No belly dragging here: The 2025 Subaru Forester

The Forester was among the first vehicles on the crossover scene.

Its tall stance, boxy shape and all-wheel-drive system ensured it fit right in. That same design and high roof results in more glass in the vertical dimension than others, making for great visibility and an overall impression of light.

The sixth generation Forester retains that feature, but there has been an attempt to make the shape a little less boxy by rounding off some corners.

Once inside, you appreciate that tall roof again

The Forester’s tall stance makes entry and exit easy, not having to fold yourself in half to get in. Once inside, you appreciate that tall roof once again. There is a great deal of headroom in both front and rear seats.

The driver is provided with an excellent view, and it benefits the cargo area as well. The tailgate opens wide and high providing acces to a cargo space that allows you to put tall things in, or stack items even if that means blocking some of that impressive visibility.

The driver faces a 20-centimetre screen while there is a 30-centimetre tablet-like infotainment screen positioned vertically.

Smartphone integration for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard as are multiple USB ports and a wireless smartphone charging pad.

An impressive amount of safety tech

Subaru’s award-winning EyeSight system is also standard, providing and headlining an impressive amount of safety technology.

When the Forward Mitigation System detects an imminent crash, it can bring the vehicle to a complete stop automatically. At that point it will turn on the flashers and if it detects the driver is unresponsive, call emergency services.

It also includes more mundane abilities, like keeping the vehicle centered in the lane, warning you when the vehicle in front changes speed suddenly, automatically dimming the high beams and detecting vehicles and objects to the side and rear.

I’ve never been a fan of Subaru’s horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine for one reason – sound.

The characteristic warble is not exactly unpleasant, it is just different. The use of a continuously variable automatic transmission exaggerates the sound by maintaining high engine revs while vehicle speed catches up.

The 2025 Forester changes that.

The stiffer new chassis introduced on the 2025 Forester makes this the quietest Subaru yet.

The development team has been able to isolate the drivetrain, even under full-throttle conditions, where this engine usually disappoints. This improvement is welcome because you will spend a lot of time with the right-side pedal heavily depressed.

The 2.5-litre engine produces only 180-horsepower. That is merely adequate. This would be a wonderful application for the turbocharged version of this engine.

One Subaru feature I have always been impressed by is the suspension.

The long-travel setup enables the Forester and all other Subaru’s to absorb road blemishes with aplomb. You see them coming, they disappear under the hood and re-appear in the rear-view mirror. There is very little sign of their presence in between. Or so it seems. Not a magic carpet ride, but a lot better than its competitors.

That smooth ride, excellent seats and low noise levels make this a great vehicle for long sessions at the wheel.

The 2025 Subaru Forester is all new and comes in five trim levels spanning the $36K – $47K spectrum – plus freight and taxes. Even in the lower trim levels, there is a great deal of standard equipment and an exceptional array of safety features.

The Forester is an affordable crossover providing excellent ride quality, visibility and lots of people and package space.

Its renowned all-wheel drive system and 22 centimetres of ground clearance allow it to venture further off road than most of the competition. They make the Forester a great companion when the snow falls where it can handle deep drifts without belly dragging.

Full review of the Forester e-BOXER Hybrid Premier here.

Silver Screen-ready Forester here.

FACTS & FIGURES – 2025 Subaru Forester Premier

PRICE

Base: $47,808

As tested: $50,620 including freight

SAFETY

EyeSight driving assist, (adaptive cruise control, emergency stop assist, lane centering assist, lane keep assist and sway warning, lead vehicle start alert, pre-collision braking and throttle management, wide-angle camera), automatic LED headlights, reverse automatic braking, rear/side vehicle detection, rear cross traffic alert

INFOTAINMENT

Bluetooth connectivity, 30-cm tablet style infotainment screen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charger, auto dimming mirrors, 11-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system, satellite radio

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Dual zone automatic climate control, power, heated folding mirrors, heated front seats, tilt & telescope steering wheel, 19-in alloy wheels, windshield wiper de-icer, power liftgate with kick sensor and memory function, cargo area cover, power driver’s seat, heated steering wheel, power sunroof, power driver’s seat with memory, power passenger seat, leather and ultra-suede seating surfaces, heated rear seats, surround view camera

SIGNIFICANT OPTIONS

None

MECHANICAL

Horizontally-opposed 2.5-litre four-cylinder, 180 horsepower, 178 lb.-ft. of torque, regular fuel, Continuously Variable automatic Transmission (CVT), all-wheel-drive. NRCan rating (litres/100km city/highway): 9.1/7.2

DIMENSIONS

Length, 4,655 mm; width, 2,063 mm; wheelbase, 2,670 mm; weight, 1,662 kg

COMPETITION

Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-50, Toyota RAV 4