Text by Tom Appel
2025 Subaru Forester Touring Hybrid
Specs
Class: Compact Crossover
Country of Manufacture: Japan
Color: Autumn Green Metallic
Seating Capacity: 5
Miles driven: 188
Real-world fuel economy: 35.4 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | A |
| Power and Performance | B |
| Fit and Finish | B+ |
| Fuel Economy | A |
| Value | B+ |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | A- |
| Tall Guy | A |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. “Big” rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 194-horsepower 2.5-liter |
| Engine Type | 4-cyinder hybrid |
| Transmission | CVT automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Driving mix: 65% city, 35% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 35/34/35 (city, highway, combined)
Fuel type: Regular gas
Base price: $41,695 (not including $1420 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Special paint ($495)
Price as tested: $43,610
Audio-System Brand
Harman Kardon
Audio-System Quality
Poor Fair Good Very-Good Excellent
Pros and Cons
The great: Proven foul-weather ability, roomy cabin, excellent fuel economy
The good: Updated interior feels more upscale
The not so good: Too refined? Some classic Subaru character seems missing
Review
You’ll often read in the description of a Subaru, that it is one of the carmaker’s most-popular models. And while that claim is likely true, it’s important to understand that Subaru sells three models that are not only popular, but perform in close proximity to each other in terms of sales.
Through June of 2025, these are the three most-popular Subaru models:
- Forester (compact crossover) 95,972 sales
- Crosstrek (subcompact crossover): 90,334
- Outback (compact crossover/midsize car) 73,257
The fourth best-selling Subie, the Ascent midsize crossover, hardly blips on the sales chart in comparison to the brand’s big three, coming in at just 21,479 units sold for the same period.
Subaru’s other models (BRZ, Impreza, Legacy, WRX, and the electric Solterra) combined for just 17,669 sales through June. So, when a model is described as one of Subaru’s best-selling vehicles, we’re talking about a crossover (they’re all crossovers) that is instrumental to the maker’s U.S. presence.
And, when one of those three core models is redesigned, it’s a really big deal. Enter the 2025 Forester, a Subaru model that has not only been redesigned, but has been made available with a hybrid drivetrain for the first time. Foreshadow: It’s a really good hybrid powertrain.
The 2025 update includes fresh interior and exterior styling, updated connectivity features, and, as noted above, an available hybrid setup.
While the conventionally powered 2025 Forester is offered in a generous array of six trim levels, hybrid variants are limited to four. Here’s the lineup:
- Premium ($38,015)
- Sport ($41,015)
- Limited ($42,430)
- Touring ($44,715)
The additional cost for going hybrid runs between $1700 and $3500 depending on trim level. Note, too, that the Wilderness trim level for 2025 is based on the previous-generation Forester. It will be updated for 2026, and is not expected to be available in hybrid guise.
The updated Forester’s standard engine is largely unchanged. That powertrain pairs a 180-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with a CVT-style automatic transmission. Hybrid models employ a version of the same engine mated to a pair of electric motors for a combined 194 horsepower. A CVT automatic is also part of the hybrid setup. All Foresters come standard with Subaru’s branded Symmetrical AWD.
Note: Subaru turned to Toyota for help in developing a hybrid system for the Forester, with interesting results. While AWD Toyota models (think RAV4) employ electric motors at the rear axle to achieve the desired torque distribution, Subaru chose to employ its own AWD system, incorporating a traditional transfer case, drive shaft, and axles. The result of this effort is a hybrid Forester featuring the vehicle’s famous snow and mud capability, but somewhat reduced fuel economy. Compared to an AWD RAV4 Hybrid, the Forester returns fuel economy roughly 2 mpg lower. We think the fuel economy tradeoff is worth the effort, and appreciate Subaru staying true to its heritage.
Consumer Guide recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2025 Subaru Forester Touring in Autumn Green Metallic. Including the destination charge, our test vehicle came in at $43,610. That figure represents about all the money you can spend on a new Forester, not including relatively affordable dealer-installed accessories.
Inside, the Forester still looks like a Subaru, which means the dash focus in on the large, vertically oriented touchscreen. As before, the touchscreen is easy to read and the icons displayed are easy to read at a glance.
Our sole connectivity issue is a Bluetooth connection that frequently dropped, forcing us to relink, at a cost of several minutes each time. That said, the Harman Kardon-brand audio system, standard on the Touring, lives up to the name, cranking out premium sound that is surprising in a vehicle in the price range.
The cabin, especially on topline Touring trim comes off as functional and premium—a nice improvement over the previous generation. Space, like before, is ample for the class, at the Forester will provide comfortable long-trip transportation for four adult. Additionally, despite a claimed 8.7-inches of ground clearance, getting into and out of the Foresters is easy enough. And, the conversation will be a little easier now, as the cabin is notably quieter than the 2024 model.
Having already sampled a conventionally powered 2025 Forester (you can read that review here) we can say without hesitation that the hybrid setup is the way to go. Here’s why:
- Better fuel economy (35 mpg versus 23)
- Better power, especially around town
- Improved engine stop/start operation
While we appreciate the improved fuel economy, we’re more impressed by the enhanced low-speed power, which makes for quicker and easier starts from a stop. Also, the engine stop/start operation, which is usually pretty crude in Subaru vehicles, is now very smooth.
Otherwise, the hybrid powertrain gets the job done, it’s just a little quieter and smoother than the non-hybrid engine.
In the best possible way, the 2025 Forester feels familiar to us. While there was nothing truly wrong with the old Forester, we appreciate the updated interior, and overall quieter cabin. The new hybrid powertrain is both a little more refined than the standard engine, and considerably more efficient. If you’re shopping in this class—as so many Americans are—we recommend adding the Forester Hybrid to your test-drive list.
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2025 Subaru Forester Touring Hybrid Pictures
Click below for enlarged images