The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid has just been revealed ahead of the 2025 Chicago Auto Show, as the latest addition to Subaru’s hybrid lineup. As announced previously, the all-new Subaru Forester Hybrid will feature the same hybrid technology that is also found in the recently-unveiled Crosstrek Hybrid.
The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid uses the new ‘Strong Hybrid System’ that the company co-developed with Toyota. The 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle naturally-aspirated flat-four petrol engine is connected to two electric motors, one motor acts as a generator that charges the 1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, while the other motor propels the car forwards either together with the engine or on pure electric power – albeit for a very brief moment due to the size of the battery.
Altogether, the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid has a max output of 194 hp – up from 182 hp on the 2.5L petrol variant – sent to all wheels via the Subaru Symmetrical All-wheel Drive system and CVT transmission. Official torque numbers, as well as separate figures for both the petrol engine and motor, were not listed by Subaru of America.
As a full-blooded hybrid, the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid touts a 40% better fuel economy than its non-hybrid counterparts. The SUV has a claimed range of 935 km of range on a full tank, with an EPA-estimated mileage rating of 6.7 L/100km in city driving, and a 6.9 L/100km mileage on the highway.
RELATED: Up to 1,000 km range! Subaru debuts next generation hybrid powertrain co-developed with Toyota
While it mostly retains the same design as the regular non-hybrid Subaru Forester, the hybrid variant will come with an exclusive colour option dubbed Daybreak Blue Pearl, and for certain colours, it’ll also get a contrasting Crystal Black Mica colour for the roof panel. Of course, badges on the outside will denote the electrified beating heart underneath the bonnet.
On the inside, expect to see the 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen infotainment system equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Additionally, the driver’s side will have a new 12.3-inch digital instrument display that now shows hybrid-specific information.
RELATED: All-new Subaru Forester debuts and it looks like the Explorer – Improved AWD, ADAS
Other standard features the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid has comes in the form of X-Mode Dual Mode with Hill Descent Control, Active Torque Vectoring and Vehicle Dynamics Control, all similar to the petrol variant.
In addition, the new hybrid variant will also receive the latest Eyesight Driver Assist Technology safety systems. These include new capabilities to detect pedestrians, as well as features such as autonomous emergency braking, reverse automatic braking, blind-spot detection, and lane change assist.
The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid is expected to arrive in the US in spring 2025, and with a sticker price that starts at USD34,995 (approx. RM156k).
The latest sixth-generation Subaru Forester has yet to arrive here on Malaysian shores, and neither has the Japanese carmaker’s hybrid technology (including the previous e-Boxer mild hybrid). The Subaru Forester currently on sale in Malaysia is still the previous fifth-generation model, offered with a single 2.0-litre naturally aspirated boxer engine option with 156 hp and 196 Nm of torque.
Since May of 2024, Tan Chong International Limited (TCIL) and Subaru have ceased all local assembly operations (CKD) in Malaysia. All Subaru cars that are currently sold in the country are mainly imported units (CBU) from Japan.
READ ALSO: Subaru finally blesses us with the WRX STI S210 prototype but there’s no manual
GALLERY
