2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Has Up To 40 Percent Improved Efficiency

Electrification efforts in Subaru have been minuscule at best, but thankfully, the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid aims to change all that. While there has been a Forester Hybrid in the outgoing generation, previously called the e-Boxer, it was a weak hybrid system that didn’t really contribute much in terms of fuel economy or even performance.

That’s all set to change with this new generation model, which you’ve already seen last year, so we’ll be focusing on the hybrid drivetrain this time around. Unlike before, where the Forester e-Boxer used a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine and a weak electric motor, this new one is a stronger hybrid as seen in the recently-revealed Crosstrek S:HEV Hybrid in Japan.

In this case, it combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine with an electric motor that provides a system output of 194 horses. The electric motor uses a 1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery, and it can power the vehicle in pure electric mode at short distances and intervals. As a result, in the United States, it is claimed to achieve up to 35 MPG in the city, 34 MPG on the highway, and 35 MPG combined, according to Subaru. This means it’s 40 percent more efficient in the city and 25 percent more efficient on open roads versus the non-hybrid.

The hybrid system is all hooked up to a familiar Lineatronic CVT, while in typical Subaru fashion, all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard. However, unlike many automakers who are moving towards electronic AWD systems for their hybrids, Subaru chose to retain the mechanical Symmetrical AWD setup in the Forester Hybrid for more consistent and natural power delivery.

As for its design, it’s essentially the same as the 2024 Forester that debuted in the U.S. about a year ago already (why isn’t the new Forester in the Philippines yet, Subaru?) so when it arrives eventually in the Philippines, it’s already going to be a two-year-old car. Nevertheless, the current generation Forester contains a wide grille that merges with the LED headlights, the LED light bar (for the US market’s Touring variant), and the Y-shaped LED daytime running lights on each end.

Wheel sizes range from 17 to 19 inches wheels, depending on the variant, and if it does go on sale in the Philippines, we can expect similar exterior features to the range-topping Touring. Subaru would also be happy to tell you that the new Forester’s platform comes with a 10 percent increase in rigidity. At the same time, handling has been improved further by using the WRX’s responsive steering rack (just like in the Crosstrek).

Moving inside the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid, its interior design is pretty much what you’ve seen in every other Subaru on sale today, inheriting tech features such as an 11.6-inch portrait Starlink touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For the first time ever, digital gauges are now being offered outside the Japanese market. Other premium features include a panoramic sunroof, a powered tailgate, and a Harman Kardon sound system.