Subarus are very popular here in the Pacific Northwest, and the Forester is one of the automaker’s best-sellers, only behind the Crosstrek and Outback. The Forester gets a makeover for 2025 but this compact SUV still maintains everything that has made it so popular including standard all-wheel drive, good ground clearance, a roomy and practical interior, and a long list of standard safety features. However, the Forester is still not very exciting to drive and several rivals get better gas mileage.
Base Price: $34,495
As Tested: $37,756
Horsepower: 180
Mileage: 25 mpg city/32 mpg highway/28 mpg combined
The Forester was introduced in 1997. For 2025, it’s all-new and now in its sixth generation. The Forester gets an updated exterior and chassis, a more rugged-looking grille, better handling, and a quieter cabin. All models except the base trim get a large 11.6-inch touchscreen. And a hybrid version is added to the Forester line-up.
The Forester has always appealed to those who want a safe vehicle and all-wheel drive. It’s always been popular for people who need a vehicle that can get around in bad weather, and as a car that parents buy for their kids.
The 2025 Forester comes in five trims: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring. Starting prices range from $29,695 to $39,995. Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is standard on all trims, as is the latest version of Subaru EyeSight driver assistance technologies. There’s room for five passengers in two rows of seating.
The Wilderness trim is not included for 2025; Subaru says the 2024 Wilderness trim will continue to be available for now and an updated version is expected for 2026.
All trims get the same powertrain that’s been updated to be quieter and more efficient. It’s a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is a continuously variable automatic.
Performance has never been the Forester’s strong suit and that’s still the case with the updated version. The engine can feel underpowered. Acceleration is pokey and you’ll need to floor the accelerator if you need a quick burst of speed for merging or passing. There’s noticeable road and wind noise at faster speeds. On the plus side, the ride is smooth and balanced, with the suspension soaking up bumps, and the Forester feels planted when cornering. Steering and brakes are responsive, and the standard AWD means you’re ready for inclement weather. Visibility is good all the way around.
Fuel economy is decent for a compact SUV but some rivals do better. EPA ratings for my tester are 25 mpg city and 32 mpg highway with a combined rating of 28. I got 27 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. Other trims do slightly better at 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined.
While the Forester isn’t meant for serious off-roading, the 8.7 inches of ground clearance means that you can venture off the beaten path.
The interior is nicer than the outgoing model. The boxy design makes for an airy feel. Materials look and feel nice, with several different textures and many soft-touch materials. Every trim has some stylish touches. My Sport tester has Subaru’s StarTex synthetic leather upholstery that’s durable and easy to clean. Seats in both rows are comfortable and roomy. Front row passengers have good leg- and headroom, and the backseat is roomy enough for average-size adults.
Standard features include remote keyless entry, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery with blue contrast stitching, 4.2-inch multi-information display, infotainment system with two seven-inch touchscreens, four-speaker audio system, satellite radio, HD radio, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice control, Bluetooth, USB ports, 12-volt power outlets in the center console and cargo area, automatic headlights with high-beam assist, and roof rails.
Available features include a surround-view camera system, gray synthetic leather upholstery, real leather upholstery, black or brown perforated leather-trimmed upholstery with suede bolsters, perforated leather-trimmed seats with blue contrast stitching, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat, memory settings for the driver’s seat, heated front seats, ventilated front seats, heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated rear outboard seats, reclining rear seats, infotainment system with vertically-oriented 11.6-inch touchscreen, navigation, Harman Kardon premium audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless device charging, USB-A and USB-C ports, rear USB ports, Wi-Fi hot spot, and a panoramic moonroof
Standard driver assistance technologies include an additional monocular camera, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, evasive-steering assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure and sway warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, lead vehicle start alert, pedestrian detection, forward attention warning, and rear seat alert.
Available driver assistance technologies include blind-spot monitoring with lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert, and reverse automatic emergency braking.
The infotainment system is starting to show its age. The base trim gets two seven-inch screens, while all the other trims get an 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen. The portrait-style touchscreen shows glare in sunlight, graphics aren’t super sharp, and the system can be sluggish to respond to inputs. And you have to use the touchscreen for some functions that would be better with physical controls – for example, setting drive modes for snow and dirt. There are physical controls for some audio and climate settings.
Cargo space is decent for the class. There are 29.6 cubic feet of storage with both rows of seating in place, which is a bit below average. However, space expands to 74.4 cubes with the second row folded, which is one of the best among rivals. There are several handy hooks and attachment points to keep everything in place. The rear seats split-fold 60/40. A hands-free power liftgate is available.
The good:
Balanced ride
Standard all-wheel drive
Nice, roomy interior
Many standard and available features
Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Long list of standard safety technologies
The not-so-good:
Meh performance
Pokey acceleration
Infotainment system is showing its age
Some rivals have better fuel economy
Pricing info:
My tester starts $34,495. Option Package 24 is $1,700 and includes a Harman Kardon audio system, power rear gate with hands-free foot activation sensor, reverse automatic braking system, and SI-Drive Intelligent and Sport Sharp Mode. All-weather floor liners are $141. The destination fee is $1,420 bringing the grand total to $37,756.
Bottom line:
The 2025 Subaru Forester gets a makeover with a more rugged exterior and nicer interior. But everything that makes the Forester so popular remains – it’s practical nature, airy interior, decent ground clearance, and standard all-wheel drive. While it’s still not as fun to drive as several rivals, it’ll appeal to Subaru fans and those who want a compact SUV that can handle moderate off-road adventures.
