2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Debuts: Expanding The Appeal
As promised last year, Subaru has just introduced the 2025 Forester Hybrid, or the 2025 Subaru Forester e-BOXER Hybrid for Canadian consumers. As one of the last SUVs in its segment to garner a hybrid option, the new gas-electric Forester helps position Subaru’s high-selling utility box against fierce competition.
It’s New and Familiar
The hybrid system in the Forester will be quite similar to the one announced in the 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid a few weeks ago. It’s an all-new system that Subaru is calling the Next Gen Series-Parallel e-BOXER Hybrid. Like other versions of the Forester, the hybrid uses a 2.5-litre flat-four-cylinder engine. Unlike the gas only models, this is a newly developed Atkinson engine that has the transaxle paired with an electric motor generator and electric traction motor. A lot of the electric hybrid bits and pieces are sourced from Toyota, but the rest of the mechanics, such as engine, transmission, and drivetrain, are all Subaru products.
The traction motor, the one that actually powers the wheels, independently makes 118 horsepower and 199 pound feet of torque. The gas engine produces 162 horsepower and 154 pound feet of torque. Although there is no official combined torque figure, total system horsepower is pegged at 194 combined. That puts it at the lower end of the scale in terms of power, with hybrid versions of the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-50 making 219 hp, while the Honda CR-V makes 204 hp and the Hyundai Tucson/Kia Sportage siblings produce 231 hp.
Despite the figures on paper, hybrids deliver power in different ways, so until we drive the new Forester Hybrid, we can’t comment on actual power delivery and energy usage. Fuel economy is another factor we’ll have to wait for to see official figures, but Subaru is saying up to a 40-percent improvement. The company also told us the 16.6-gallon fuel tank size is unchanged in the hybrid, so we'd expect a slightly smaller hybrid battery onboard compared to some competitors. With a quoted range of 581 miles (935 kilometers), we're expecting a combined rating of 35 mpg (6.7 L/100 km), roughly on par with the Korean competition.
No Loss of Capability
Unlike some competitors, the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid has the electric motor sitting behind the gas-powered engine. The ponies from both the engine and motors are channeled through a continuously variable transmission and the brand’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system. This means the Forester Hybrid will have all the same capability as regular Foresters, with technology like X-MODE, hill descent control, active torque vectoring and more. The Forester Hybrid also includes the ubiquitous 8.7-inches (220 millimetres) of ground clearance found in every non-Wilderness SUV in the manufacturer’s lineup.
To ensure the heavier, more complex hybrid still offers the same safety found in regular Forester models, extra bracing has been added to the chassis to make it stronger in the instance of a collision.
As we are already seeing, this next-generation Subaru e-BOXER hybrid powertrain is designed to integrate seamlessly into most Subaru products. We’d bet good money on an Outback Hybrid appearing one day.
New Tech, Same Look
Unlike some competitors, the Forester Hybrid will look near identical to non-Wilderness Foresters, albeit with Hybrid or e-BOXER badging on the fenders and rear liftgate, depending on country. Inside, it’s a similar story, with standard EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, the tablet-style 11.6-inch infotainment screen, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
There is one big change though, and that’s the driver information center. Exclusive for the 2025 model, the Subaru Forester Hybrid gets a new, customizable, 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Like many such systems, there is an option to make the background of the information center a navigation map, but unlike most competitors, drivers in the Forester can choose to use Apple maps.
The 2025 Subaru Forester will be available as a fully loaded model in Canada, while in the United States there will be multiple trims of the Hybrid available. More information, like pricing, specifications, and equipment will be made available at a later date. The good news is, we won’t have to wait long as the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid should arrive on dealer lots this spring.
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A 20+ year industry veteran, Mike rejoins the AutoGuide team as the Managing Editor. He started his career at a young age working at dealerships, car rentals, and used car advertisers. He then found his true passion, automotive writing. After contributing to multiple websites for several years, he spent the next six years working at the head office of an automotive OEM, before returning back to the field he loves. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA). He's the recipient of a feature writing of the year award and multiple video of the year awards.
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