Well, a couple things, but “Hybrid” is what’s really new here.
Subaru has been doing so well with their all-gas 2.4 four cylinders, that they really haven’t had a need to go Hybrid. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, right?
And Subie’s Forester sure wasn’t broke. Heck…in its 27th year here in the US, Subaru’s Forester is still their #2 top selling model…just a hair behind their much newer Crosstrek sport hatch.
So Subaru didn’t really have to do anything to keep selling a couple hundred thousand Foresters here every year, but………
While the move to all-electric has been blunted a bit lately, hybrids have taken over. Today they’re pretty much mainstream. So…good as they’ve been doing, Subaru knew they couldn’t just stay with a winning hand forever.
And that brings us to the ’25 Forester Sport Hybrid. For $3,490 more than the “OG” all-gas Forester Sport, you get a 6-8 MPG improvement and a bladder-bustin’ 581 mile range. Oh…and a little more “go”. The Hybrid packs Subaru’s standard 180 HP four and then the hybrid’s battery gives it an extra 14 HP…and as with all-electric HP, it’s right there and ready to go.
Today Subaru offers a total of 10 different Foresters, and four of them are now Hybrids. The Sport is on the lower end…listing at under 40K…transportation included. But I saw nothing that would indicate lower-end on our test Sport.
Most noticeable are the 19” bronze-colored alloys and tasteful bits of Gold trim. Then there’s the 11-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound, moonroof, a 12.3” digital display, simulated leather steering wheel and dash trim, gloss black roof rails, Subaru’s “EyeSight driver assist …even soft-touch trim on the doors.
And as for the “bones” under all Foresters, you’ll find two rows with room for five and their luggage for a week+…and one of the most comfortable suspensions in any vehicle that costs less than six figures. You’ll find the Forester equally at home in the tightest in-town parking garage or on a 10-hour cross country sprint.
Are the 7 or so better MPGs…the huge 581 mile range…the extra 14 HP…and the special trim worth the extra $3,490?
That’s your call. But either way, you’ll have a comfortable and easy-to-live-with ride.