The Subaru Forester Is New And Hot But Not In The U.S.

The Forester is smokin' hot up north.

Where is the new next-generation Subaru Forester the hottest new compact SUV? It's not in the U.S. like you'd think; it's the hot new model up north in Canada. 

How hot is the new Forester? 

The all-new, remodeled 2025 Forester has significantly impacted Canada, with a record-breaking July that saw 1,420 units sold. This success story is particularly impressive when you consider that the Outback and Crosstrek overtook the Forester to claim the top spot in the U.S. market last month.  

"It's encouraging to see our new models remain popular with Canadians," said SCI Chairman, President, and CEO Tomohiro Kubota. "This new generation of Forester continues to offer superb safety, versatility, and capability in all conditions while improving the comfort and refinement."

Here's an interesting fact about the Forester. 

Since its introduction for the 1998 model year, one in four Subaru's sold in Canada has been a Forester compact SUV. Forester sales accounted for 27% of all Subaru model sales in Canada in July. 

There's a lot for Canadians to like.

What sets the Forester apart and makes it a favorite among customers? It's the standard Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, 8.7 inches of ground clearance (9.2 inches on Forester Wilderness), X-Mode for severe weather capability, and dual-function X-Mode for all-terrain ability.

What's new and hot for 2025?

The Forester ushers in the nameplate's sixth generation and is more versatile, safer, stylish, and value-packed than ever. Completely redesigned from the ground up, the remodeled Forester features a muscular exterior design, a more refined passenger cabin, and a quieter and more comfortable ride. 

Standard features include the latest version of  Subaru's EyeSight driver assist safety technology, with a new wide-angle mono camera added for better pedestrian and cyclist pre-collision protection.

And there's more

Forester's notable updates are:

• Improvements in Noise, vibration, and harshness
• Forester is powered by an updated version of Subaru's 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine.
• Forester's new electronically assisted steering rack provides more direct response natural steering dynamics and is more comfortable to drive.
• Forester features an upgraded crash structure to meet future crash tests.

Forester gets new convenience tech:

• A 360-degree overhead camera view
• A smart rear-view mirror
• A new kick sensor-activated hands-free power rear liftgate

There's still more. 

• The next-generation Forester receives all-new, more comfortable seats.
• Roof racks and rails are standard across the Forester lineup for the first time.
• The more extensive rear cargo area has new mounts and utility hooks for securing accessories.

What is the 2025 Forester pricing?

With all the new upgrades, the 2025 Forester did get a substantial price increase.

• The Base Forester increased by +$2,900
• Premium +$2,000
• Sport +$2,930
• Limited +$2,320
• Touring + $2,900

The Base trim starts at $31,090, Premium ($33,390), Sport ($35,890), Limited ($37,390), and Touring ($38,490). Pricing includes destination and dealer fees ($1,395).

The 2024 Forester Wilderness carries over with a starting price of $36,265. Destination and Delivery ($1,345)

Subaru says, "The rugged 2024 Forester Wilderness will continue in production alongside the all-new 2025 Forester and is unchanged."

Subaru still has to announce the outdoor-themed 2025 Forester Wilderness, but it will likely launch sometime next year. Subaru is redesigning the outdoor-themed trim level now. Stay tuned.

A new Subaru Forester Hybrid trim is coming.

The big news is that Subaru Corporation President and CEO Atsushi Osaki said the Subaru Forester will get a new hybrid powertrain for the 2026 model year, likely in the spring of 2025. He said the electrified Forester would follow quickly. The hybrid powertrain is expected to be a standard hybrid, not a plug-in hybrid. Read my new report here for more information. Pricing and other details have yet to be announced. Stay tuned. 

More Forester models are coming to North America.

I recently reported that the Subaru plant in Gunma, Japan, where the Forester is manufactured, is ramping production up, and exports of new Forester models have increased by 2.5 percent, the first increase in two months. 

Subaru retailers in North America will see more new next-generation Forester compact SUVs arriving for customers. 

A new report from Cloud Theory says that Subaru has increased its in-transit inventory percentage more than all other automakers except for Toyota. These are the models that Subaru shows in its inventory, even though they aren't sitting on retailers' lots. 

"The numbers point to those differing approaches and philosophies. First of all, imported brands such as Toyota, Subaru, Mazda, and Audi have the highest percentage of vehicles in transit," says the report.

More Forester changes are coming.

As I previously reported, the next-gen Forester will be manufactured at the Lafayette, Indiana, plant starting next year. The Japanese automaker is changing its manufacturing philosophy to ensure a more steady supply of the top-selling Forester for its North American customers. 

New Forester production will begin in Indiana sometime next year. Stay tuned. 

Until then, the all-new next-generation 2025 Subaru Forester is new and hot in Canada, having its best July ever. 

What do you think of the new Forester? Will you wait for the new Forester Hybrid? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know your thoughts.

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Writer since 2012. I’ve invested over 13 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 X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Subaru