2025 Subaru Forester: 13 things you need to know

While the fundamental concept of the 2025 Subaru Forester stays loyal to the original  boxer engine and all-wheel drive recipe, there’s been plenty of detail work put into this popular medium SUV for its sixth-generation.

We’ve already published our initial impressions from a preview drive, detailed the pricing and equipment, and just today, published a more in-depth review following the new model’s media launch in New Zealand…

Now let’s delve into some of the finer details you ought to know about the latest Forester.

This is the sixth-generation Subaru Forester, and every one of its generational predecessors have been sold in Australia, having amassed more than 300,000 local sales.

The original launched here in 1997 and went on to become something of a cult hero with its blend of practicality, capability and in the case of the turbocharged XTs, performance.

Another stalwart of the medium SUV segment, the Honda CR-V, was rolled also out around the same time as the Forester.

As we’ve previously reported, the new Forester dons a substantially overhauled design  compared to its predecessor following feedback from buyers that generations four and five looked too similar.

Despite the bluffer look, the new-gen is based on an evolution of the fifth-gen’s Subaru Global Platform and boasts very similar dimensions: 4655mm (+15mm) long, 1830mm wide (+15mm), 1730mm tall (+/-0mm), 2670mm between the axles (+/-0mm) and 220mm (+/-0mm) of ground clearance.

There are also measurement changes inside the cabin, but not all are improvements.

Front and rear elbow room has increased (+4mm, +11mm) while front and rear shoulder room has reduced (-12mm, -13mm).

Cargo space is also slightly reduced for both the petrol and the hybrid versions on most measures compared to their previous-generation equivalents.

Finishing off the numbers, kerb weights are up across the board.

Call it an increase of around 100kg from old to new generations, while the new hybrid is around 100kg heavier than the equivalent petrol, topping out at 1766kg for the Hybrid Touring AWD.

For the first time, 19-inch alloy wheels have become a full-time part of the Forester line-up, fitted as standard to the Hybrid Sport and Touring AWD models.

The rest of the range gets 18-inch wheels where previous Foresters came with a choice of 17s or 18s.

Unlike the old mild hybrid, Subaru is offering a spare wheel carrier for the new ‘Strong Hybrid’ Forester, albeit as a genuine accessory since the electrified grades don’t come with a spare of any kind.

Mounted on the tow bar, the kit is a hefty $3099 for the 18-inch wheel and $3199 for the 19-inch wheel but simultaneously compromises the Forester’s ability to tow.

Subaru has paid a lot of attention to aerodynamics and air turbulence around the front wheel of its new Forester.

An outlet at the rear of the front fender is designed to minimise lift and enhance tyre contact, a lower-profile front mud guard aims to reduce turbulence while steering feel and stability is claimed to be improved by optimised airflow control in the tyre housing, optimised cladding and the rear spoiler.

While the 2.5-litre boxer engine used by petrol (non-hybrid) Foresters is fundamentally carried-over from the old model, Subaru reports it updated the auxiliary belt system, chain guide and tensioner, and optimised the fuel injection to make the engine quieter and smoother.

The 2.5-litre boxer in the Strong Hybrid meantime has been re-engineered to use the more fuel-efficient Atkinson/Miller cycle.

It is less powerful than the orthodox boxer, producing 121kW/212Nm (vs 136kW/247Nm), but factor in the e-motor’s healthy 90kW and the total system output rises to 145kW.

More importantly though, the electrification measures trim the combined fuel consumption from 7.9L/100km to 6.2L/100km.

The Strong Hybrid’s EV system can only run without the petrol engine’s assistance at very low speeds (officially, up to 30km/h) and at low percentage throttle applications.

Subaru warns there are further limitations: “EV Drive Mode operation may be limited in cold temperatures or when battery levels are low. Excessive use may impact overall fuel efficiency as the hybrid system is optimised for blended operation.”

While the WRX sports sedan’s influence on the new Subaru Forester’s infotainment system is obvious, it also contributes a dual-pinion steering system that has a real impact on the driving experience.

Subaru says the design separates the driver input shaft from the electric assist motor, which reduces mechanical resistance and eliminates unwanted feedback from the motor.

Thicker front door glass and added sound insulation in the body have supposedly led to improvements 0f the Forester’s cabin noise, more specifically in the clarity of conversations.

Subaru is claiming a 12.5 per cent improvement for the rear seats and 3.4 per cent in the front.

Speaking of the seats, they’ve been redesigned to provide more hip, lower back and spine support and are now bolted directly to the body rather than a mounting bracket in the name of driving stability.

On the new Forester’s media launch, Subaru was talking-up new shortcuts designed to make shutting down driver aids like lane keep assist easier. However, the touch pads permanently located on the infotainment screen only turn-off the audible warnings; you still have to drill into the screen to turn off lane keeping and driver monitoring etc.

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