Subaru fans will love the 2025 Forester e-BOXER Hybrid!

Subaru owners are among the most loyal in the industry. They have undoubtedly been waiting for a hybrid version of the company’s most popular model.

The wait is over and Subie fans will like the result – the 2025 Forester E-BOXER hybrid.

On the plus side, fuel mileage around town is a whopping 30% better and it is the quietest Forester by far.

Negatives? Highway fuel mileage is practically identical and the hybrid costs $3,000 more. The hybrid is only available in the Premium trim.

Virtually everything inside and out except the drivetrain and some chassis tuning differences is identical to the gas-only version.

The tech partnership between Subaru and Toyota shows!

Subaru has a technical arrangement with Toyota regarding hybrid development, and it shows. Toyota has more hybrid experience and models than all other manufacturers combined.

The Forester hybrid has no parts in common with any Toyota, but the Forester system works so well and so seamlessly, Toyota engineers obviously shared a few secrets and tricks with their counterparts at Subaru.

It all starts with the engine. The Forester gas-only and hybrid share the same 2.5-litre horizontally opposed (Boxer) engine. But the one used in the hybrid runs on the Atkinson cycle.

In simple terms, this mean the timing is altered to prioritize fuel efficiency over power. As a result, the hybrid’s engine produces 162 horsepower, 18 fewer than the purely gas version.

Not to worry – a pair of electric motors more than make up the difference! The combined output of the engine and motors is 194 horsepower, 14 more than the gas-only version.

But don’t get too excited about that extra power. The hybrid’s batteries mean there is an additional 130 kilos to motivate.

Performance is practically a toss-up between the two. I’d give a slight edge to the hybrid in accelerating from rest to 30 km/hr or so because of the added torque available immediately from the electric motors.

Both of those motors are packaged within the transmission case. The primary traction motor supplies power to the wheels. The second one works as a starter and generates electricity for the battery.

Additional changes to the hybrid version of the 2025 Subaru Forester

Other changes include an air conditioning unit that runs off electricity instead of a power-robbing belt from the crankcase. Revised brakes smooth the transition from regeneration to using the pads and rotors.

The suspension has been improved to allow for the extra weight, ensuring it continues to provide the best ride quality of anything in its class. Additional sound insulation results in a much quieter Forester.

However, the Forester remains near the back of the mid-size small hybrid SUV pack in terms of performance.

Don’t mess with Subaru’s all-wheel drive legacy (pardon the pun)

Subaru engineers ensured the Forester hybrid did not give away any of the company’s renowned all-wheel-drive prowess. Where others use an electric motor to power the rear wheels, the Forester hybrid continues to use a mechanical system.

The hybrid bits and engine are positioned ahead of the all-wheel-drive transfer case, so all four wheels are driven by the hybrid system, and all get the same message.

In addition to a more sophisticated application of power, the Forester has more ground clearance and better approach and departure angles than the competition.

All that means it is much more capable than the others.

The Subaru Forester hybrid is quieter and more efficient around town without sacrificing any of the traits that make it so popular.

Check out Michael Doyle’s artist’s treatment of the Forester e-BOXER Hybrid here.

Full review of the gas version of the 2025 Subaru Forester here.

FACTS & FIGURES – 2025 Subaru Forester e-BOXER Hybrid Premier

PRICE

Base: $48,195

As tested: $50,490 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, 26-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 and ventilated 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 with two-position memory, heated steering wheel, power sunroof, power passenger seat, leather and ultra-suede seating surfaces, heated rear seats, surround view camera

MECHANICAL

Horizontally-opposed 2.5-litre four-cylinder, 162-horsepower, 154 lb.ft. of torque, plus permanent magnet motor, 118-horsepower, 199 lb.ft.  of torque, combined output 195 horsepower, 1.1 kWh lithium-ion hydride battery, regular fuel, Continuously Variable automatic Transmission (CVT), all-wheel-drive. NRCan rating (litres/100km city/highway): 6.8/7.0

DIMENSIONS

Length, 4,655 mm; width, 2,063 mm; wheelbase, 2,670 mm; weight, 1,774 kg

COMPETITION

Ford Escape hybrid, Honda CR-V hybrid, Hyundai Tucson hybrid, Toyota RAV 4 hybrid