The Subaru Forester has long been one of America’s favorite compact SUVs, known for its practicality, safety, and all-weather capability. For 2025, Subaru has made subtle yet meaningful updates to keep the Forester competitive in the crowded SUV market. This in-depth review covers everything you need to know about the latest Forester, from pricing and trims to performance, interior comfort, and real-world ownership experiences.
Overview of the 2025 Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is a compact crossover SUV that blends everyday usability with off-road confidence. Built on Subaru’s Global Platform, it offers a spacious interior, a rugged design, and the brand’s signature Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system as standard. This makes it an excellent choice for American families, adventure seekers, and drivers who regularly face challenging weather conditions.
In 2025, the Subaru Forester continues to focus on its core strengths: safety, practicality, and long-term reliability. Subaru has introduced updated driver-assist technology, refined suspension tuning, and minor styling tweaks that give it a fresher look without straying from its well-recognized design.
2025 Subaru Forester Price and Trims in the USA
The 2025 Forester is offered in six trims, each catering to different needs and budgets. Below is the pricing table for the USA market:
| Trim Level | Starting Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Forester Base | $28,500 |
| Forester Premium | $30,900 |
| Forester Sport | $32,800 |
| Forester Wilderness | $34,700 |
| Forester Limited | $35,900 |
| Forester Touring | $38,900 |
Prices may vary slightly depending on dealership location, added packages, and destination charges. The base model already offers impressive standard features, while the higher trims focus on luxury touches, enhanced technology, and off-road capability.
Exterior Design
The 2025 Subaru Forester keeps its rugged yet approachable SUV styling, with a high ground clearance, bold front grille, and distinctive LED headlights. The new model year brings slight refinements in headlamp design, a more sculpted front bumper, and fresh wheel patterns.
Key exterior highlights include:
- 8.7 inches of ground clearance (9.2 inches for the Wilderness trim)
- Standard roof rails for adventure gear
- Available panoramic moonroof
- Functional body cladding for protection in rough terrain
The Wilderness trim, aimed at off-road enthusiasts, features skid plates, matte-black body accents, and all-terrain tires for extra capability.
Interior Comfort and Space
Inside, the 2025 Forester offers a spacious cabin with excellent visibility thanks to its large windows and thin pillars. Subaru’s ergonomic design ensures controls are intuitive and easy to reach, while high-quality materials add to the sense of durability.
Interior highlights include:
- Seating for five adults
- 111.9 cubic feet of passenger volume
- 74.2 cubic feet of maximum cargo space with the rear seats folded
- Wide-opening rear doors for easy entry and exit
- Available leather upholstery on Limited and Touring trims
The Forester’s cargo space is among the best in its class, easily accommodating luggage, sports equipment, or camping gear. The flat load floor and low lift-over height make loading heavy items less of a hassle.
Technology and Infotainment
The 2025 Forester is equipped with Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, which is known for being user-friendly and responsive.
Technology features include:
- 6.5-inch touchscreen on Base and Premium trims
- 8-inch touchscreen on higher trims
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
- Bluetooth connectivity
- USB ports for front and rear passengers
- Available Harman Kardon premium audio system (576 watts, 9 speakers)
The Touring trim also includes navigation, a heated steering wheel, and driver seat memory settings for added convenience.
Performance and Engine Options
The Forester continues with its tried-and-true 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder BOXER engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with a Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission) that delivers smooth and efficient power delivery.
Performance specs:
- Engine: 2.5L naturally aspirated BOXER 4-cylinder
- Horsepower: 182 hp
- Torque: 176 lb-ft
- Transmission: CVT with 7-speed manual mode
- Drivetrain: Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel Economy: 26 mpg city / 33 mpg highway / 29 mpg combined (EPA estimates)
The Forester is not a sports SUV, but it offers a composed, predictable drive with excellent grip in slippery conditions. The Wilderness trim modifies the CVT’s gear ratios for better low-speed control and includes hill descent control for off-road adventures.
Safety Features
Safety remains a cornerstone of Subaru’s brand identity, and the 2025 Forester continues to uphold that reputation. It comes standard with the latest Subaru EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, which includes:
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Pre-Collision Braking
- Lane Departure and Sway Warning
- Lane Keep Assist
- Automatic Emergency Steering (new for 2025 in most trims)
Other available safety features:
- Blind-Spot Detection
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Reverse Automatic Braking
- DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System
The Forester has consistently earned top ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), making it one of the safest compact SUVs on the market.
Driving Experience
The Subaru Forester delivers a comfortable and stable ride, perfect for long road trips and daily commuting. Its steering is light yet precise, and its suspension is tuned to absorb most road imperfections without feeling overly soft.
Owners particularly appreciate:
- Excellent outward visibility
- Quiet cabin at highway speeds
- Confident handling in rain and snow
- Smooth ride over rough roads
The Wilderness trim’s off-road upgrades make it one of the most capable vehicles in the compact SUV segment when venturing beyond paved roads.
Fuel Efficiency
Fuel efficiency is another strength of the Forester. With up to 33 mpg on the highway, it competes well with other AWD-equipped SUVs. The Wilderness trim sacrifices a bit of efficiency for off-road capability but still manages respectable numbers.
Ownership Costs and Reliability
Subaru vehicles are known for their longevity, and the Forester is no exception. Many owners report their Foresters easily surpassing 200,000 miles with proper maintenance. Subaru’s maintenance costs are reasonable, and resale values remain strong thanks to the brand’s loyal customer base.
Estimated annual maintenance and repair cost: $450–$600 depending on driving habits and location.
Expert Opinions
Automotive reviewers in the USA consistently praise the Forester for its:
- Spacious interior and cargo room
- Standard AWD system
- Excellent safety features
- Easy-to-use infotainment
- Comfortable ride
Some note that competitors offer more powerful engines or hybrid options, but the Forester’s balance of capability, safety, and practicality continues to win buyers.
Real Customer Reviews
Many USA-based owners highlight the Forester’s reliability, comfort, and all-weather confidence.
Positive customer feedback often includes:
- “Perfect for snow and mountain trips”
- “Huge cargo space for a compact SUV”
- “I feel safe driving my family anywhere”
- “Fuel economy is great for an AWD SUV”
A few owners mention wishing for a turbocharged option for extra power, but most are satisfied with the current engine’s performance for daily driving.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the 2025 Subaru Forester?
If you’re in the market for a compact SUV that delivers outstanding safety, a roomy interior, and year-round confidence, the 2025 Subaru Forester is hard to beat. While it doesn’t offer the most powerful engine in its class, it makes up for it with a winning combination of comfort, reliability, and all-weather performance.
The variety of trims ensures there’s a Forester for nearly every budget and lifestyle, from the value-packed Base model to the adventure-ready Wilderness and the luxurious Touring.
