2025 Subaru
Forester

Subaru kicked off the Forester’s sixth generation with a redesign for the popular nameplate. The sturdy SUV shows off a restyled front end, characterized by new headlights and a wider grille, while updated badging and taillights define the back. An improved infotainment system ties the cabin together, with a range of display options from a smaller dual-screen layout in the Base to an 11.6-inch screen in higher trims. Under the hood, a revised BOXER engine powers most of the Forester family, and 19-inch wheels are now available. Roof rails have been made standard, with new low-profile rails for select trims. The model’s first-ever foot-activated power liftgate has been added to the list of available amenities. The heated steering wheel is now standard on the Limited, and durable StarTex upholstery now adorns the seats in the Sport trim.

Changes aside, the long-time favorite Forester continues to draw in drivers looking for a comfortable, capable, and versatile all-wheel-drive utility vehicle. The latest Subaru EyeSight safety and driver-assistance technology adds a standard suite of semi-autonomous technologies, making the Forester both safe and practical. As always, Subaru’s standard Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive continues to give the Forester an edge when it comes to all-terrain traction and stability.

Shop Subaru Forester

Trims and Powertrains

The 2025 Forester is made in six trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring. The standard powertrain on the Base and Premium trims pairs a retuned 2.5-liter four-cylinder Subaru BOXER engine, generating 180 horsepower and 178 lb.-ft. of torque, with a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Sport, Limited, and Touring instead get a revised Lineartronic CVT with an 8-speed manual mode and paddle shifters. The Wilderness retains the previous model year’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder BOXER, which produces 182 horsepower and 176 lb.-ft. of torque, coupled with a Lineartronic CVT with a 7-speed manual mode and paddles. As always, Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel-drive (AWD) comes standard.

The Base, Premium, and Limited all achieve an EPA-estimated 26 mpg around town and 33 mpg on the highway. The Sport and Touring return an estimated 25 city/32 highway, while the Wilderness matches their city fuel economy but dips to 28 mpg on the highway. Active torque vectoring, trailer stability assist, and traction control are installed across the lineup. The Premium gets the default version of Subaru’s X-MODE, while the Sport, Limited, and Touring move up to dual-function X-MODE with Deep Snow/Mud settings. In keeping with its exceptional capability, the Wilderness is the only trim that gets enhanced X-MODE with Low Speed/Low Ratio Gradient Control. There’s a difference in braking as well, with the standard system consisting of ventilated 12.4-inch front rotors and 11.8-inch rear rotors while the Wilderness gets 11.2-inch rear rotors. The Wilderness also stands 9.2 inches off the ground, exceeding 8.7-inch ground clearance of the rest of the lineup. The towing capacity for most trims is 1,500 pounds, but the Wilderness doubles that for a maximum tow limit of 3,000 pounds.

2025 Subaru Forester with roof rack

Standard Equipment by Trim Level

The Base is decked out with cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster with analog gauges, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, an illuminated USB-A input port, LED steering responsive headlights with automatic on/off, LED daytime running lights, raised roof rails (rated to 700 static pounds, meaning a rooftop tent can be used when the vehicle is parked), a 60/40-split folding rear seatback, a cargo-area light, cargo area bag and tie-down hooks, and 17-inch alloy wheels with a dark-metallic machined finish. The Premium is improved with heated front seats, a panoramic power moonroof, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, push-button ignition, heated side-view mirrors, LED fog lights, an illuminated USB-C input port, illuminated rear USB-A and C charging ports, a folding rear armrest with cupholders, and reclining rear seatbacks. The Sport adds water-repellent StarTex seating surfaces, heated side-view mirrors with integrated turn indicators, low-profile roof rails, stainless steel-tipped exhaust pipes, and bronze-finished 19-inch alloy wheels.

The Wilderness adds a 6.3-inch multi-functional driver information display, a leather-wrapped shift knob, dual front USB input ports, dual rear USB charging ports, specific hexagonal LED fog lights, raised roof rails (rated to 800 static pounds), one-touch folding rear seatbacks, and matte-black 17-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires and a full-sized spare. A power liftgate with automatic close and height memory function is optional.

The Limited is leather-upholstered, with an 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, a heated steering wheel, a foot-activated hands-free power liftgate with automatic close and height memory, and 18-inch alloy wheels with a dark-metallic machined finish. The Touring gets it all, including heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, driver’s seat and side-mirror memory, low-profile roof rails, and 19-inch alloy wheels with a dark-gray machined finish.

2025 Subaru Forester Safety Features

Safety and Driver Assistance

Every 2025 Forester comes with Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist technology suite, providing advanced adaptive cruise control with lane centering, pre-collision braking, lane departure and sway warning, lane keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. Also standard are high beam assist, brake assist, a brake override system, and a rearview camera. Blind-spot detection with lane change assist and rear cross-traffic alert is added at the Sport level, while the Wilderness and Touring get reverse automatic braking (available on the Sport and Limited). The Touring alone is equipped with Subaru’s DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System.

2025 Subaru Forester Infotainment

Infotainment and Connectivity

The Base’s infotainment system features two vertically stacked 7-inchtouchscreens with USB-integrated Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio and Travel Link, and Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming. The Wilderness upgrades to a single 8-inch touchscreen with voice-activated controls and NFC technology. The Premium, Sport, and Limited have Subaru’s Multimedia Plus System, with an 11.6-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot capability. Only the Touring adds onboard navigation (available on the Limited and Wilderness).

The Base gets four speakers with the default sound system, while the Premium, Sport, Wilderness, and Limited have six. The Touring is loaded with a Harmon Kardon audio system with 11 speakers and an amplifier; the Wilderness is eligible for the same system, but with nine speakers. The Premium and higher trims are set up to access MySubaru Connected Services (automatic collision notification, SOS emergency assistance, enhanced roadside assistance, maintenance notifications, a monthly vehicle health report, diagnostic alerts, remote engine start with climate control, remote lock and unlock, and concierge services).

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