2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid: This Is It

It’s been a very long time coming. The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid is finally here, featuring a single electric motor burrowed between the company’s familiar 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine and its continuously variable transmission (CVT). This marks the first time Subaru has electrified the Forester, and with the Crosstrek Hybrid arriving later this year, the company’s top two sellers now have hybrid options.

Debuting alongside the Forester Hybrid at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show is the new Forester Wilderness.

Photo by: Subaru

Photo by: Subaru

Festooned with bigger tires, a bolder grille, and other upgrades, it injects some ruggedness into the current-generation Forester family.

Here’s what you need to know about Subaru’s two new Forester trims.

Same Forester, Better Fuel Economy

Photo by: Subaru

There aren’t any notable surprises with the new Forester Hybrid. The electric motor draws power from a small 1.1-kWh battery pack, generating 118 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque on its own. The gas engine makes 162 hp and 154 lb-ft. Combined, Subaru lists system output at 194 hp. The parallel hybrid system allows limited electric-only operation, though with such a small battery, you won’t go silent for long.

If this all sounds familiar, it’s the same powertrain used in the Crosstrek Hybrid. Subaru has EPA fuel mileage estimates for the larger Forester: 35 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined. That’s a 40 percent increase in the city versus the standard engine, according to Subaru, and 25 percent better on the highway. In ideal conditions, the Forester can cover 581 miles on a single tank of fuel. Mileage is certainly better than combustion-only models, but it still falls short of hybrid competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Of course, none of them have the cool horizontally opposed soundtrack.

The hybrid powertrain is compact enough not to require any changes to the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. It adds about 300 pounds to the Forester, but this SUV still checks in just under 4,000 pounds. Ground clearance stands at 8.7 inches, and inside, you get a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with an 11.6-inch tablet-oriented center screen. Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist tech is standard, and on the outside, there’s a new exterior color called Daybreak Blue Pearl that’s exclusive to the Hybrid.

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Subaru offers the hybrid powertrain on Touring, Limited, Sport, and Premium trim levels. Pricing starts at $36,415, including a $1,420 destination charge.

Look for the 2025 Forester Hybrid in various trim levels to reach dealerships in the spring.

The New Forester Wilderness

Photo by: Subaru

Not available with the hybrid powertrain is the latest Forester Wilderness. As with the previous version, it’s more than just knobby tires and neat stickers. The suspension is upgraded with bigger springs and shocks, increasing the ground clearance to 9.3 inches. It’s tuned for more stability and comfort in all situations, while the CVT incorporates a different final drive ratio designed for better slow-speed operation.

The all-wheel-drive system is unchanged from other Foresters, but Subaru includes an advanced X-Mode Dual Mode drive system in the list of standard equipment. This mode includes settings for snow/dirt and deep snow/mud, giving the 17-inch Yokohama Geolander tires a better chance for grip. A slightly more practical upgrade is the transmission cooler, allowing the Forester Wilderness to tow up to 3,500 pounds. Underbody protection and tow hooks are there to help the driver avoid trouble, or failing that, get pulled out easier.

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This wouldn’t be a Forester Wilderness without some visual excitement, so you’ll find a plethora of dark plastic trim and copper accents on the outside. Standard roof rails can carry 800 pounds. Hexagonal driving lamps live at the corners of the fascia. And Wilderness-specific anthracite wheels occupy each corner. You’ll find more copper trim and Wilderness branding inside an otherwise normal Forester cockpit. Under the hood is the Forester’s standard 2.5-liter flat four making 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of twist.

Whereas the Forester Hybrid is a 2025 model, you’ll have to wait a bit longer to explore the Wilderness. Subaru says it will go on sale in the fall as a 2026 model. Pricing will be announced closer to its on-sale date.