2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid

Subaru’s Forester compact SUV is all-new for 2025, and it brings enhanced technology and convenience features to the model’s distinctive rugged capability and standard all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. This new Forester Hybrid adds impressive fuel economy to the equation, to the tune of 35 mpg combined — a 40% improvement over the standard model. Yet it retains the Forester’s adventurous attitude, excellent safety systems, and good value proposition. This marks the first gas-electric hybrid Forester in the U.S. and what looks to be a potent rival to hybrid versions of the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, and Mazda CX-50.

The Subaru Forester Hybrid is an all-new model. It follows the introduction of the standard 2025 Subaru Forester, which entered its sixth generation. The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid marks the first such gas-electric Forester in the U.S. and the debut of Subaru’s new series-parallel hybrid system. That setup is also coming to the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid.

At its $36,415 starting price, the Subaru Forester Hybrid starts higher — sometimes by several thousand dollars — than the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Kia Sportage Hybrid, Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, and Ford Escape Hybrid. Notably, the Forester Hybrid lineup starts at a well-equipped trim level and includes all-wheel drive, which costs extra in some of those rivals. The Honda CR-V Hybrid and the new Mazda CX-50 Hybrid are closer in price.

Before buying a new Forester Hybrid SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The Subaru Forester enjoys some of the strongest resale values in its class, and we predict the hybrid version will also carry that trait. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid uses a new gas-electric system that combines a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and battery-fed electric motors. In total, the system makes 194 horsepower, 14 more than the standard Forester. Like the standard, gasoline-powered Forester, this hybrid version has all-wheel drive standard and uses a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

Fuel Economy

Here’s where the Subaru Forester Hybrid stands out and its reason for being. The 2025 Forester Hybrid is estimated to earn 35 mpg in combined city and highway driving. Those numbers are a nice step up from the standard Forester, which achieves 29 mpg at best. Still, those efficiency figures aren’t the best out there for hybrid compact SUVs, even when equipped with all-wheel drive. An all-wheel-drive Kia Sportage manages 38 mpg combined, as does the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. A Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, which also comes standard with all-wheel drive, earns up to 39 mpg; the Mazda CX-50 Hybrid, also with all-wheel drive standard, earns 38 mpg; and the Honda CR-V hybrid with all-wheel drive gets up to 37 mpg. Note that Toyota, Kia, and Hyundai also offer plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) variants of their respective rivals.

It should come as little surprise that the Subaru Forester Hybrid’s interior resembles the standard model’s. That means rugged yet ergonomic materials, a traditional transmission shifter (versus buttons or dials), and good visibility through the tall windows – something of a Subaru hallmark.

Yet the Forester Hybrid brings some premium features as well. All models include the 11.6-inch vertically oriented central touchscreen with navigation reserved for higher trims of the standard Forester, along with something not found on any gasoline-only 2025 Forester: a slick 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. This display brings navigation and Apple Maps compatibility that comes in addition to the nav-equipped central screen. Like the standard Forester, Subaru says its animal-free StarTex synthetic leather is available on the Forester Hybrid. We’re still awaiting detailed specs on cargo capacity and the like, but the numbers should be impressive if it’s anything close to the standard Forester.

Here again, the hybrid Forester is in close alignment styling-wise with the regular Forester. The 2025 Forester Hybrid retains the upright, boxy design with good proportions and enough unique traits to make it interesting. We dig the horizontal line connecting the rear windows to the liftgate window, with “Symmetrical AWD” spelled across. The only things that give away that this is the hybrid version are small labels of just that on the front doors and liftgate. This model also has an exclusive color option: Daybreak Blue Pearl and a contrast Crystal Black Silica roof, available with some color choices.

Fuel efficiency
This reason is why you buy a hybrid, and while 35 mpg combined isn’t the best out there, it’s still good for an all-wheel-drive SUV. It’s also good if you’d like to limit your time at gas stations in general. Subaru says the Forester Hybrid can go up to 581 miles on a tank of gas. So you’d better get your slushies somewhere else.

Digital instrument cluster
It’s nice to see Subaru inject more tech into its interiors, and the standard 12.3-inch instrument cluster here is a nice addition.

Adventure-ready
Even if you never take advantage of the Forester’s 8.7 inches of ground clearance and all-wheel-drive abilities to tame rough terrain, it’s good to know they’re there. Subarus also have a well-regarded history of using those traits to make commutes on slick roads a less white-knuckles affair – something we can personally attest to.

Emergency Stop Assist
Part of the Forester Hybrid’s strong suite of active safety features, this will stop the vehicle, turn on the hazard lights, unlock the doors, and call emergency services if the driver becomes unresponsive to warnings while using adaptive cruise control.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
This is becoming more and more common on new vehicles, but we still appreciate the feature. If it’s been several years since you purchased or leased a new vehicle, this smartphone connectivity feature will feel like a revelation.

Interior appeal
The Forester Hybrid offers several cabin color choices, depending on the trim. Beyond the usual gray and black hues, one really adds a premium look: Touring Brown Leather.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid employs a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine coupled with electric motors and a lithium-ion battery. It makes a combined 194 horsepower. As with the standard Forester, this hybrid model uses a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive.

3-year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Subaru’s new-vehicle warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first, while powertrain coverage is five years or 60,000 miles. Batteries for hybrid systems usually have a generous warranty, the details of which we are awaiting from Subaru.

Safety

The 2025 Subaru Forester and Forester Hybrid have yet to be crash-tested, but the 2024 Forester garnered Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the 5-Star top score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). All models come with Subaru’s impressive EyeSight safety suite with features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. It has been enhanced for 2025 to operate faster and smoother and now features Emergency Stop Assist, which activates if the driver becomes unresponsive when using adaptive cruise control.