The new Subaru Forester range will herald seven variants, new hybrid power, and a substantial boost in safety, tech and functionality.
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Subaru has disclosed more details about its upcoming sixth-generation Forester mid-size SUV, which will feature the option of an upgraded hybrid powertrain at launch and offer a total of seven variants.
The 2025 Subaru Forester will make its Australian debut at this weekend’s Melbourne Motor Show ahead of a mid-year launch, with pricing to be revealed closer to the car’s official on-sale date.
Two powertrains will be offered as part of a seven-variant line-up including a ‘strong’ hybrid system that is said to improve upon its predecessor’s shortcomings.
Still marketed as the ‘e-Boxer’ system, this new hybrid engine option pairs Subaru’s familiar 2.5-litre four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine with an 88kW electric motor and a 1.1kWh battery system.
The hybrid component is borrowed from long-time partner Toyota. However, instead of an electric motor powering the rear wheels on-demand like an all-wheel-drive Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, the Subaru Forester Hybrid retains a mechanically-linked all-wheel-drive system.
This is mated to a continuously-variable automatic transmission. Subaru claims the Forester e-Boxer can cover 1000km on a single tank of petrol.
Official output numbers for the Australian market aren’t yet available, but the system produces 145kW in US examples.
A non-hybrid petrol-only option is also available, paired with the same CVT and AWD systems.
There’s a host of new equipment underpinning the 2025 Subaru Forester too, including a significant boost to its safety credentials.
Subaru’s EyeSight suite of safety measures comes with new capabilities including a new Emergency Driving Stop System that can bring the vehicle to a halt if it detects prolonged inattention from the driver.
The Forester also borrows the 11.6-inch infotainment screen that was first seen in the Impreza and WRX – equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless charging technology.
Select hybrid variants also benefit from a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster with specific read-outs for the hybrid system’s status.
There are four non-hybrid variants in the range: the base Forester, Forester Premium, Forester Sport, and Forester Touring.
The hybrid range is largely the same, save for the deletion of the mid-spec Premium grade.
All Foresters will be fitted with an AWD system, X-Mode off-road modes, a 360-degree surround-view camera, nine airbags, an 11.6-inch touchscreen, wireless phone charging, integrated roof rails, and heated front seats.
The 2025 Subaru Forester is due in showrooms in mid-2025, with pricing to be announced closer to its launch.
2025 Subaru Forester price in Australia
2025 Subaru Forester AWD standard features:
2025 Subaru Forester AWD Premium adds (over Forester AWD):
2025 Subaru Forester AWD Sport adds (over Forester AWD Premium):
2025 Subaru Forester AWD Touring adds (over Forester AWD Sport):
2025 Subaru Forester AWD Hybrid standard features:
2025 Subaru Forester AWD Hybrid Sport adds (over Forester AWD Hybrid):
2025 Subaru Forester AWD Hybrid Touring adds (over Forester AWD Hybrid Sport):
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Tom started out in the automotive industry by exploiting his photographic skills but quickly learned journalists got the better end of the deal. With tenures at CarAdvice, Wheels Media, and now Drive, Tom's breadth of experience and industry knowledge informs a strong opinion on all things automotive. At Drive, Tom covers automotive news, car reviews, advice, and holds a special interest in long-form feature stories.
