Subaru is known for its affordable all-wheel-drive cars and SUVs. The new 2025 Forester is coming, but is it enough? See why Subaru needs more and when it's coming.
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Subaru is a value brand, which is essential now because many new car shoppers are looking for affordability because of higher interest rates, and the price of new cars keeps rising. That's where Subaru comes in with the new Forester compact SUV.
I don't know the price of the Forester, as Subaru of America has yet to announce pricing. The new sixth-generation compact SUV comes in Base, Premium, Limited, Sport, and Touring trim levels.
These five trim levels arrive this spring, but customers need more. More is coming, but two more trim levels won't arrive until next spring.
Where is the next-generation Forester Wilderness?
The sixth-generation Forester Wilderness will arrive next year. William Stokes, planning manager for the Forester at Subaru of America, told Automotive News that the next-gen Forester Wilderness will not be available at the model's dealer launch this spring.
Stokes did not say why the redesigned Forester does not currently have a Wilderness trim level. I believe Subaru Corporation put so much of its resources into the sixth-generation Forester that it needs more time to plan the more rugged outdoor-themed Wilderness trim.
There will be a 2025 Forester Wilderness, but it will be a carry-over model with no design changes from the 2024 model year. So, if you want a redesigned Wilderness, it's a year away.
Will Forester get a Hybrid trim level?
Yes, Subaru CEO Atsushi Osaki confirmed at the Forester's reveal that the new Forester will get a hybrid trim and arrive a year from now. He did not say whether it would be a conventional or Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV). Osaki said a new electrified Forester "will follow quickly."
The 2025 Subaru Forester is on center stage at the 2024 New York Auto Show.
Here is what Jennifer Stockburger, Mike Quincy, and Michael Crossen from Consumer Reports say about the 2025 Forester. They were at the 2024 New York Auto Show, where the new Forester is on center stage.
Check out what Consumer Reports says about the 2025 Subaru Forester in a new YouTube video.
"The Forester, an iteration, is a little more burly-looking if that's what they've done with the Impreza and the Crosstrek, but with the whole wilderness idea."
"It has the same powertrain staying pretty much the same, but it's a little tweak in horsepower, but again, upping the ante in terms of safety, iterating pedestrian detection, and bicyclist detection."
"We've seen that on many cars in terms of infotainment options. There's a big, optional 11.6-inch tablet-like screen."
"But every Forester buyer, again, I talk about my 87-year-old mother who's on her seventh Forester. She'll be ready to turn 90 and ordered her eighth Forester because it's not that much of a departure (from the fifth generation)."
What about Forester's reliability?
"So reliability will hopefully benefit from those small tweaks. But of course, and again, most of these are 2025 models coming. And for people traveling from out of town to the New York Auto Show, they should check out the Subaru display."
In a recent report, I covered the Forester's reliability. The all-new 2025 Subaru Forester gets a top 5/5 score in predicted reliability and a 4/5 in expected owner satisfaction from Consumer Reports. Even with its complete redesign from the ground up, the sixth-generation Forester is a top reliability pick by CR.
What about you? Are you checking out the 2025 Forester this spring? Let us know in the comments below.
Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed this Subaru Forester report. See you tomorrow for my latest Subaru Report.
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I am Denis Flierl, a top Torque News and Subaru reporter since 2012. I’ve invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my The Dirty Subaru website, Dirty Subaru blog, X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.
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