CR has purchased a 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Premium for its test program! On this episode, we share our first impressions on how it is different than the recently updated gas model, the performance of the powertrain and how it feels to drive vs the standard version, our early fuel efficiency experiences in the real world, and how it compares to the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, and others in the crowded small SUV segment. We also give expert advice on whether adding premium fuel to your vehicle will deliver improved performance, and if buying a car from the 2010s will future proof a driver who wants to avoid too much tech behind the wheel.
More on the Subaru Forester Hybrid:
The Subaru Forester has a 1.1kW battery, which is the smallest in the Compact SUV class. A smaller battery pack means less battery assist. That is the reason the Forester Hybrid disappoints on the MPG improvement front when compared to RAV4, CR-V, and CX-50 hybrids.
Suspending the battery of the spare wheel well is MONONIC. Doing this makes the spare wheel well completely useless, no spare tire at all. The batter should have been placed under the second row seat, like every other manufacturer does.
The Forester Hybrid is great. Superior Awd. But I hate there’s no Spare Tire.
I bought a new 2025 Forester Hybrid. After 2000 miles, I’m getting barely 30 miles mpg despite being light on the pedal. Disappointed to say the least. Is the smallish 1.1 kWh battery the culprit?
I personally find the new Forrester very ugly looking. Glad they came out with a hybrid though.
I recently drove a Subaru Forester hybrid. Overall, it is a fine vehicle, with one major flaw–NO SPARE TIRE. That may not be an issue for city slickers that never drive outside of a metro area, but for a person who drives an AWD vehicle on less than great roads in rural areas (which is what this vehicle is designed to do), the lack of a spare tire is a deal killer. Buying an aftermarket spare wheel, jack, and tire for the Forester hybrid is possible, but it will take up cargo space in the Forester, which is already limited. In a related note, the Forester hybrid needs to be available in the Wilderness trim. The biggest plus of the Forester hybrid over the regular Forester is the Toyota-designed e-CVT planetary gear transmission, which I like better than the conventional “belt-type” CVT in the non-hybrid Subarus. Finally, the CR road testers need to test their vehicles in rural mid-America, which–unlike “metropolitan” testing only–will uncover a lot of flaws that those CR tests often don’t expose.
Looks like a Ford explorer, I don’t like the front end. Everything is great but a few fixes would be great, like: the center console should be horizontal, not vertical, we need more horsepower on the hybrid should have more the 220hp, also more quiet interior would be a welcome evolution like the 2026 Rav4
The benefit is that it gets rid of the traditional CVT; the hybrid version would be more reliable in the long run.
Subaru should have used Toyotas hybrid system-just like Mazda did for the CX 50 hybrid-those boxer engines are garbage-good for 50000 miles.
So close – if only it had more torque and a spare tire, it would have been very competitive.
Quincy is on fire with his dad jokes!!! Love it!