2025 Subaru Forester Puts Functionality Ahead of Style

• The new Forester looks more boxy than its predecessor, partially due to the squared-off wheel wells replacing the rounded ones in the previous model.

• The previous instrument panel was nicely proportioned, with a distinctive diagonal line that provided perspective as it sloped upward to the passenger-side A-pillar. The new dash in the ‘25 Forester looks taller and chunky and just too big.

• With EyeSight driver-assistance tech standard on all models and a capable 180-hp four-cylinder boxer, the new Forester is off to a strong start, outselling its Outback sibling with nearly 144,000 units in the US through October.

Subaru has proven that a car doesn’t have to be drop-dead gorgeous to be successful in the marketplace.

The Japanese brand has been growing sales steadily for 20-some years in the US, and it’s because of clever marketing, a quirky brand identity, consistently high safety ratings, and cold-weather customers liking the standard all-wheel drive. It’s not because of the shapely sheetmetal.

Which explains why the 2025 Subaru Forester, fully redesigned for its sixth generation, looks so much like the fifth generation it replaces.

While most automakers are racing to make their crossover SUVs look sporty or more coupe-like with a sloping rear roof line, the new Forester actually looks more boxy than its predecessor, partially due to the squared-off wheel wells replacing the rounded ones in the previous model.

And that might be perfectly fine for Subaru shoppers who have been drawn to the taller proportions of the ’25 Forester as well as the longer, slightly sleeker Outback. Both these two-row crossovers spring from Subaru’s new Global Platform and fare extremely well in the insanely crowded midsize crossover segment.

After a test drive in the new Forester, it’s easy to understand why certain shoppers are drawn to it. The unusual, old-school, upright stance—arguably making the Forester the least attractive vehicle in Subaru’s portfolio—probably factors into its widespread appeal. It’s different.

The most immediate impression from the driver’s seat is a sense of spaciousness, borne from that unusually high roofline that makes for fantastic visibility, no matter which way you’re looking. And you can keep your Stetson on, in any seating position.

Oddly enough, EPA interior volume is down slightly to 110.8 cubic feet relative to the 2024 Forester, but cargo volume is up slightly to 29.6 cubic feet with rear seatbacks up and 74.4 cubic feet with seats down.

The new interior carries over the previous dimensions for headroom (41.2 inches in front and 39.6 inches in back) and legroom, but front seat occupants get an extra 0.6 inches of hiproom and lose 0.4 inches of shoulder room, while backseat passengers gain a half-inch of shoulder room, compared to the 2024 model.

Ergonomically, Subaru made few changes in designing the new cockpit: The steering wheel and gauge cluster looks largely unchanged; the automatic gear shifter is right where it was before (centered in the console); and most controls occupy the center stack, flanked by two vertical air vents, all equally accessible to driver and passenger.

But the changes are substantial. One main center touchscreen and a smaller display above it from the previous Forester have been replaced by one much larger 11.6-inch tablet-shaped StarLink multimedia screen that some Subaru loyalists find too big and cumbersome.

Their point appears to be validated when comparing photos of the previous instrument panel next to the new ’25 version. The old one was nicely proportioned, with a distinctive diagonal line that provided perspective as it sloped upward to the passenger-side A-pillar. The new one looks taller and chunky and just too big.

And it’s kind of obvious why that is—because the design team needed to replace the hard knobs for climate control (why?) by integrating them virtually into the lower quadrant of the massive display screen.

True, fewer conventional controls contribute to a cleaner look, but they also makes for a new touchscreen that has an awful lot going on. You’ll need to study it awhile before it feels intuitive.

And this bugs me aesthetically: The base of that large, vertical screen and its surrounding bezel doesn’t even square up symmetrically with the trim that extends down on either side of the shifter, toward the cupholders.

In this case, I prefer the previous instrument panel, its shape, and its overall layout. The new oversized display screen looks like it belongs in a pickup truck.

The large vertical screen is standard in Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring models, while the entry-level Base trim ($31,090 with destination) gets two seven-inch screens stacked on top of each other.

Subaru loyalists might be perfectly happy with the rest of the cabin, and the automaker promises the new interior is quieter and more comfortable. The rugged Subaru-branded rubber cargo bay liner and floor mats will remain popular.

Our Forester Touring test model was fully loaded at the very top of the range, stickering at $41,390 (with destination) and sporting 19-inch dark gray rims (17-inch wheels are standard), ventilated front seats, leather throughout, keyless access, and a 576-watt Harman Kardon premium sound system, among other goodies.

If safety is a key consideration, every new Forester gets Emergency Stop Assist and the latest version of EyeSight camera-based driver-assist technology, enabling adaptive cruise control with lane centering.

On the powertrain front, the ‘25 Forester carries over the lightly revised 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine that produces an adequate 180 hp (down from 182 in the previous model) and 178 lb-ft of torque (up from 176 previously) paired to a Lineartronic CVT.

Active torque vectoring is standard, for better side-to-side stability, and Subaru says the new chassis is 10% stiffer to improve dynamic performance and ride quality. Like the previous Forester, the new model has at least 8.7 inches of ground clearance and up to 9.2 inches with the Wilderness package.

The suspension carries over (MacPherson struts up front and double wishbones out back), as does the 35.4-foot turning circle and wheelbase (105.1 inches). At 183.3 inches overall, the new Forester is less than an inch longer.

Curb weight is up for every Forester, with the heaviest version in Touring trim weighing in at 3,664 pounds. Subaru builds the Forester at its Gunma, Japan, plant, and the model is off to a strong start, outselling its Outback sibling with nearly 144,000 units in the US through October.

Do you think the new Forester will resonate with Subaru fans? Please comment below.