2025 Subaru Forester AWD Hybrid Sport Australian Version

• Subaru’s first Strong Hybrid with AWD lands in a refreshed Forester.

• The 2025 Subaru Forester AWD Hybrid Sport blends real-world capability with long-range practicality.

• A cleaner, more refined Forester with 1,000+ km range and evolved tech.

Familiar Form, Sharper Presence

The sixth-generation 2025 Subaru Forester AWD Hybrid Sport is finally here — and Subaru hasn’t messed with the formula too much. The proportions are still classic Forester: upright, unpretentious, practical. But there’s newfound sharpness in the surfacing. The grille feels more decisive, the creases around the body cleaner. Lighting elements are crisper too, especially around the bumpers and tail.

There’s no faux ruggedness here. The stance is honest, slightly elevated, ready for anything from suburban school runs to dusty trailheads.

Powertrain Evolution: Meet the Strong Hybrid

What’s genuinely new is under the hood. The Forester debuts Subaru’s Strong Hybrid e-Boxer system — a 2.5-litre flat-four paired with a 90 kW electric motor and a 1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery. Together, they make a combined 145 kW, offering a 31.8% boost over the outgoing mild hybrid.

That power uplift isn’t about sportiness — it’s about smoother performance, more torque from standstill, and significantly better range. Subaru claims over 1,000 km on a full tank, and it’ll hum along in EV mode for short stretches without fuss.

All-Terrain Confidence Still Standard

Capability remains a cornerstone of the Forester name. The AWD Hybrid Sport keeps Subaru’s full-time Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with X-Mode and Hill Descent Control. Ground clearance is still a generous 220 mm, and the dual-pinion steering (lifted from the WRX) brings tighter control when carving through curves or maneuvering off-road.

Despite the hybrid gear, it hasn’t lost its go-anywhere DNA. The new CVT transmission is smoother, more refined, and helps with quieter acceleration both on tarmac and trail.

Interior: Tech-Rich and Thoughtful

Subaru’s upped its game inside. The new horizontal dash design improves outward visibility and creates a clean, cohesive layout. Dominating the center is an 11.6-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Hybrid trims get a slick 12.3-inch digital driver display with customisable readouts.

Comfort touches are everywhere — more supportive seats, better sound insulation, wireless Qi charging, and dual-zone climate control. It’s subtle, not showy, but thoroughly modern.

Safety Without Compromise

Every 2025 Forester comes standard with Subaru’s enhanced EyeSight® Driver Assist. A wider-angle monocular camera and new Emergency Driving Stop System now feature, backed up by a Driver Monitoring System, Vision Assist suite, nine airbags, and a panoramic 360° monitor. It’s all designed to meet Subaru’s 2030 goal of zero fatal accidents.

Where It Fits In

The Forester AWD Hybrid Sport doesn’t try to be flashy — and that’s its edge. While rivals like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or Honda CR-V e:HEV lean into style, Subaru stays true to its roots. This new hybrid isn’t trying to reinvent the segment. It’s just making a very good thing better — with better efficiency, better manners, and more comfort.

It’s a quiet confidence that feels, frankly, very Subaru.

Technical Specification

Performance

• Combined system output: 145 kW (approximately 194 hp)
• Petrol-only engine: 2.5-litre Boxer engine producing 136 kW (182 hp) and 247 Nm of torque
• 0–100 km/h (Hybrid): approximately 9.5 seconds
• Fuel economy (Hybrid): 6.2 L/100 km (combined)
• Fuel economy (Petrol): 7.9 L/100 km (combined)

Body Measurements

• Length: 4,620 mm (181.9 in)
• Width: 1,815 mm (71.5 in)
• Height: 1,730 mm (68.1 in)
• Wheelbase: 2,670 mm (105.1 in)
• Ground clearance: 220 mm (8.7 in)

Powertrain

• Hybrid system: 2.5-litre naturally aspirated Boxer engine + 90 kW electric motor
• Battery: 1.1 kWh lithium-ion
• Transmission: Lineartronic® CVT with planetary gearset (Hybrid)
• Drive system: Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with X‑Mode and Hill Descent Control
• Steering: Dual‑pinion electric power steering

Capacities

• Fuel tank capacity: 63 litres
• Estimated driving range (Hybrid): Over 1,000 km per tank

Towing capacity:

• Petrol model: 1,800 kg (braked)

• Hybrid model: 1,200 kg (braked)

Cargo volume:

• With rear seats up: 484 litres

• With rear seats folded: 1,162 litres

Price

• Australian market price for AWD Hybrid Sport: AUD 54,990 (excluding on-road costs)

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