The Forester has always been the practical, outdoors-ready core of Subaru’s range. Thanks to its boxy good looks, best-in-class visibility, and standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, it has become a favorite for families and outdoor enthusiasts who appreciate practicality and capability, rather than flash. For the 2025 model year, the Forester is not just getting a refresh—it’s going through a full-blown, next-generation redesign, entering its sixth generation.
This is the biggest overhaul the Forester has seen for years, and the makers promise it will improve everything whilst remaining true to what the car has always represented. Here’s a deep dive into the all-new 2025 Subaru Forester.
Exterior Design: An Evolutionary, Yet Modern Leap
Subaru has polished the Forester’s iconic profile, elevating it to a contemporary, tough stance that keeps existing fans firmly on board.
- Muscular stance: More prominent wheel arches and crisper body lines characterize the exterior, exuding more attitude and a planted road stance.
- New Front and Rear Illumination: Distinctive “C-shaped” LED headlights and a new hexagonal grille bring out a bolder look. At the rear, horizontal LED taillights project a new, contemporary signature. * Beter Approach and Departure Angles: Redesign’s off-road-ready DNA means the angles of approach and departure have been subtly improved for tacking even rougher terrain.
Interior and Technology: Quieter and More Tech-Focused Cabin
The interior has been fully reworked, making good on many of the previous model’s shortcomings with a staggering contrast in technology and refinement.
- A New, Larger Touchscreen The centerpiece is a new 11.6-inch Subaru STARLINK touchscreen (on higher trims), much like the one in the new Outback and Wilderness wheelhouses. It has a high definition display with faster response time. Dual 7.0-inch screen units will serve as the base models.
- Higher-Quality Materials, More Quiet-Room: Subaru says the new Legacy is more refined inside with more sound-insulating material and higher-quality soft-touch surfaces that screen out noise and give the cabin a more upscale feel.
- Upgraded EyeSight Driver Assist Technology: Subaru’s best-in-class safety suite newest generation is now standard. It has a wider field-of-view, better night-time performance, and offers improved adaptive cruise control and lane centering.
The same, trusted heart: Powertrain
The Forester continues to use a tried and true efficient powertrain for 2025, just now with mild hybrid power only.
- SUBARU BOXER® 2.5-Liter Engine: The only powertrain option is the 2. 5-liter, four-cylinder BOXER** engine, now with the addition of a standard e-BOXER mild-hybrid system for all trim levels.
SPECS AND EFFICIENCY: The system delivers a combined 180 horsepower. The e-BOXER is designed to use torque fill for a seamless power delivery during acceleration and for improved fuel consumption, and not providing a huge power boost. Anticipate that EPA ratings will be on par, somewhere near the 29 to 33-mpg combined range.
- Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive With Subaru: All Forester trims come with it, so the charm of all-weather and all-road capability remains a staple.
Walk-Through for Trim Level of 2025
The Forester will be available in several trims to meet different needs and budgets:
- Base, Premium, and Limited: The comfort and technology making them perfect for families.
- Wilderness: The off-road champion is back with its raised suspension, all-terrain tires and heavy-duty body cladding for those who go furthest off the paved road.
- Sport: Presents a more assertive design and unique interior highlights.
The Competition & The Verdict
The 2025 Forester competes in a competitive segment with the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape and Hyundai Tucson.
Who Should Buy the 2025 Subaru Forester:
- The Safety-Conscious Family: That parking-family crank will appreciate having standard all-wheel drive and the Eyesight suite of safety.
- The Outdoor Adventurer: Looking for a rig that can take dirt roads, snowy passes, and camping trips straight off the showroom floor.
- The Practical Buyer: Who cares more about seeing well, how reliable something is, and whether the packaging makes sense instead of if it looks cool or can drive really fast.
The 2025 Subaru Forester is a sensible and substantial step forward. With a redesigned rugged and modern body, a completely redesigned tech-filled interior, and the ever-present standard all-wheel drive it solidifies its stance among the most versatile, safe, and practical options in the small SUV category.
