2025 Subaru Forester

The most obvious alterations are to the 2025 Forester's exterior and interior design. The overall shape hasn't changed much (the wheelbase stays the same and the overall length grows by just 0.6 inch) but the front and rear are bold and help the Forester look less anonymous. The large trapezoidal grille that melts into the headlights evokes — to my eyes, at least — the handsome face of the Ford Explorer. At the rear, there's a new small trim piece that visually separates the roof from the fender trim and a new full-width bar connects the redesigned taillights. Blocky plastic fender flares are now standard on all Forester trims, not just the Wilderness (which isn't a part of the 2025 lineup but should return in the near future).

However, there are some upgrades that could improve the driving experience. A change in the way the body is constructed means there are additional welds to the frame. This, combined with greater use of additional structural adhesive, is said to give the 2025 Forester 10% stiffer torsional rigidity, which should translate to better handling and steering feel. Steering response is further enhanced by the Forester's new dual-pinion steering rack — a retuned version of the system in the Subaru WRX sport sedan.

So for the redesigned Forester's first year, changes are a bit mild in the powertrain department. But Subaru also says there's a hybrid in the works, and while the automaker declined to give an estimated time frame, we think the Forester hybrid will appear within the next one or two years.