2025 Subaru Forester Early Review | Consumer Reports

The 2025 Subaru Forester remains true to its roots as a sturdy, functional, and practical small SUV with standard all-wheel drive. The sixth-generation redesign brings new styling with chunky fender flares, a beefier grille, and slick headlights. But the biggest change is the increase in sound-deadening material, added in an effort to create a quieter cabin—long a weak point for the popular SUV.

[LoveMyZJ]

Test-drove a '25 base model today, and I very impressed with the ride quality and how quiet it was, alon with firm yet supportive seats. They made meaningful changes under the skin 👍

[ItsAlive]

I hate driving a car with blank covers for options on the dash but driving a car that has a bumper for two exhaust tail pipes and one has a blank cover is next level

[gcanyon]

We’re on our 4th forester now. It’s such a great all around vehicle. Tall windows and lots of visibility are key features for me. Hopefully nothing has changed in this regard…

[saltyt.]

I hope you noticed the removal of HomeLink on the rearview mirror of the Forester Touring model’s Smart Digital rearview mirror. HomeLink is on every lower trim of Forester. What a huge misstep.
It’s also available on the Ascent Touring and the Outback Touring / Touring XT with their Smart Digital rearview mirror. Not sure what happened there!

[JRBeckford]

That front end looks so much like an Explorer 2 gens back.

[andrewleventis]

I wish I discovered Subarus 20 years ago. Best bang for your buck

[Brian-Burke]

I'm surprised Subaru makes you buy a package for blindspot monitoring.

[Ike]

I love my 2021 touring trim, I am interested in seeing how the hybrid does when it’s available but I’m in no hurry to part with my current Forester.

[jparker]

Peak torque changed from 4, 400 to 3, 700. Old wasn't 5, 400 rpm. 180 HP lost 2HP to reduce particulate matter (soot).

[pianoplayer]

To speak on the Subaru driver monitoring system. It needs a little tweaking. Sometimes when I’m driving and I tilt my head a little down to block a little sun, it will alert me telling me to keep my eyes on the road when in reality I do. Also when I’m squinting it does the same thing

[baldsquatch]

I have a 23 Forester (after driving a 16 for 7 years). The 23 is so much better. I imagine the 25 is even better than the 23. There is however one negative change from my 16 to 23. The CVT simulated shifts are unneeded and seem to cause worse fuel economy, especially in city driving/stop and go. This change could only result in less efficiency. Definitely not getting advertised mpg, or what I got driving 2016. Other than that, huge fan of the Forester!

[shadowdance]

I had an older Subaru forester. It needed an engine replacement and then the head gasket went. So much reservations about even looking in the direction of a forester making any interest grating. I had an Impreza first. It was absolutely fantastic. So I’m a little conflicted when it comes to Subaru

[chrisb]

Great vehicles. But the new Foresters & Outback are too slow for me with the regular 2.5. The Turbo 2.4 drives great in the Outback. I wish they offered it in the Forester. Or even put their Japan market 1.8 Turbo in the Forester here for more torque & mpg. I’m waiting to see how the Hybrid does.

[KianKad-sg]

Thx!, Just 💚 it!, It is a honest & reliable car that U can live with in every situation!!🎉

[CaesarDarias]

Loving the open road video. I don’t like the idea of anything beaming into my eyeballs. Can the Driver Focus system be turned off?

[royhughes]

I am so torn. I want the flashiness of the 2025 Mazda CX-50 and Toyota RAV4 and the Hyundai Santa Fe, but I really need to get a minimum of 10 years+ out of my next car. I want the reliability of the engines & transmissions of proven track record 6 and 8 speeds and not to be cvt's and dct's. The Forester looks like something my dad drove 20 years ago when he was old. But now I am old so logic tells me THIS IS THE ONE... but why am I resisting still?

[Jacob-gmhq]

When does the full review and rating get released?

[AndrewHaverson]

I like what they did with it, although storage seemed to have gotten worse over the last few model years to include other nice features.

[markcooper]

I don’t need eyeball watching trickling down, how about standard blind spot monitoring?

[HOON]

Do you have a milder rock hill for testing CUV off-roading competence?