Review: 2025 Subaru Forester Sport - Underwhelming

I spend a week with the 2025 Subaru Forester Sport to see what it's like to live with this new generation of the Forester. Overall, while it does have a few perks and does things fairly well, in most ways it feels underwhelming compared to most competitors that do things better in various ways, often at lower price points than the Forester as well. But for the Subaru lovers that won't consider anything else, the 2025 Forester is still a fine upgrade from the last generation, as long as you like big screens. What do you think about the 2025 Forester? Thanks to Subaru for providing this vehicle to review.

Time stamps:
0:00 Exterior
1:43 Interior
9:31 Initial impressions
11:31 Acceleration
14:54 Ride and handling
19:49 Highway driving and safety tech
22:47 Fuel economy
23:44 Pricing and competitor comparisons
28:01 Final thoughts

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[taelee]

Haven't bought a new Subaru since 2014 for my wife's Forester XT.... still holding onto that car and my 2006 STI but unless something changes I don't think I will be back buying another Subie. Just because you put a "Sport" badge doesn't make it any sporty... it is a far cry from older turbo Foresters.

[TumblingMustard]

The Subaru design team has entirely lost the plot. Some of the worst looking cars on the road.

[ThatWasherNerd]

It’s impressive how much Subaru lets its consumers down.

[MrGoodH]

I’m getting huge 2014 Mitsubishi outlander vibes from the rear!

[schellingrs]

Matt deserves TRIPLE the subscribers count.

[_IIN]

The interior is so boring imo… that vertical screen with the big black borders and vents is starting to look lazy.

[DJL]

I’m not convinced Subaru designers have fully functioning eyesight and find it ironic that they use the word ‘eyesight’ to describe their suite of safety systems. 😂😂

[kevinnorris]

The infotainment in my 2018 WRX was incredibly slow and laggy so I'm not surprised that Subaru wouldn't do much to actually fix that. That said, they really should put more effort into their infotainment given that it controls the climate controls now. Given that so many comparable SUV's in America have an AWD option now, I don't know why anyone would choose the Subaru tbh

[TaffPlays]

Watching this review made me realise how much I love my manual 2006 Forester more than this new one.... Thank you, Matt for further confirming my thought that Subaru don't make cars like they used to anymore!

[RockMiach]

Wow, that screen is slow! Glad my 86 has the old Subaru screen. Works great.

[c.a.r.s.carsandrelevantspecs]

Thanks for this review. I used to own a 2016 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT. It would be great if Subaru would bring back the XT with the newer 2.4 turbo and a better transmission. It will be interesting to see what the hybrid brings.

[boost]

Subaru needs to realize 180hp just doesnt cut it these days. That is especially true when paired with a horrible cvt. Hell, even the 2.4 turbo doesn't make enough power to be a brands top engine. With a cvt.
I could forgive the lack of keeping up with the times if subaru was super reliable. But thats not true either.

[crt]

The new Forester looks like a Ford and Honda had a love child, then the Fonda got catfished by a Toyota, and now we have a soulless Toyondard.
I said it.

[timflaherty]

Really underwhelmed with this redesign. And the bronze accents on the Sport look terrible. Especially with colors that don't "match." After hitting such a home run with the Outback Wilderness, they really missed with this one. And they failed to address the biggest problem with the Forester which is that it is underpowered, especially at altitude.

[andrewalvarez]

I literally don’t understand how Subaru hasn’t updated this infotainment, it’s a disgrace honestly . It’s literally the slowest operating system in any modern vehicle . And the peewee’s playhouse graphics are a joke . 😂

[UmbrellaCorporation]

I love my Subaru forester 2025. Don’t know why people hate it.

[toobigtofit]

Always funny recognizing places around Pittsburgh in your videos. I've kinda grown to like the large screen in my 22 WRX. It is slow when you start yes, but I do like the real estate once you get into Android Auto.

[ChavaYang]

That bronze looks like someone plasticdip over it. Not good.

[Suction_]

looks way too much like an explorer in the front

[enonek]

Head on it looks like a undercover Ford Explorer used by State Police. 🚓