Review: 2025 Subaru Forester
You know how some folks get a Labrador because they’re dependable, trustworthy and always up for a walk in the woods, even if they do pong a bit after a dip in the river? Well, the Subaru Forester has long been the Labrador of the SUV world. Dependable, capable, and usually a bit overlooked next to the flashier breeds.
So, for 2025, Subaru’s given the Forester a bit of a wash and brush-up. But is it still the honest 4x4 we know and trust, or has it gone all “soft roader with sporty trim” like so many others? Let’s chuck a muddy dog in the back, take it up a rocky lane, and see how it gets on.
First Impressions: Familiar Face, Finer Details
If you squint, the new Forester doesn’t look wildly different from the old one, which is either a relief or a disappointment depending on your taste in crossovers. Subaru’s played it safe with the styling: a bit of extra creasing here, a chunkier grille there, and headlights that look like they’re trying to impress you with their LED swagger. It’s not going to turn heads in Tesco’s car park, but that’s never been the point.
What matters is that it still looks like it’ll make short work of a muddy lane and get you home after Storm Whatever wipes out your village’s broadband.
On-Road Ride: A Bit of Everything
Out on the tarmac, the 2025 Forester is pleasantly competent. It’s never going to trouble the likes of the BMW X1 or Volvo XC40 for road manners, but it doesn’t embarrass itself either. The ride is on the comfy side, softer than most rivals, and that’s no bad thing if you’re bouncing over speed bumps or country potholes.
Steering’s light and accurate enough for pottering around town or winding B-roads, though it doesn’t exactly encourage enthusiastic driving. The hybrid boxer engine (still a 2.0-litre e-Boxer mild-hybrid setup) is more about economy than excitement. It’s quiet when cruising, a bit vocal when pushed, and paired to a CVT gearbox that’s improved but still moans like a hungover teenager when asked to hustle.
Acceleration? Erm… let’s just say it’ll get you there eventually. Merging onto a motorway might require a bit of planning, but once up to speed, it’ll cruise happily and quietly enough.
Off-Road: Still Got It Where It Counts
Here’s where the Forester earns its stripes. While many crossovers flinch at a slightly bumpy farm track, the Subaru rolls up its sleeves and gets stuck in. The permanent symmetrical all-wheel drive is brilliant in greasy conditions, and the X-Mode system (now with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud settings) makes light work of most UK lanes.
Ground clearance remains a healthy 220mm, more than enough for green lanes, grassy festival fields or exploring the back end of beyond in Yorkshire. Hill descent control helps you creep down steeper slopes without drama, and the hybrid gubbins doesn’t get in the way either.
It’s not a hardcore off-roader, there’s no low-range gearbox or locking diffs, but for the kind of rough stuff most folk actually do, it’s way more capable than most of its rivals, and that goes the rest of the Subaru range.
Interior: Functional with Flashes of Fancy
Inside, it’s business as usual, which means sensible ergonomics, a slab of durable plastics, and just enough soft-touch materials to keep the in-laws happy. The dash is laid out with logic in mind, not Instagram likes, and the driving position is spot on.
The seats are supportive, comfy and heated as standard on most trims. There’s decent legroom in the back for adults, and headroom’s generous even with the optional sunroof.
Visibility is excellent, another Forester strong point that some newer cars seem to have sacrificed for the sake of ‘design’.
Boot space? Yep, loads. 509 litres with the seats up and 1,779 litres with them down, plenty of room for a muddy Labrador, a couple of folding chairs, a tent, and a crate of craft ale. There’s a proper low sill too, which makes chucking in gear (or a reluctant dog) easy without barking your shins. Because the rear seats fold flat you might also be tempted to throw in a mattress and sleeping bag for a spot of car-camping.
Loading Tat, Dogs, and Mud: Made for the Job
A big square boot with a wipe-clean floor and an optional rubber mat? Yes please. The power tailgate is handy when your hands are full of wet coats or camping tat, though it’s not the quickest in the world.
As I’ve mentioned, the rear seats drop flat with one tug of a lever, and there are useful tie-down points and underfloor cubbies for your odds and sods. Subaru even offers a washable cargo liner and a dog guard, if that’s your thing.
After a weekend of camping in the Peaks, I can confirm that the Forester will swallow a ridiculous amount of kit without complaint, and clean up easily with a hosepipe and a bit of effort. Just be sure to do the dog first.
Infotainment & Tech: A Mixed Bag
Here’s where things get a bit… digital. The 2025 Forester now features an 11.6” portrait touchscreen on higher trims, running the latest Subaru Starlink system. It’s sharper, quicker and more logical than before, but it still falls short of the slickness you’ll find in Korean or German rivals.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and wireless, which is a tick in the win column. But…
Here comes the rant: Like so many new cars, a lot of the climate controls and driving settings are now buried in the screen. Yes, there are a couple of proper switches for temperature, which earns the Forester a reprieve, but other things, like fan speed, seat heaters and drive modes, are frustratingly touch-based. Subaru, you were doing so well.
At least it’s relatively easy to find what you’re after, and thankfully the lane departure warning and active lane keeping can be turned off with a quick prod through a menu, and it stays off after a restart. That’s a small but mighty win in my book.
Driving Feel on All Surfaces: Calm and Collected
Whether you’re bumbling around town, slogging up the M62 or trundling through a forest track in mid-Wales, the Forester never feels out of its depth. Sure, it’s not sporty, but it’s predictable, composed, and won’t surprise you with weird behaviour when you’re halfway through a muddy bend.
The CVT gearbox is still a bit of a vibe-killer, it’s smoother than before, but still robs the car of any sense of urgency. That said, it suits the Forester’s relaxed nature, and if you drive it with a bit of mechanical sympathy, it rewards you with a serene, wafty ride.
Fuel Economy: Fairly Frugal for What It Is
Subaru claims up to 40mpg combined for the e-Boxer, though in real-world mixed driving I averaged closer to 38mpg. Not bad for a chunky, permanent all-wheel-drive SUV.
There’s no plug-in option (yet), but the Forester’s 2.0-litre petrol e-BOXER engine is paired with a small electric motor and battery to form a mild-hybrid setup. It’s not going to pin you back in your seat, but it’s more “steady plod” than “spirited dash”, but it delivers smooth, quiet performance at low speeds and helps trim fuel use around town. The system can run on electric-only for short bursts (think traffic jams and car parks), and it transitions between petrol and electric seamlessly. It’s not flashy, but it works, much like the Forester itself.
Compared to the Competition
Let’s be blunt. The Forester’s not flashy. It doesn’t have the badge cachet of the Audi Q3, the techy glitz of a Hyundai Tucson, or the fuel-sipping smugness of a Toyota RAV4. But it has one thing most of them don’t: genuine capability and honest usability.
The Honda CR-V is plusher, but pricier. The RAV4 is more economical, but less satisfying to drive off-road. The Mazda CX-5 is sharper to drive, but only front-wheel drive in most trims. If you need something that can do everything without a fuss, commute, camp, and climb muddy tracks, the Forester remains a solid bet.
Final Verdict: 4x4 for the Real World
The 2025 Subaru Forester is a car for people who actually do stuff — not just post about it. It might not set your pulse racing, but it’ll get you, your muddy mutt, and a boot full of camping gear anywhere you need to go, rain or shine, and do it with minimum fuss.
As I’ve written elsewhere, if there’s one thing that might put me off buying a new Forester it’s that there isn’t a spare tyre option - not even a space-saver. For a vehicle that’s designed for country living, in my personal opinion, that’s quite poor. The reason for this is space, lift the cover in the boot and you’ll see that the battery takes up most of the space. Okay, so there’s a puncture kit, but that won’t help you with a sidewall split.
Overall, in a world of overstyled, under-capable crossovers with more screens than sense, the Forester is a bit old school, but that’s part of its charm. It’s still a proper tool for the job, and if you value function over flash, the Forester’s worth a very serious look.
Just give us more dials next time, and a spare tyre, eh Subaru?
Website: Subaru UK
Price: From £39,995
