Subaru Forester Review 2025

For some, the Subaru name still conjures up images of Richard Burns and other World Rally Championship legends tearing through forest stages and kicking up loads of mud, much to the delight of bobble hat-wearing spectators. At its height the firm’s UK sales figures were of a healthy five-figure variety but these days, it’s a very different story, with under 2,500 new cars from the company making their way to buyers here. Find out if this model's the family SUV to turn that around in our full Subaru Forester review.

While this all-new Subaru Forester represents a significant forward step from the outgoing model, it's unlikely to move the needle much further. This sixth-generation version will definitely go down well with the few Subaru faithful out there, who'll likely know it by its SL internal product code, retaining its capable permanent all-wheel drive system and general sense of dependability, as well as enjoying a raft of improvements. 

There's an overhauled interior with a considerably bigger infotainment screen, enhanced safety tech, more modern looks and even a lower windowline and reprofiled bonnet intended to give better all-round visibility. 

The fundamentals of the car remain the same, with an atypical 2.0-litre horizontally opposed — or Boxer — four-cylinder engine, together with mild hybrid-assistance. That combination provides propulsion via a continuously variable transmission which Subaru labels Lineartronic, to a permanent all-wheel drive system. 

While we're not expecting a car like this to be quite as urgent as those Subaru WRX STIs of old, a bit more power than the 136PS available would be welcome, as would more frugality. It has quite an appetite for fuel, as we'll get into. 

While a lot of family SUVs reflect their manufacturers' obsession with making things 'sporty' by needlessly firming-up the suspension, the Subaru Forester reflects a more measured approach. It has a near-perfect balance between how well it soaks up lumps and bumps in the road and to what degree it leans in the corners. 

What's more it's one of the most satisfying to steer cars of this size and type. It feels accurate, well-weighted and just right for how much turn alters the angle of the front wheels. The Forester also does a decent job of shrugging off its 1700kg or so weight and comes across as surprisingly keen to change direction nimbly. 

The Forester's all-wheel drive system provides ample traction, including in damp conditions — if you do manage to reach the end of its tether there's a slight yet satisfying feeling as the Subaru's rear end gently and controllably steps out. 

There's no engine choice as such for the Subaru Forester now that the high-power petrol and more economical diesel options have been dispensed with. What's left is what Subaru calls the 2.0-litre e-Boxer engine — the 'e' refers to its supplementary 17PS of mild hybrid assistance while 'Boxer' is another name for a flat or horizontally opposed cylinder configuration. 

While most engines today have their cylinders arranged in a row — known as inline — or organised in a V-shape with anywhere between 15 and 90 degrees of angle inside that 'V', a horizontally opposed engine goes beyond that. Imagine the angle inside the 'V' has been pulled apart to 180 degrees with the cylinders now lying flat and the pistons within punching outwards. This design's advantageous for keeping the weight of the car much closer to the ground, benefiting the car's handling characteristics.

It's an unusual configuration with the only other manufacturer currently using it being Porsche. Until recently the Toyota GR86 also had a horizontally opposed engine, the basic design of which was — unsurprisingly — Subaru's. 

These engines used to be famed for burbly exhaust notes but don't go thinking this Forester will sound like a rapid Subaru Impreza Turbo from years ago — those cars also had funky exhaust manifolds. That said, the Forester does sound different from more conventionally engined rivals but not drastically so. 

Mustering a modest 136PS of power and 182Nm of torque — those figures include the electrical assistance — isn't a whole lot to propel a car which weighs upwards of 1693kg, reflected in the 116mph top speed and the slow-sounding 12.2-second 0-62mph time.

In the real world the Forester doesn't feel quite as sluggish as those numbers suggest and for most families considering one, it should prove adequate enough. It just feels a shame that considering how well it handles that a more powerful option isn't available.

Its standard-fit Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) won't be to everyone's tastes. When you put your foot down, instead of the revs rising and falling as gears are changed, CVTs cause engine speeds to rise without necessarily increasing your travelling speed at a rate that seems to connect the two. They're far noiser than conventional automatics when this occurs, yet when you lift off and the din subsides the car is usually still accelerating.

Usefully the soundproofing in the Forester has been improved substantially, so it's less of an issue here — considerably so compared with its predecessor. All of this makes the Subaru Forester a pleasant car to cruise around in. You soon get used to the way the CVT goes about its business, even if its operation isn't quite as well-sorted as similar transmissions from Honda and Toyota.

The Subaru Forester should keep its occupants safe if the worst happens. Euro NCAP awarded it a full five-star rating when was crash-tested in 2024, awarding high marks in all the individual categories bar its safety assistance systems, although its 72% score isn't terrible.

Along with the upgraded Eyesight foreward-facing camera system used by the adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking, there are also an array of physical safety changes, including new airbags and a front bumper that's better at absorbing energy in a crash.

All versions of this-generation Subaru Forester have a maxumum braked trailer towing capacity of 1870kg — useful but not outstanding.

Hauling along anything at the upper end of that scale will likely be laborious given the modest power and torque levels available.

It's a mixed bag inside the Subaru Forester. There's plenty of space inside, especially in terms of headroom, although the boot capacity isn't spectacular at 508 litres with the rear bench in place.

Compare that with the five-seater Skoda Kodiaq which manages a cavernous 910 litres, while the Mazda CX-5 has 14 litres more cargo space than the Forester despite being 95mm shorter overall.

With the Forester's rear seats folded forwards the space increases to 1731 litres in Limited and Field versions and 1679 litres in the range-topping Touring — the difference accounted for by the latter's standard-fit sunroof. Both tallies beat the CX-5's 1638-litre maximum but the Subaru's way behind the Kodiaq's 2105-litre volume.

There's nothing strictly wrong with the Subaru Forester in this regard with no wonky bits of trim or harsh finishes, nor does anything inside feel cheap.

Unfortunately it doesn't feel that upmarket either which is more of an issue because most of the Forester's rivals do a better job in terms feeling plush, leaving the Subaru feeling dated and dreary by comparison.

Everything seems like it's built to last, at least.

At 11.8 inches the Subaru Forester's portrait infotainment touchscreen isn't just a lot bigger than the one in the old car, it's also sizeable compared to many rival setups that tend to be around the 10.0-inch mark. The touchscreen is responsive enough not to be frustrating and the menu structure is reasonably straightforward, albeit with graphics that look dated.

Speaking of which, somewhat bizarrely there's an aux-in socket for the audio system, further reinforcing that  sense of Subaru living in the past. Another unusual touch is providing both the older Type-A USB port alongside the more modern Type-C version, which is repeated for the rear seating area. Presumably Subaru's in possession of data informing it that its typical buyers tend to hold on to their electronic devices far longer than most people do.

The integral navigation system didn't do anything to irk during our test but again it's not the most modern-feeling setup. You'll probably prefer to stick your favoured nav app on the screen via the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity which is included as standard on all Foresters.

It's a shame to see that the screen has eaten up the majority of the old physical climate controls knobs and buttons but you do at least get two sets of rocker switches for temperature adjustment — one for each climate zone — while the other functions are displayed permanently along the bottom of the screen. 

The range kicks off with the £38,995 Subaru Forester 2.0i Limited, stops off at the £40,440 2.0i Field and tops-out at £42,995 for the top-spec 2.0i Touring. That's quite a narrow spread of prices compared with a lot of rivals that can vary by five figures between entry-level and flagship grades. 

For the least expensive Skoda Kodiaq you'll need £38,140 with the cheapest 4x4-equipped version costing £46,350. The Mazda CX-5 starts at a reasonable £31,330 but again you're looking at much more for one with AWD at £41,450.

For the best-selling SUV of this size, the Kia Sportage, you'll need just £30,170 for the entry-level version and £40,685 for the cheapest AWD version, which is also a plug-in hybrid.

What's more, Subaru doesn't give many opportunities to inflate those prices further. The only items on the options list are colours, which are all priced at £695. Only Crystal White Pearl is offered for free though.

As with all cars since the April 2025 VED changes the Subaru Forester will cost £195 per year to tax from the second anniversary of its first registration.

Only the entry-level Forester Limited escapes the Expensive Car Supplement — also known as the premium car tax — surcharge, with all other grades subject to an additional £425 annual bill between years two and six of ownership.

Subaru models have a reputation for reliability, as backed up by consistent strong showings in the HonestJohn.co.uk satisfaction index. It's a good job that's the case as the warranty's mileage limit of 60,000 is a bit underwhelming when 100,000 miles is more usual, although its three-year duration is more typical. 

Where the Forester might sting the wallet is when it comes to filling up, which you're likely to need to do often. The 34.9mpg WLTP Combined cycle economy figure is nothing to write home about and during our drive of the car we averaged all of 17.8mpg. Yikes. It doesn't help the Forester's cause that it's underpowered, meaning it's necessary to put your foot down if you want to get anywhere with a reasonable sense of haste.

You won't find many Subaru Foresters are chosen to be company cars as the Benefit in Kind (BiK) taxation banding favours PHEV and electric SUVs. All models have CO2 emissions of 183g/km placing them in the highest 37% bracket for 2025/26.

There are three levels of specification for the Subaru Forester — Limited, Field and Touring. 

Standard features found on the entry-level Subaru Forester Limited include:

• 18-inch Dark Metallic Grey and machine-finished alloy wheels
• Steering direction-linked LED headlights with automatic main beam
• LED daytime-running, front fog and front cornering lights
• Automatic windscreen wipers
• Electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors with integral LED indicators
• Matt Black roof rails
• Dark fabric seat upholstery with Blue stitching
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel with Silver stitching
• Heated 10-direction electrically adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support and memory function
• Heated 8-direction electrically adjustable front passenger seat
• 60/40 split-folding rear seats
• Keyless entry and starting
• Electric parking brake with auto-hold
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Infotainment system with 11.6-inch touchscreen
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity
• Bluetooth connectivity
• DAB radio
• Six-speaker audio system
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• Voice recognition system
• EyeSight Version 4.0 forward-facing camera system which includes adaptive cruise control
• 360-degree surround-view camera system
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror

Upgrading to the Subaru Forester Field adds to or changes the following specification items:

• 18-inch Dark Metallic Grey alloy wheels
• Dark-tinted rear privacy glass
• Electric tailgate with gesture control
• Water-repellent Grey faux leather seat upholstery with Green stitching
• Heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with Green stitching
• Integrated navigation system

Opting for the range-topping Subaru Forester Touring adds to or changes the following specification items:

• 19-inch Dark Grey machine-finished alloy wheels
• Gloss Black door mirror housings
• Electric sliding and tilting sunroof with UV-protecting glass
• Low-profile Matt and Gloss Black roof rails
• Black leather and suede seat upholstery with Brown stitching
• Heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with Brown stitching
• Heated rear seats