There are at least 24 Compact SUV models on the road, more than any other category. In fact, the category is so popular, some manufacturers have more than one. While Toyota and Honda dominate the field with RAV4 and CR-V, the Subaru Forester manages to stand out with its class-leading all-wheel drive system, unique styling, and now a competitive hybrid powertrain.
I was impressed when I drove the redesigned Forester last year, giving it high marks for its updated styling, improved performance, and refined interior. Customers seemed to agree. Sales were up more than 15% in 2024. None of that changes with the hybrid. In fact, hybrids are gaining significant traction in this sector thanks to offerings from Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Ford, and others. It is expected that hybrids will account for more than 25% of CUV sales in the next few years, making this an important addition to Subaru’s line up.
It Doesn’t Look Like A Hybrid
Subaru was deliberate in the styling choices they made, or should we say, choices they didn’t make for the Forester Hybrid. The only things that differentiate the hybrid from its gas-only powered brethren are the badges on the tailgate and fenders, as well as an exclusive exterior color, Daybreak Blue Pearl. There’s no special grill, no change to the trim, the body panels are all the same, and even the wheels are the same as those on the corresponding trim levels of each powertrain.
Hybrid Power and Efficiency
Forester Hybrid is powered by a 2.5-liter boxer engine in series with a three-phase AC synchronous electric motor that’s hidden inside the transmission. Also encased in that housing is a motor generator that helps start the car and recharges the system’s battery. While you might think that 2.5-liter engine is the same as the one in the gas version of Forester, you’d be wrong. Subaru’s engineers made a number of changes to optimize it for hybridization, improving not just efficiency, but also performance and vibration. Updates include a new cylinder head, cylinder block, camshaft, crank pulley, intake manifold, and exhaust pipe and muffler. The result is a system that the EPA says will go 35 miles on a gallon of gas – a 40% improvement over the non-hybrid model – and is significantly more powerful (194 horses). The result is the Forester Hybrid feels more lively than the gas-only version.
One of the best things about this hybrid system is the way it’s packaged into the vehicle. Unlike some setups where the addition of a bulky battery compromises interior or cargo space, Forester Hybrid’s interior dimensions are identical to the base car. Nor does it cut into fuel capacity, which yields one other benefit, range. With a fully charged battery and 16.6 gallons of fuel in the tank, the Forester Hybrid is capable of covering a bladder busting 581 miles between pit stops.
Also contributing to the improved driving dynamics is an all-new CVT transmission. While I’d prefer a traditional automatic, this is a huge improvement over the offering in the gas-powered Forester. Gone are the pulleys and chain. In their place is a planetary gear set that feels much more connected and reduces that slipping feeling you get under hard acceleration with the old CVT. Now this is still a Forester, so it’s no WRX when it comes to acceleration or dynamics, but the powertrain is 100% appropriate for this CUV’s mission.
Go Anywhere… Almost
One big advantage Forester Hybrid has over the RAV4 and CR-V Hybrid is its full-time, mechanical all-wheel drive system. The Toyota and Honda use and electric motor to spin the rear wheels which is fine for the street. The Forester, however, has a drive shaft that turns the rear axle with an electronically controlled center coupling that actively manages the torque split depending on weather, terrain, and driving style. Subaru pays a bit of a mileage penalty for its superior traction but if you drive in deeper snow or off-road, it’s well worth the price. The other advantage is its superior ground clearance. Forester boasts, 8.7 inches with 19.3-degree breakover, 19-degree approach, and 24.3-degree departure angles. All of which were welcome as I put the Forester through its paces at the Hollister Hills State vehicular recreation area.
Our test began on a steep, rutted hill with a head-to-head climbing test against the RAV4 and CR-V. All cars were equipped with similar all-season tires and were in their “off-road” drive modes before my attempt to reach the top. I started with the RAV4 and while the run began with some promise, about two-thirds of the way up, the electric motor driving the rear wheels gave up and I had was forced to back down in defeat. The CR-V didn’t fare any better, and in fact, when it stopped making forward progress, before I could get on the brake, the car started rolling backwards quickly in a manner that was quite disconcerting. Fortunately I was able to get it stopped and roll back under control. When it came time to make my attempt in the Subaru, I used the same technique and in the heavy ruts, where the Honda and Toyota gave up, the Forester kept grinding and scrambled up and over with a bit more coaxing.
Once that was done it was time to take on a 15-mile off-road loop that included everything from shallow water crossings to rutted trails, a gravel pit, loose rock, and steep downhill grades. With the dual-function X-Mode engaged in Snow/Dirt mode (Mud/Deep Snow is the other option), the Forester handled all the terrain changes with ease. One of the nice features is the way Subaru executes hill descent control. It activates automatically when you’re in X-Mode. Just pick a comfortable speed, lift your foot off the throttle as you crest the hill, and the car will continue downhill at that speed. All you have to do is steer. The front wheels never locked up and the car always felt in complete control. If you find it’s too fast or too slow, you can modulate it with the brake and accelerator pedal. While the trails were challenging and proved the Forester hybrid more capable than most vehicles in this category, it’s no Wrangler, so you’ll want to stay away from the Rubicon Trail.
Back on paved roads, Forester Hybrid is quieter and more composed than the gas-only Forester. The suspension has been tuned to handle the extra weight, especially in back where the 300 pound battery pack is located. This had me a bit nervous as I traversed the rain-slicked switchbacks on Skyline Drive which runs along the Russian Ridge through the Redwoods just south of San Francisco. Steering is light, but consistent. Like all electronic power assist systems, there’s little to no feedback, but this isn’t a sports car so I’ll cut the Forester some slack. As a family hauler and occasional soft-road vehicle, the Forester is perfectly suited to the task with a suspension that doesn’t beat you up on the highway, but isn’t so forgiving that it bounces and becomes unsettled in the dirt.
Forester Trim Levels
Available in Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring trim levels, there’s no budget version of the Forester Hybrid. This means in its least expensive trim you get premium features like 18-inch alloy wheels, a 11.6-inch touchscreen in the center stack, heated seats, a leather wrapped steering wheel an shift knob, a customizable 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, X-Mode dual mode with hill descent control, and Subaru’s Eye-Sight driver assist system, which deserves special praise for not being too intrusive with its lane departure warnings on the winding roads, where in an effort to push the car harder than you ever should (for testing purposes only, of course), I occasionally stepped over the lines without the drama most systems inflict upon their drivers.
Move up to Sport and you add Subaru’s animal-free StarTex upholstery, which looks great and is easy to clean – an important feature for dog owners, which account for more than 60% of Forester owners according to Subaru. You also get a gloss black grille, 19-inch alloy bronze wheels, and a premium Harman Kardon speaker system. The Limited package adds contrast stitching to the StarTex upholstery, an 8-way power passenger seat, reverse automatic braking, and special chrome and black exterior badging. The top-of-the line Touring model steps up both the comfort and technology with ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, and leather-trimmed interior upholstery with ultrasuede inserts as well as a camera equipped rear view mirror, 360-degree surround view monitor, a driver monitoring system that lets you know when it’s time to take a break. Outside, the Touring model is distinguished by 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels with a dark grey finish, and two-tone paint exterior options in Autumn Green Metallic, River Rock Pearl, Magnetite Gray Metallic, or Brilliant Bronze Metallic paired with a black roof.
Front and rear seat leg room is ample and easily passed my simple test of can a 6’3″ Harvey sit comfortably in the rear seat behind a 6’3″ Harvey properly positioned in the drivers seat. This means even with teenagers in the house, the Forester has plenty of room for four people, and their gear thanks to its 27.5 cubic feat of cargo space and the flexibility of split folding rear seats.
A Few Nits
While Forester Hybrid is one of the best options in the Compact SUV segment, it is not without flaws. Subaru’s Starlink entertainment, navigation, and security interface can be confounding. While the 11.6-inch touch screen makes a great first impression with bright, easy to read graphics, and physical controls for volume, tuning, and temperature, the system is slow with a bit too much lag time when toggling between apps. The HVAC controls have a persistent spot on the of the screen, which is great, except their placed at the bottom which is way out of the driver’s sight line, meaning you have to take your eyes off the road to operate it. You’ll also want to take time to learn all the ins and outs of the system before taking to the road as some of the most used features, like the button to disable the auto stop/start are buried in the menus.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a comfortable, capable, versatile, and reliable compact SUV that’s built for the outdoors and can take your family a long way without refueling, then put the Subaru Forester Hybrid on your shopping list. When you compare it to the other top sellers in the category, it offers a better all-wheel drive system and a more spacious interior, with all the features you’ve come to expect from America’s favorite counter-culture car brand. But don’t expect all this goodness to come cheap.
Forester Hybrid is on sale now and prices start at $34,995 destination and delivery for the Premium model, $37,995 for the Sport, $39,410 for the Limited, and the top-of-the-line Touring rings the register at $41,695. All of those prices are before a mandatory $1,420 Destination charge, any options, and tariffs that may or may not be coming out way. Those prices, while competitive with the hybrid versions of RAV4 and CR-V, are a lot for some people. If you really want the utility of a Forester and can live without great gas mileage and all the fancy features, a base, gas model will save you about $5,000. Either way, you’ll be getting a car that you should be with you for a lot of miles, years, and memories.
