I’ve been spending a lot of time in Subieville this summer with some ups and downs. The Subaru Solterra shows promise but has improvements to make, the 2025 Subaru Forester made improvements that are paying off, and I’m currently reviewing a Crosstrek. However, my favorite option at the moment is the Forester for excellent reasons. 

The 2025 Subaru Forester is worth waiting for 

Before I dive into what I like about the new and improved 2025 Subaru Forester, I’ll list a few complaints so y’all don’t claim Subaru paid me to write this. It’s about to be a pretty darn positive review. 

Potential 2025 Forester drawbacks: 

• The backup camera is a little grainy. 
• The rear seats have a stiff backrest angle.
• Passengers can’t connect phones while the vehicle is in motion and the audio levels fluctuate.
• I only got up to 20.3 mpg with multiple trips on the highway and around town. 
• The towing capacity is limited to 1,500 lbs.

The 2025 Forester kicks off the sixth generation with a new style, enhanced tech, a quieter cabin, and a punchier engine. 

The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine provides 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque, which is the same amount of power as before but the engine now has more power at a lower RPM and it; ‘s noticeable. 

I expected the Forester to be a bit dull, but I was wrong. It has just enough power to feel exciting with the ability to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in about 8.0 seconds. This is an improvement over the outgoing model’s 9.9 second time. 

I felt as if the steering could be tighter with more responsive brakes, but switching from Intelligent to Sport mode made those changes happen for me. 

The steering system is based on the WRX’s for more precision and control. Plus, you can use the paddle shifters to spice things up. 

Next up is comfort. The 2025 Forester is extremely low-effort and relaxing to drive if you don’t feel like gunning it in Sport mode. 

It glides over imperfections in the pavement like butter and the front seats are well padded for hours of support. The front seats have extra bolstering to cradle your spine. 

One of my rear passengers nearly fell asleep as the Spa station played on the Sirius XM radio. There is certainly more than enough space back there to stretch out for napping. The quiet interior is peaceful as well, but it’s occasionally disrupted by an engine roar. 

The ride is also incredibly smooth over dirt and gravel roads in the woods. I hardly noticed the switch between terrains. Plus, AWD is standard across the entire lineup. The 8.7-inch ground clearance is great for adventuring. 

While the Forester isn’t the best option for towing, it has an abundance of cargo space. You can access up to 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 74.4 cubes overall. 

Some people may find the touchscreen controls to be distracting, but the infotainment system is very intuitive. Plus, the large screen provides tons of map visibility. 

Overall, the 2025 Subaru Forester feels well-rounded. It’s more attractive, more comfortable, and sportier than before.