PHOENIX — It's true, the Subaru brand has a cult-like following with legendary standard all-wheel drive, a reputation for steadfast reliability and excellent resale values. Competing in the largest and most competitive compact-crossover class with varsity and best selling brands like Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, the Forester, Subaru's middle child being larger than the Crosstrek and smaller than the Outback, is now in its 27th year and just completed a thorough refreshing for the 2025 model year. 

Forester is the brand's second best-selling behind the slightly larger and pricier Outback has thus far in 2024 moved up to be the best-selling so the refresh seems to be working.

Never a competitor let alone a finalist in the runway beauty contest, the Forester is a good car, in fact a very good cat and the updates for the sixth-generation 2025 Forester are modest but meaningful.

From the outside, its appearance remains on the frumpy side compared to competitors. There's still the tall, boxy styling with large windows with every exterior body panel new, squared-off wheel wells, a bit longer and wider overall, yet instantly identified as a Subaru Forester - nothing radical has changed, just overall a nicer, more finished look including the new bronze finished 19-inch alloy wheels on our Sport trim of all things. Designers really getting out on the skinny branches with that. The grille is new and fenders now have a prominent flare. Our Sport trim had black exterior trim bits and some bronze and chrome badging both inside and out.

As for the interior, here's where one can sit up and take notice. It's actually and for the first time nice.There's all-new seats in the five-passenger Forester with noticeably heavier thigh and shoulder bolstering, much more padding everywhere and far less hard plastics. There's a new enhanced 11.6-inch touch-screen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now available.

Subaru has discontinued the CD player for 2025. Overall cabin materials continue to be durable with stain and water-resistant StarTex seating surfaces to accommodate families with kids or pets or both and there's a leather wrapped steering wheel. There's contrasts of metallic trim and textured design on the dash and doors including a diamond-like dash panel over the glove box. Cargo capacity is up to 75 cubic feet, among the best in class, when seats are folded flat and there's numerous hooks and attachment points to hang items from. Subaru debuts an optional foot-activated hands-free power rear lift gate, standard on our Sport trim.



The Forester is powered by the same 2.5-liter flat-four cylinder that has been tweaked a bit for 2025 resulting in a bit less horsepower at 180 down from 182 last year but upped the torque to 178 from 176 lb-ft. Our Sport model is rated at 28 MPG combined city-highway driving.

The transmission is a continuously variable automatic that includes paddle shifters that give the driver some control over the ever-changing gearing of the transmission mimicking an eight speed transmission. Unlike most competitors, a hybrid-powered Forester is not offered but is expected to arrive next year as a 2026 model to better compete with Toyota, Hyundai and Honda.

Subaru updated its full-time all-wheel-drive system in the new Forester with their dual-function X-Mode adding a Deep Snow/Mud modes to the standard single-function Snow/Dirt mode and it does make a difference noted on our off-road testing in deep sand. The Deep Snow/Mud limits the traction control system to allow for more wheel spin resulting in better grip.

Perhaps the biggest and best change for the sixth-edition comes on the assembly line where structural welding and adhesive materials along with immensely more sound deadening materials makes a most notable quieter and solid sounding and feeling Forester. Buy comparison, the previous Forester was built with about 26 square-feet of structural adhesive while the new one has 89. The new Lexus GX has 46. Gone is the tinny clink when shutting the doors in favor of a solid thunk. This is newfound refinement in spades.

But know that driving excitement isn't part of the deal with Forester. The engine simply doesn't have the strength it needs to bound along entertainingly. As mentioned, the ride is comfortable and well controlled and driving over broken roads or modest off-road trails are handled with aplomb and ease. But push it hard into corners results in some nose diving and some expected topsy handling for the tall-riding Forester.  Of course, diving into corners isn't a part of most commutes especially those aged 62 and older, the average age of a Forester buyer.

Overall, we come away with an impression that the new Forester is a near-perfect vehicle for most people, and it's not like anyone actually needs more car than the Forester. It isn't powerful and we wished for a few more horsepower but it is quick enough to keep up with traffic, and it rides and drives extremely well with room for five and their stuff.

The audio system sounded good, we think the Forester's new looks are an improvement, the air conditioning was commendable in our 110-degree Arizona summer testing of the vehicle and for most people the Forester will be 100 percent sufficient and in the automotive world, sufficient isn't always easy to pull off. While a beauty contest isn't in its future, it certainly doesn't look or feel like its a compromise to own and drive.
 
Vital Stats

Base Price: $34,495
Price as Tested: $37,590
Powertrain: 2.5-liter 180-horsepower, flat 4-cylinder with a continuously variable transmission and standard all-wheel drive.
EPA Fuel Economy: 25/32/28 MPG City/Highway/Combined
Seats: 5

Where Built: Two factories: Gunma, Japan and Lafayette, Indiana

Competes With:
Chevrolet Equinox
Dodge Hornet
Ford Bronco Sport
Ford Escape
Honda CR-V
Hyundai Tucson
Jeep Cherokee
Kia Sportage
Mazda CX-5
Nissan Rogue
Toyota RAV4
Volkswagen Tiguan

Crash Test Safety Ratings: Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash tested the 2025 Subaru Forester.

Likes:
Improved build quality and sound deadening
Standard all-wheel drive
Overall well balanced ride and drive quality
Impressive Safety features - Subaru EyeSight Assist Technology

Dislikes:
Subpar engine power compared to class competitors
Touch-screen infotainment not the easiest to use

— Jim Prueter