Our Verdict
The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
Average
7.6
out of
10
edmunds
TESTED
The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid is a real improvement over the standard Forester. It's quicker, quieter and more comfortable, all while being significantly more efficient. Though it suffers from a lackluster infotainment system and an overall lack of polish, we think the Forester Hybrid is a solid choice overall for a small hybrid SUV.
Rated for you by America's best test team.
Performance
7.5/
10
How does the Forester Hybrid drive? The Forester Hybrid's powertrain is a big improvement over the standard Forester's. At the Edmunds test track, our test vehicle sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds. That's only 0.4 second quicker than the non-hybrid, but in regular city driving, the hybrid powertrain feels smoother and more responsive when you press on the gas pedal.
Despite our test vehicle's Sport badge, nothing about the Forester Hybrid is particularly sporty. The Subaru's handling is on par with the likes of Honda's CR-V and Hyundai's Tucson, and its brakes are easy to use to get consistent, smooth stops. The Forester also has standard all-wheel drive and higher-than-average ground clearance, meaning it's a bit more capable on dirt trails and roads than most other small SUVs.
Comfort
8/
10
How comfortable is the Forester Hybrid? The Forester Hybrid rides significantly better than the standard Forester. Its retuned suspension gives you a smoother ride over bumps without being overly floaty at freeway speeds. The Hybrid is also quieter, even under hard acceleration, like when you are merging onto the highway. Thankfully, Subaru didn't change the seats for the Hybrid, which remain just as well padded and comfortable as those in the standard Forester.
Interior
8/
10
How’s the interior? Thanks to wide door openings and agreeable seat heights, it's very easy to get in and out of the Forester. You won't need to climb up, slouch down, or duck your head to get inside. The Forester's 11.6-inch tablet-style center screen has large icons and clear graphics. It's easy to read, but we have found that it can be slow to respond to your touch inputs.
The Forester's upright driving position gives you a good view of the road ahead, and its boxy styling and large windows make for good visibility. We only wish you didn't have to spring for the top trim level to get a surround-view camera system.
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Technology
7.5/
10
How’s the tech? Though not as flashy or modern as what's in competitors like the Kia Sportage, the Forester's tech is fairly easy to use and understand. The available Harman Kardon audio system sounds great and is worth getting if you love listening to music.
Subaru's collection of advanced driver aids, known as EyeSight, is comprehensive. But we were disappointed with the operation of some features in our testing. The Forester's adaptive cruise control is slow to respond and accelerate after slowing down; you'll often feel like you're holding back traffic. Our vehicle's lane centering system also had the Forester constantly wobbling around in its lane rather than maintaining a steady course ahead. Many of these systems issue beeps and warnings, which can get annoying after a while.
Storage
7.5/
10
How’s the storage? The Forester Hybrid's upright and boxy styling make it practical, even if it offers less cargo space on paper than the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage. A lack of odd shapes and contours simplifies the loading area, and the higher roof means the Forester can easily swallow taller objects. In our real-world luggage holding test, we found it just as adept, or more so, at hauling cargo as those rival SUVs. The rear seats also fold flat to create a level load floor for longer objects.
Inside, the Forester doesn't offer the same number of storage options as its rivals. Center console storage is on the small side, and the door pockets are average. Thanks to the wide-opening rear doors and ample headroom, loading a car seat should be easy.
Both the Forester and Forester Hybrid offer the same relatively low towing limit of 1,500 pounds. The Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage can tow up to 3,500 pounds and 2,500 pounds, respectively.
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