Can’t wait to see what power increase the hybrid brings - the 2.5 is underpowered, noisy and rough, especially if you are driving at elevation, in the mountains or when loaded with either people or cargo.
Thank you very much for your review! This has been a trim that I've been interested in, nearly buying a Forester last December; but for the death of my dad, which for me has eliminated the need for a new car. What gives me pause in almost considering any manufacture, Subaru or otherwise, for car buying has been the recent change from port to direct fuel injection for engines. I realize that direct fuel injection supposedly saves a little bit of fuel and helps improve emissions slightly, but the very nature of injecting fuel directly into the cylinders eliminates the cleaning action of the fuel on the intake valves and introduces contaminates into the lubricating oil, which in turn causing carbon build-up on the intake valves. This then requires routine service of either blasting with walnut shells or a use of a harsh solvent, every 40,000 to 70,000 miles - an expensive additional service costing around 600 dollars, negating any fuel saving benefit. Toyota made Subaru keep the port fuel injection for its jointly developed sports car, for Toyota is one of the few car manufacturers that insists on port fuel injection being present for long term reliability. That complaint aside, I am really looking forward to the upcoming hybrid version of the Forester, hopefully with a plug-in version. And, of course, your review of it!
I’m very sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. 😞 Those are some good points! I’m also very interested to see how their hybrid system looks. Hopefully it much more like Toyotas than the 1-2nd gen Crosstrek. 😬
I just can't. I hate how the new one looks. After having a '98 and a '21 Sport, I would absolutely not buy this generation. And yes, I've seen them in person. Hopefully the refresh comes sooner than later this gen.
That is precisely why I purchased a 2024 Forester Touring. I drove both the 2024 and 2025. It was an easy decision for me. The 2024 "felt" more connected and solid than the 2025. It has also lost its sportiness. Besides the Ford looks, the other killer was the 11.6 inch touchscreen that controls almost everything. Call me old school, but I like the tactile switchgear of knobs and buttons. It was most distracting between the horrible reflective glare and having to take my eyes off the road to operate simple functions. As far as the 2025 being quieter...I couldn't tell a bit of difference no matter what "they" say.
Can you comment how hot those seats get in full sun? I've heard multiple people describe those seats as grey rather than the black that Subaru calls them. If they are really black, that means ultra hot to me. Grey would be cooler for those of us who live in areas with scorching hot summers.
I don’t know that the specific temperature of the cloth/fabric changes much between the grey and black. At least in our own Forester with the black seats I’ve never been ‘surprised’ at how warm they were when getting into the vehicle on a hot day. I hope this helps and best of luck!
Can’t wait to see what power increase the hybrid brings - the 2.5 is underpowered, noisy and rough, especially if you are driving at elevation, in the mountains or when loaded with either people or cargo.
Thank you very much for your review! This has been a trim that I've been interested in, nearly buying a Forester last December; but for the death of my dad, which for me has eliminated the need for a new car.
What gives me pause in almost considering any manufacture, Subaru or otherwise, for car buying has been the recent change from port to direct fuel injection for engines. I realize that direct fuel injection supposedly saves a little bit of fuel and helps improve emissions slightly, but the very nature of injecting fuel directly into the cylinders eliminates the cleaning action of the fuel on the intake valves and introduces contaminates into the lubricating oil, which in turn causing carbon build-up on the intake valves. This then requires routine service of either blasting with walnut shells or a use of a harsh solvent, every 40,000 to 70,000 miles - an expensive additional service costing around 600 dollars, negating any fuel saving benefit. Toyota made Subaru keep the port fuel injection for its jointly developed sports car, for Toyota is one of the few car manufacturers that insists on port fuel injection being present for long term reliability.
That complaint aside, I am really looking forward to the upcoming hybrid version of the Forester, hopefully with a plug-in version. And, of course, your review of it!
I’m very sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. 😞 Those are some good points! I’m also very interested to see how their hybrid system looks. Hopefully it much more like Toyotas than the 1-2nd gen Crosstrek. 😬
I just can't. I hate how the new one looks.
After having a '98 and a '21 Sport, I would absolutely not buy this generation. And yes, I've seen them in person. Hopefully the refresh comes sooner than later this gen.
That is precisely why I purchased a 2024 Forester Touring. I drove both the 2024 and 2025. It was an easy decision for me. The 2024 "felt" more connected and solid than the 2025. It has also lost its sportiness. Besides the Ford looks, the other killer was the 11.6 inch touchscreen that controls almost everything. Call me old school, but I like the tactile switchgear of knobs and buttons. It was most distracting between the horrible reflective glare and having to take my eyes off the road to operate simple functions. As far as the 2025 being quieter...I couldn't tell a bit of difference no matter what "they" say.
Can you comment how hot those seats get in full sun? I've heard multiple people describe those seats as grey rather than the black that Subaru calls them. If they are really black, that means ultra hot to me. Grey would be cooler for those of us who live in areas with scorching hot summers.
I don’t know that the specific temperature of the cloth/fabric changes much between the grey and black. At least in our own Forester with the black seats I’ve never been ‘surprised’ at how warm they were when getting into the vehicle on a hot day. I hope this helps and best of luck!
Did the 2025 Forester also inherit the 4.11 final drive ratio from the Forester Wilderness as well... or just the transmission cooler?
I believe it was only the cooler and these still have a 3.70 final drive.
@@bmcjunkie unfortunately, no.
I don't think they 3d print the sill plates?
No probably not, I just say that being silly. 🙃
Do the back seats fold flat?
Not perfectly, but about as close as anything else I’ve driven.
Those are not tow hooks they are recovery points.
Same thing. It’s rated to be towed behind an rv. Although, I wouldn’t recover something at full tilt😂
@@Zanderthelab Only a moroon would tow a car from those recovery points.