter carried over from the previous generation, mind you). That’s fine for a certain number of people, but nowhere near the cargo space of a Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V (around 1,000 litres).

Just One Model Under $40,000

Subaru, just like everybody else in the industry, is not immune to inflation. The entry-level Convenience model carries an all-inclusive price of $36,161 and is the only way to get your hands on a new 2025 Forester for less than $40,000 before tax.

In addition to standard all-wheel drive, you’ll find fully automatic, steering-responsive LED headlights with High Beam Assist, dual-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats, while the dual 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality.

Photo: Julien Amado

In order to enjoy desirable features like an 11.6-inch, tablet-style display with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless smartphone charging, a power sunroof and heated steering wheel, you need to move up to the Touring model at $41,161. If those are important to you, we believe that this particular model offers the best value.

The top-line Foresters (Limited, Premier) are more generously equipped, but in our humble opinion you could easily live without the stuff they offer, such as leather seats and a premium audio system. They’re not exactly worth the $45,000+ price tag that Subaru is asking, especially with lease rates of 5.99 percent. If you choose to finance the vehicle, you’ll be looking at rates between 3.99-5.99 percent, with the lowest rate available for a 24-month loan only.

A Bit Slow Yet Capable

Right now, all 2025 Subaru Forester models pack a 2.5-litre BOXER engine producing 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque via a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Operation could be more refined, but getting from A to B is no problem at all. That being said, with peak torque accessible no sooner than 3,700 rpm, the engine needs to rev high and thus becomes noisy when hard acceleration is in order.

Photo: Julien Amado

With regard to fuel consumption, the official ratings are 9.1 L/100 km in city driving and 7.2 L/100 km on the highway. We recorded an average of 9.1 L/100 km despite spending less than 5 percent of our time around town. Granted, temperatures during our test week hovered just below the freezing point, but you’ll easily find more efficient compact SUVs out there.

The launch of a Forester Hybrid by mid-2025 will not only improve performance thanks to extra low-end torque, but also provide significant fuel savings.

On the road, we found the driving experience very similar to that of the old Forester. And that's not a reproach—quite the contrary, actually. Thanks to a finely tuned suspension that does a great job of masking road imperfections without being too soft, the vehicle is well-balanced and inspires confidence whatever the season.

Photo: Julien Amado

We got a brief opportunity to drive in the snow, but not the kind of deep stuff that could pose a challenge. By all measures, Subaru's time-tested symmetrical all-wheel drive system proved as effective as ever. Heck, with proper winter tires, it almost becomes unstoppable.

One last thing: the cabin is quieter than before, which is something highway drivers will appreciate.

Photo: Julien Amado

Our Verdict

The 2025 Subaru Forester didn’t change much, but that's not really a problem as it remains one of the most competent SUVs on the road—solid, well-built and safe in all conditions, making it a go-to pick for many shoppers.

The main irritant here is the rough, not-so-efficient boxer engine. However, the upcoming hybrid variant could be precisely what the doctor ordered. If you can wait a few more months, we strongly recommend you to.

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