2025 Subaru Forester AWD Touring Australian Version

• Subaru debuts its first Strong Hybrid AWD system in Australia.

• Forester gains a big tech and safety upgrade, including 11.6-inch touchscreen.

• Still a go-anywhere SUV, now with sharper steering and smoother power.

A Familiar Face, Sharper Than Before

Subaru’s sixth-generation Forester has finally touched down in Australia, and it looks just confident enough to not yell about it. The proportions haven’t gone rogue — it’s still upright, practical, and honest — but there’s a maturity in the surfacing now. Subtle character lines across the profile clean up what used to be a slightly busy look. The front end is more squared off and assertive, and the LED signature feels properly modern without trying too hard.

At first glance, it’s still a Forester. But the detailing is tighter, more resolved. It's a quiet evolution rather than a headline grabber — and frankly, that’s a smart move for a nameplate with over 25 years of goodwill behind it.

Hybrid Efficiency Meets Mechanical Grit

Here’s the big shift: the 2025 Subaru Forester AWD Touring is now available with a new Strong Hybrid e-Boxer system — Subaru’s most advanced hybrid powertrain to date. It combines a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre Boxer engine with a 90kW electric motor and a compact 1.1kWh lithium-ion battery. Altogether, you're looking at a total system output of 145kW — a hefty 31.8% power boost over the outgoing mild hybrid.

That’s paired to an upgraded Lineartronic CVT and, crucially, it retains Subaru’s permanent Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. This isn’t a part-time EV gimmick — it’s a real AWD system with the added benefit of instant torque and silent take-off. X-Mode with Hill Descent Control and 220mm of ground clearance? Still here. Dual-pinion steering, borrowed from the WRX, tightens up the feel on tarmac.

The Cabin: Less Rugged, More Relaxed

Subaru’s done some real work inside. A wide, horizontal dash layout replaces the old tiered arrangement, creating a calmer, more open space. The 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen sits front and center, flanked by physical controls where it counts. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and there’s a Harman Kardon system on higher trims.

Even better? A 12.3-inch digital cluster is offered on hybrid variants, showing everything from energy flow to trip data with crisp graphics. Interior comfort also takes a leap forward — improved seats, more sound insulation, and better materials throughout make the Touring feel genuinely premium for its class.

Safety First, as Always

Subaru’s updated EyeSight Driver Assist now features a wide-angle camera and introduces an Emergency Driving Stop System. Nine airbags, Driver Monitoring System, Vision Assist with a 360-degree camera — the Touring is packed with safety kit. Five-star ANCAP rating? Of course.

With the 2025 Forester AWD Touring, Subaru hasn’t reinvented the SUV — it’s just made a damn good one even better. For buyers in Australia looking for real-world utility with modern comfort and safety, the Forester remains hard to fault.

Technical Specification

Performance

• Hybrid (e‑Boxer) total system output: 145 kW (approx. 194 hp)
• Petrol 2.5‑litre Boxer engine: 136 kW (approx. 182 hp), 247 Nm torque
• 0–100 km/h (Hybrid estimate): approximately 9.5 seconds
• Ground clearance: 220 mm

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)

Powertrain

• Hybrid e‑Boxer: 2.5 L naturally aspirated petrol engine with 90 kW electric motor
• Battery: 1.1 kWh lithium-ion
• Transmission: Lineartronic® CVT with paddle shifters (Sport regen function for Hybrid)
• Drive type: Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
• X‑Mode with Hill Descent Control included on all variants
• New dual-pinion electric power steering system

Capacities

• Fuel tank: 63 L
• Boot capacity (Hybrid): 484 L with seats up, 1,162 L with seats folded
• Fuel economy (Hybrid): Approx. 6.2 L/100 km combined
• Driving range (Hybrid): Over 1,000 km on a full tank

Towing capacity:

• Petrol: 1,800 kg braked

• Hybrid: 1,200 kg braked

Price

• Petrol AWD Touring: Starting from AUD 50,990 (plus on-road costs)
• Hybrid AWD Touring: Starting from AUD 55,990 (plus on-road costs)

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