The new Forester will get the brand's first-ever hybrid in the U.S.
So what’s new about the all-new Subaru Forester? To start with, that dramatically redesigned compact SUV body. What about engines? Sure, it might be inheriting the predecessor’s highly-acclaimed 2.5-liter flat-four engine and all-wheel-drive platform combination, but this time around, Forester will employ its first-ever hybrid powertrain in the U.S. And it’ll be called a ‘strong hybrid.’
But don’t expect that new ‘e-Boxer strong hybrid’ to arrive in showrooms soon. This latest hybrid version is expected to arrive a year after the standard 2.5-liter gasoline model. Subaru is using the unfamiliar phrase ‘strong hybrid’ in contrast to the ho-hum, criticized, in-house ‘mild hybrid’ tech that it used on the Crosstrek, and that will be ditched in place of the new version. Subaru will use electric motors and batteries sourced from Toyota.
And the reason Subaru is able to switch from ‘mild’ to ‘strong’ and join the world of ‘real’ hybrids is that it will employ electric motors and battery technology from Toyota, the company that sparked the worldwide hybrid craze way back in 1997 when it launched the first Prius.
The interior gets a new layout and improved features.
First seen at the Los Angeles Auto Show late last year, the all-new Forester sits on similar Subaru Global Platform underpinnings and is seen more as more of an evolutionary revision than a revolutionary one. Apart from the new hybrid tech, the Forester does have new sheetmetal, incorporating a sharper, better looking exterior and is fitted with a stiffer chassis.
To give the Forester a more aggressive stance, the body panels have been lifted over the wheel arches and smoothed around the headlamps. The SUV's upright cockpit is retained for headroom and brand familiarity, but the redesigned grille's edges are extended to better showcase the arrow-shaped LED headlamps. In order to get air out of the wheel well and lessen lift at highway speeds, the Forester has several aero tricks along its flat sides, despite its boxy design. One such trick is a new air vent located at the back of the wheel opening.
The company explains that these modifications will make the Forester's ride firmer and more controlled on all surfaces, but also claims it will be quieter. Combined with added insulation in and outside the cabin, the Forester should be considerably less raucous inside.
The Forester employs an all-new sharper-looking exterior design.
While Forester fans will have to wait for the new Toyota-enhanced hybrid to arrive, the new model will initially go on sale later this year powered by the familiar 2.5-liter flat-four engine from the current model. Even though we may have lost two ponies from the predecessor, you probably won't even notice.
Despite having less power than before, the four-cylinder engine produces 180 horsepower and 178 pound feet of torque, with peak torque occurring at a lower rpm. As a result, the engine should feel more responsive. The continuously variable gearbox that powers the flat-four also features a manual "shift" mode with steering-wheel flappy paddles on the higher trim levels. Hill descent control, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, and a WRX-derived dual-pinion electronic power steering system, should, according to Subaru deliver a more responsive and cohesive ride on and off road.
For now at least, Subaru is remaining tight-lipped on details about the new hybrid, including engine capacity and horsepower, but we can expect it to be competitive with current compact SUV hybrids thanks to the Toyota connection.
Inside, the new Forester gets a 7.0-inch touchscreen as standard on the base model with higher trims featuring an 11.6-inch screen with wireless smartphone mirroring. Subaru’s driver-assist technologies, which it calls EyeSight, have also been updated to work quicker and more comfortably in varying conditions. The Forester can now better identify cyclists and pedestrians and apply emergency braking. To help the driver better see around them, an optional 360-degree camera view is now available.
The 2025 Forester is scheduled to reach dealers starting in spring 2024 in five specs — base, Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring, with the ‘e-Boxer strong hybrid’ model expected to join the lineup in spring 2025. Given the upgraded tech, new design and new hybrid option, we expect sticker prices to increase from the 2024 Forester's $28,390 to $38,690 range.
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