I am waiting to see the Forester hybrid with my fingers crossed. The hybrid should address the acceleration and fuel economy issues. My concern is that the Mazda CX-50 lost room in the rear when they created the hybrid, and room in the back seat is a big deal for me. I really appreciate your car seat demos. Also, I love the look of the front end of the 2025 Forester. Clean, classy lines.
I might get a Subaru Forester as a daily vehicle for taking my mother to the hair salon. The cargo space is perfect to put her three-wheel walker in and there is enough leg room for my brother who is tall. A friend of mine has a 2020 Subaru Forester and she loves it. Another friend of mine has an original model of the Subaru Forester which has approximately 420K miles on it.
Alex’s reviews are the most thorough of any automotive journalist in every area of vehicle aspects out of any reviewer in the industry. He’s the best I’ve ever seen.
Best car reviewer on the internet. Quick, comprehensive and you don’t try to stuff in silly jokes no one wants to hear. Keep up the stellar work. Thank you from Australia 🇦🇺
You have excellent and thorough reviews and you have a very pleasing voice to listen to. Thank you! Also waiting to see what the hybrid brings us. My lease is up in June of 2026. Will be looking for a vehicle of this size.
@@jazzbeau507 my point is Keep the lights separated! Toyota has dumbed down their new vehicles for the NA market, one LED bulb/unit that does all 3, Tail/Brake/Turn! That's a safety concern. At least when your incandescent rear turn signal bulb burns out, your brake light still works...
If they make a PHEV, I'll wait. I have solar and a big backup battery here in NM and spend less than $15 a month for gas for my Kia Sportage PHEV, but I do love Subs
I have around 3,000 miles on a new limited model and it's very satisfying. I liked the styling on the last model and I'd encourage them to rethink the clunky fender flares and strange styling cues, but the mileage is getting much better after the initial break in miles; 33 mpg last weekend. 👍
The Touring also has a digital rear view mirror, 360 degree cameras & standard navigation. Just got a 25 Touring in River Rock Pearl / Brown Leather and I Love it!!!
I just got this. All the whiners obviously haven’t tried it. I love this car. The screen isn’t much of a hassle. Get used to it people. All new cars are going this way.
The current generation of Forester/Crosstrek's are kind of like in-between generations, carry over engine and infotainment, the upgrade is in the chassis mostly to keep up with increasing crash-test standards. It's largely a good thing, why mess with success, but the fuel economy game really is moving ahead now, so many people going "waiting fora hybrid." Which may more may not be that great; Subaru is married to the full time longitudinal drive layout, so it will never be as space or fuel efficient as a fwd-based hybrid like the Toyotas... but its Subaru so they have to nail actual awd performance. It's a tough bind for them, awd is their core identify and its kind of a curse as well.
I have a 2020 Forester after owning 8 Toyotas. The Forester is more delicate and requires excellent maintenance. Mine has been in the shop twice for unscheduled repairs. 200K miles is possible with flawless maintenance and some luck, but it's not a given. It comes down to needing AWD. This is where the Forester shines. If you only need FWD there are better options than the Forester.
@@0HOON0 Yes. Probably just a matter of time. Mine failed without warning at 60K miles and we limped home with the panel lit up like a Christmas tree. Our Forester was down for a week.
@@mattdecker6791 one of the best things about the 2025, they got rid of the TCV. It now has a regular cheap thermostat. No idea why they bothered to change something so easy there
@@truckercowboyed2638if you have to change something while driving and you have to take your eyes off the road by dealing with a touchscreen option menu, it is a bad idea and an accident waiting to happen. No thanks, I will stick with the old screen and physical buttons. Oh and to replace that touchscreen is $5000 Canadian. A friend of mine use to be a Subaru mechanic and he drives a crosstrek and a forester
I have a 2025 Forester, and I thought I would be terribly annoyed by the large screen. But the features that I use most of all are the temperature control, the volume control for the audio system (which can also be adjusted on the steering wheel), and the air recirculation. Both temperature and audio volume are still physical controls. There is one customizable screen "button" that I have set as the recirculation control. Besides, many people use either CarPlay or Android Auto, and these have always been adjusted using on-screen controls. Also, I really like the auto high-beam headlights; so convenient not to have to switch them on/off in oncoming traffic.
@@truckercowboyed2638 it sucks, it’s slow on startups, completely freezes in cold weather and climate controls work after 30seconds. Not acceptable in a 40k+ vehicle
My parents just got one due to the visibility it provides and seating position. They love the car and didn’t have any problems with the screen which I thought was going to be an issue.
Subaru Japan just had a test driving session of the Crosstrek 2.5L BOXER + Series(Full) hybrid system. It makes about 47 mpg. There are many reviews on TH-cam (in Japanese “スバル 新型クロストレック”).
Fuel Economy: I have been averaging 34 mpg combined and up to 37 mpg on highway trips @ 65 mph with my 2025 Forester. To get the 34 mpg combined, I do have to be careful with the acceleration from stoplights. But, overall, I am impressed with the economy considering full time AWD.
Depends on the market. There's times when new car sales slow down and they need to move vehicles. I've gotten a few Accords for 10 percent below MSRP - was 2018 and 2020 I think, and maybe one before that.
First time I’ve seen one of your reviews. I thought it was excellent. You spoke relatively quickly, but your voice was clear as can be. (I only had to rewind about 2-3x to rehear a word or phrase.) I also liked how well you did comparisons with a good number of competing brands/trims-pros and cons, over and over, and thorough. I have a 2010 CR-V right now, but I hate how the 2025 CR-V doesn’t have ANY kind of spare tire…not even a blowup pool inner tube floatie! As for the new Forester, I hear the blind spot monitors are flash-only; no beeping sound accompanying the flashing light. How dumb of Subaru. Thanks for the fine review.
I plan to get one of these. Ultimately, I’m currently not into Hybrids or EVs. So that dwindles out a lot of cars that require it to get simple things like a decent stereo system or leather ventilated seats. I would have considered the CR-V but no spare tire is a big no for emergency reasons. Also, all the other cars compared are simply much more expensive. Dealerships push to go over msrp to start with, add in the very high interests rates Toyota and Honda are pushing - it’s simply not worth it in today’s market. Mazda gives a little wiggle room but they are cramped and small and their infotainment is worse than the foresters with a weird controller still. The Subaru is a bang for your buck car. Has the best safety ratings even over Toyota and Honda (not much better but still better), reliable, real AWD that beats all of these, and higher ground clearance. And you will easily get these $2k lower than msrp if not more, with a reasonable interest rate. And with all the bells and whistles these others don’t give you standard let alone mid-trim level. I won’t hold out for the hybrid even if it borrows from Toyotas, as you never know how good or bad it will be short term on their first real go at it - look at the Soltera and you may want to reserve some waiting on anything new there.
Forster has lower cargo volume because of how it’s measured. The cover is relatively low to allow good visibility. I don’t even have that cover, and I did have a trip worn four of these trolleys to the airport recently 😂❤
"maintenance... access to spark plugs... making it a little bit trickier" - what he means is, the technician will insist it requires lifting the engine off its motor mounts, which is very expensive.
Ok, honestly it’s not bad design but I wish there was more chrome accents on the exterior of vehicle. Especially the grille and don’t care for the gray accent squares below and bottom of the door. I agree with Alex that they should have used more imitation wood trim around shifter, door handles. I really dislike the bronze colored trim and wheels on the sport trim. I think Subbie should look at the new Scout SUV get some inspiration from them on design ideas. They add white roof option with flat little gray/green, little gray/blue, light beige/red colors paired with brown or tan leather interior.
Ok, honestly it’s not bad design but I wish there was more chrome accents on the exterior of vehicle. Especially the grille and don’t care for the gray accent squares below and bottom of the door. I agree with Alex that they should have used more imitation wood trim around shifter, door handles. I really dislike the bronze colored trim and wheels on the sport trim. I think Subbie should look at the new Scout SUV get some inspiration from them on design ideas.
XT? No? I'm out. My wife was looking for a downsize from her Ascent. She got a Forester as a loaner when the Ascent was in for service. Even she said it was a dog, and she needed more power for passing, merging, etc. C'mon Subaru, you don't need the full blown WRX-like powertrain, simple 20-25 more hp would make this more competitive. 200 hp is minimum for a vehicle this size.
Solterra maybe. There are no ICE which can match an EV for driveable directness and torque if that is a priority. And even a base Tesla 3 is more responsive than a WRXSTI engine. Yeah I know the Solterra has some serious shortcomings, but the best crossovers will all be EV in a few years.
@@planesandbikes7353 Again - you're wrong as can be. EVs are taking a real dive in sales, not only in the U.S., but in Europe, too. People don't want them... why is that?
This car needs XT trim badly... honestly, having outback and brz, I'm past Subaru's ridiculous infotainment system. Just give this car a turbo or hybrid to boost FB25D. Then, this car becomes a serious consideration point.
Thank you for showing the extra covered slots in the back for extra devices ... I saw one with bars installed that looked really strong for two level storage ... very nice but NEVER showen .
Excellent review - as always. Alex, you have lost weight and are looking good. Well done! I too am (deliberately) losing weight slowly - though I have more to lose than you do. Lol !!!
What are the chances of the Wilderness being the Hybrid? It feels to me that there are too many trims as of today, adding two additional trims (Hybrid and Wilderness) seems complicated; also I have no idea if the Hybrid will keep the SAWD I think it's technically very complicated and that may be the reason why it has taken Subaru so long to release a real hybrid on the Forester.
I just noticed that Subaru is selling color accented inserts for the front and rear bumpers for the shapes that match the exhaust outlet cutout. If Alex notices the same thing while he has anything in his mouth, I hope you aren’t standing in front of him.
subaru needs to get that hybrid out stat. unless its a rav4 with a subaru body which would be extremely disappointing. i'm a current outback owner but would love to upgrade to a new model with a hybrid setup.
I am trying to understand why manufacturers use incandescent bulbs today. Cost savings? Come on, how much would it add to the cost of the car to use an all-LED setup? I am sure that is not enough to tip the scales when purchasing a new vehicle unless you're looking into buying very basic transportation.
I like my Subaru Impreza, but the new touch controls in the newer cars makes Subaru a non starter going forward. I will not purchase ANY car that forces me to take my eyes off the road for basic functions while driving.
I half agree half disagree. Subaru has enough buttons and knobs still. But their touch screen is really REALLY laggy and unresponsive, making it harder and more dangerous to use. If it worked more like an iPhone or Tesla screen and was intelligently laid out/customizable it could eventually evolve to be a winner. No Tesla has not perfected this either.
agree. I don't buy the latest Subaru model because of this new touch screen design, it looks ugly and it's on all models now. I was thinking of replacing my 2018 Subaru Outback with a new Impreza until I saw this new design. why Impreza? Compared to Outback Impreza accelerates like a sports car but the new design just killed it
Loved your review, it was everything I was eager to know, so thank you for that! However Alex, how did you gain so much height over the years? Is it you or your son/younger brother? - Keep Rocking! :)
I am debating between the Forester Limited and the Crosstrek Limited, any suggestions? The Crosstrek is about 3000-4000 cheaper but do you think it's worth spending the money to upgrade to the larger vehicle with more features. I do not have a family other than my 2 small dogs that I will be carting around from time to time.
Hey Alex, One big thing that’s missing on the 2025 Forester Touring model that’s on all the “lower” trims is HomeLink. It’s not available on the Smart rearview mirror, but it is on the Ascent and Outback. It was probably left off to keep the top of the line Forester at the $39,999 price point. That’s a HUGE miss! 😖
@ Really? I heard from my local dealer that they even tried to install Smart mirror from an Ascent and an Outback and the software freaked out with an error. They threw up their hands in disgust. When did you buys yours because the Subaru site still lists HomeLink as not available on the 2025 Forester Touring model.
Alex, Boxes rule so the boxier the better!! What exactly did you mean when you said 5:02 "You might want to put your purchase on paws?" Are you saying Subaru owners should invest in a new Labrador 🦮instead of a new Forester? But seriously, how can Toyota supply hybrid components to other automakers when they cannot supply themselves fast enough to meet demand? 🤔 If Subaru really wants to sell Toyota Hybrid components, they should re-badge the Corolla Touring Hybrid AWD wagon and sell it under their label. 🤩🤩
My 2017 Forester was 21k. It was the base with a stick. One thing I wasn't impressed with was the build quality. I brought it back several times because of a consistent smell especially when the engine was cold. I was proven right when the clutch went on the highway going 70mph in North Carolina. The dealership tried to say it was wear and tear related but clutches shouldn't go at 25k miles. Needless to say I won't buy a Subaru anytime soon.
We got a 2024 Forester because we knew the big screen was coming to the comparable 2025 model. I had a big screen on an Outback XT Limited. I didn't like it and my wife really hated it. Slow, distracting ... Love the dials/knobs/rockers on the 2023 (mine) and 2024 (hers) Foresters.
I like the Outback and Crosstrek. Heck I own a 2024 Crosstrek. It's more car like than Forester. But the Forester competes against the Rav 4 and sorry I trust Toyota more with a i4 and auto trans, plus hybrid options. I would totally choose Rav4 over the Forester unless I really needed the offroad capability of Subaru's superior AWD system. In 10 years time the Toyota will retain much better resale value and there is risk the CVT will mechanically total the Subaru, not to mention the spotty history of the boxer 2.5 engine. But all of these will seem like laggy dinosaurs in 5 years once the carmakers start building proper small SUV-EVs unlike the poorly executed Solterra.
The RAV4 is a tinny, noisy, cheap piece of junk - I've driven more than my share over the past five years. You don't know what you're talking about with the latest Subaru CVTs, and if a CVT is so bad - why is Toyota putting them in more and more of their cars?
I love the forester…I just wish Subaru would put some work into their entertainment system…looks so dated and barely works half the time with the phones.
Forester is often cited as one of the best cars for seniors thanks to ease of entry and excite, great visibility, easy to drive & park, great nanny features. Good features you young 'uns also!
Totally agree about the similar appearance to that model year Outlander, but I disagree about that not being a good thing. It’s a friendly, bubbly design! I like it more than the previous Forester rear end design.
What about fit, finish, rattles when driving on rough roads? Both of my 2011 and 2016 Foresters developed rattles within first couple of months of driving.
They're fine, and if your previous Foresters "developed rattles within first couple of months of driving" and you didn't do anything except BUY ANOTHER ONE... troll alert!
@@eskieman3948 Yes, we go overlanding and camping in our Foresters, I don't baby them, and that's why they developed rattles. I bought a second one because I passed on the first one to my son. What's so hard to believe?
my 2000 Subaru Forester looked beautiful and lasted me 18 years. 2018 Subaru Outback had battery issues during the first 2 years. Car underbody is rusted now cause dealership installed so called anti rust "device" instead of proper rust proof. Subaru quality is declining, design is getting uglier. No more Subarus in the near future.
11:16 just an fyi.. this not a “moonroof” nor is it “panoramic”. A moonroof does not open and is a fixed piece of glass. A sunroof, as shown in the video, DOES open. Also, a panoramic sun/moon roof does not have a manually sliding sunshade because in order for it to be “panoramic” it would have to stretch far beyond any reachable limit of the front driver or passenger. Go back to focusing on quality and quite trying to pump out quantity as fast as you’re taking that ozempic. Thank you! 😊
Just an FYI, sunroof vs moonroof is a marketing distinction without a generally agreed-upon difference. Once upon a time **some* manufacturers would call a metal opening a "sunroof" and a glass opening a "moonroof" but those days are long since gone. Panoramic in this context simply means "larger than average" as there is no industry standard for what "panoramic" means.
I am waiting to see the Forester hybrid with my fingers crossed. The hybrid should address the acceleration and fuel economy issues. My concern is that the Mazda CX-50 lost room in the rear when they created the hybrid, and room in the back seat is a big deal for me. I really appreciate your car seat demos. Also, I love the look of the front end of the 2025 Forester. Clean, classy lines.
Thank you for putting the car lengths in the bar graph! The bar graph is good, adding the lengths is great!
With a more powerful engine, hopefully the hybrid, this car is a home run!
I might get a Subaru Forester as a daily vehicle for taking my mother to the hair salon. The cargo space is perfect to put her three-wheel walker in and there is enough leg room for my brother who is tall. A friend of mine has a 2020 Subaru Forester and she loves it. Another friend of mine has an original model of the Subaru Forester which has approximately 420K miles on it.
400 k miles! Sign me in
I really like this gauge cluster. It reminds me of the Lexus setups from a couple years ago. Very clean.
I have always recommended this channel cause Alex shows the child seat stuff often or mentions them. Thank u for that
Alex’s reviews are the most thorough of any automotive journalist in every area of vehicle aspects out of any reviewer in the industry. He’s the best I’ve ever seen.
Best car reviewer on the internet. Quick, comprehensive and you don’t try to stuff in silly jokes no one wants to hear. Keep up the stellar work. Thank you from Australia 🇦🇺
You have excellent and thorough reviews and you have a very pleasing voice to listen to. Thank you! Also waiting to see what the hybrid brings us. My lease is up in June of 2026. Will be looking for a vehicle of this size.
I'm okay with incandescent rear turn signal bulbs as long as they are not share with the brake lights!
yes, however they sometimes need replaced which is a nuisance.
this!!! agreed
Amber turn signals front and rear should be standard on every vehicle.
@@jazzbeau507 my point is Keep the lights separated! Toyota has dumbed down their new vehicles for the NA market, one LED bulb/unit that does all 3, Tail/Brake/Turn! That's a safety concern. At least when your incandescent rear turn signal bulb burns out, your brake light still works...
@@jazzbeau507 The LEDs go out as well, only instead of a 4 dollar bulb, you generally need to buy a $2,000 module. Thanks but no thanks.
If they make a PHEV, I'll wait. I have solar and a big backup battery here in NM and spend less than $15 a month for gas for my Kia Sportage PHEV, but I do love Subs
Subaru confirmed a PHEV Forester launching in 2026.
I have around 3,000 miles on a new limited model and it's very satisfying. I liked the styling on the last model and I'd encourage them to rethink the clunky fender flares and strange styling cues, but the mileage is getting much better after the initial break in miles; 33 mpg last weekend. 👍
"This top of the line model"
This is a Limited, not a Touring, which has ventilated seats (among other things).
Ya, I was wondering when he said that.. also has memory seats I believe.
9 seat memory settings. 5 profiles in DriverFocus, 2 buttons on the door, and each key fob. Not that anyone needs 9 settings. 😂
Limited also has 18” wheels and the tires are more narrow. The Touring would have a better handling score.
The Touring also has a digital rear view mirror, 360 degree cameras & standard navigation. Just got a 25 Touring in River Rock Pearl / Brown Leather and I Love it!!!
I’m not seeing ventilated seats on their website
I just got this. All the whiners obviously haven’t tried it. I love this car. The screen isn’t much of a hassle. Get used to it people. All new cars are going this way.
I agree, sir. We had a 21 Forester Touring and I loved it. Traded it 4 days ago for a 25 Forester Touring. Even nicer, quieter, handles great.
The current generation of Forester/Crosstrek's are kind of like in-between generations, carry over engine and infotainment, the upgrade is in the chassis mostly to keep up with increasing crash-test standards. It's largely a good thing, why mess with success, but the fuel economy game really is moving ahead now, so many people going "waiting fora hybrid." Which may more may not be that great; Subaru is married to the full time longitudinal drive layout, so it will never be as space or fuel efficient as a fwd-based hybrid like the Toyotas... but its Subaru so they have to nail actual awd performance. It's a tough bind for them, awd is their core identify and its kind of a curse as well.
I have a 2020 Forester after owning 8 Toyotas. The Forester is more delicate and requires excellent maintenance. Mine has been in the shop twice for unscheduled repairs. 200K miles is possible with flawless maintenance and some luck, but it's not a given. It comes down to needing AWD. This is where the Forester shines. If you only need FWD there are better options than the Forester.
What issues put your Forester in the shop?
@@0HOON0 TCV and a rear end clunk the mechanic has not been able to find.
@@mattdecker6791 Thanks.
Yeah I'm waiting for the TCV to go on mine.
@@0HOON0 Yes. Probably just a matter of time. Mine failed without warning at 60K miles and we limped home with the panel lit up like a Christmas tree. Our Forester was down for a week.
@@mattdecker6791 one of the best things about the 2025, they got rid of the TCV. It now has a regular cheap thermostat. No idea why they bothered to change something so easy there
Using touchscreen to control almost everything is such a terrible design…
I mean it's very easy if you can't use it something is wrong with you
@@truckercowboyed2638if you have to change something while driving and you have to take your eyes off the road by dealing with a touchscreen option menu, it is a bad idea and an accident waiting to happen. No thanks, I will stick with the old screen and physical buttons. Oh and to replace that touchscreen is $5000 Canadian. A friend of mine use to be a Subaru mechanic and he drives a crosstrek and a forester
I have a 2025 Forester, and I thought I would be terribly annoyed by the large screen. But the features that I use most of all are the temperature control, the volume control for the audio system (which can also be adjusted on the steering wheel), and the air recirculation. Both temperature and audio volume are still physical controls. There is one customizable screen "button" that I have set as the recirculation control.
Besides, many people use either CarPlay or Android Auto, and these have always been adjusted using on-screen controls.
Also, I really like the auto high-beam headlights; so convenient not to have to switch them on/off in oncoming traffic.
@@truckercowboyed2638 it sucks, it’s slow on startups, completely freezes in cold weather and climate controls work after 30seconds. Not acceptable in a 40k+ vehicle
I hate it when that happens!!
My parents just got one due to the visibility it provides and seating position. They love the car and didn’t have any problems with the screen which I thought was going to be an issue.
I've probably said before, but in case I haven't, I really appreciate the "roller bag score", and this is a prime example why.
Oh nice! You put the measurements in the length chart!
After driving them all and deciding on going Hybrid I went with the CRV. Absolutely no regrets as it has not disappointed.
Without watching the video, yes. Wait for the hybrid. You’re already getting a CVT so just enjoy the better power and fuel economy.
Toyota Hybrid eCVTs are nothing like the CVT in Subarus (except the PHEV Crosstrek). They don’t have belts/chains and are much better. Entirely gears.
Assuming it gets a Toyota e-cvt the maintenance will be MUCH cheaper. The current CVT costs $300 plus every 40k miles for just the trans service.
@@0HOON0 $300 every 40k, big whoop
Subaru Japan just had a test driving session of the Crosstrek 2.5L BOXER + Series(Full) hybrid system. It makes about 47 mpg.
There are many reviews on TH-cam (in Japanese “スバル 新型クロストレック”).
I’d like a base model with a turbo, I guess I’m just weird.
Fuel Economy: I have been averaging 34 mpg combined and up to 37 mpg on highway trips @ 65 mph with my 2025 Forester. To get the 34 mpg combined, I do have to be careful with the acceleration from stoplights. But, overall, I am impressed with the economy considering full time AWD.
Excellent video, as always, but when comparing models (with the star graph/bars) I would have liked to see how they stack up with safety features.
I hate that every model redesign is considerably larger than the last. What happened to the compactness of Subaru ?
I have the 2022 Forester Touring edition.
I am happy with it and I would be loathe to get rid of it unless they bring in a "Toyota" hybrid system.
Subaru is falling behind the competition with this Forester. Hopefully the hybrid can peak my interest
Equinox: 1.5 L turbo with a CVT? Who would buy this combo?
oooo I appreciate the numbers on the size comparison
Weird what he said about Honda dealers not willing to bargain on price. My experience exactly.
Depends on the market. There's times when new car sales slow down and they need to move vehicles. I've gotten a few Accords for 10 percent below MSRP - was 2018 and 2020 I think, and maybe one before that.
Excellent in depth review! Thank you!
I would like you to decide to also include the Mitsubishi Outlander(regular gas version) in your comparison.
First time I’ve seen one of your reviews. I thought it was excellent. You spoke relatively quickly, but your voice was clear as can be. (I only had to rewind about 2-3x to rehear a word or phrase.) I also liked how well you did comparisons with a good number of competing brands/trims-pros and cons, over and over, and thorough. I have a 2010 CR-V right now, but I hate how the 2025 CR-V doesn’t have ANY kind of spare tire…not even a blowup pool inner tube floatie! As for the new Forester, I hear the blind spot monitors are flash-only; no beeping sound accompanying the flashing light. How dumb of Subaru. Thanks for the fine review.
Get the CX5. Old body or not. The best out there.
You're funny. The CX-5 is CRAP - cramped little coffin with a horrible sight line.
@@eskieman3948 Not to mention missing best in class Subaru AWD!
@@eskieman3948 I second that the sight lines/visibility are horrible in the CX-5 and it feel cramped. Beautiful car, though.
I plan to get one of these. Ultimately, I’m currently not into Hybrids or EVs. So that dwindles out a lot of cars that require it to get simple things like a decent stereo system or leather ventilated seats. I would have considered the CR-V but no spare tire is a big no for emergency reasons.
Also, all the other cars compared are simply much more expensive. Dealerships push to go over msrp to start with, add in the very high interests rates Toyota and Honda are pushing - it’s simply not worth it in today’s market. Mazda gives a little wiggle room but they are cramped and small and their infotainment is worse than the foresters with a weird controller still.
The Subaru is a bang for your buck car. Has the best safety ratings even over Toyota and Honda (not much better but still better), reliable, real AWD that beats all of these, and higher ground clearance. And you will easily get these $2k lower than msrp if not more, with a reasonable interest rate. And with all the bells and whistles these others don’t give you standard let alone mid-trim level.
I won’t hold out for the hybrid even if it borrows from Toyotas, as you never know how good or bad it will be short term on their first real go at it - look at the Soltera and you may want to reserve some waiting on anything new there.
Will keep our 2019 Forester. 112,000 miles, no issues. Prefer it's looks to this one anyway.
Very interesting review of the forester. Thanks
Forster has lower cargo volume because of how it’s measured.
The cover is relatively low to allow good visibility.
I don’t even have that cover, and I did have a trip worn four of these trolleys to the airport recently 😂❤
"maintenance... access to spark plugs... making it a little bit trickier" - what he means is, the technician will insist it requires lifting the engine off its motor mounts, which is very expensive.
Ok, honestly it’s not bad design but I wish there was more chrome accents on the exterior of vehicle. Especially the grille and don’t care for the gray accent squares below and bottom of the door. I agree with Alex that they should have used more imitation wood trim around shifter, door handles. I really dislike the bronze colored trim and wheels on the sport trim. I think Subbie should look at the new Scout SUV get some inspiration from them on design ideas. They add white roof option with flat little gray/green, little gray/blue, light beige/red colors paired with brown or tan leather interior.
I'll stick with my '23 Subie Sport...thank you. GREAT VIDEO!
Ok, honestly it’s not bad design but I wish there was more chrome accents on the exterior of vehicle. Especially the grille and don’t care for the gray accent squares below and bottom of the door. I agree with Alex that they should have used more imitation wood trim around shifter, door handles. I really dislike the bronze colored trim and wheels on the sport trim. I think Subbie should look at the new Scout SUV get some inspiration from them on design ideas.
XT? No? I'm out.
My wife was looking for a downsize from her Ascent. She got a Forester as a loaner when the Ascent was in for service. Even she said it was a dog, and she needed more power for passing, merging, etc. C'mon Subaru, you don't need the full blown WRX-like powertrain, simple 20-25 more hp would make this more competitive. 200 hp is minimum for a vehicle this size.
Solterra maybe. There are no ICE which can match an EV for driveable directness and torque if that is a priority. And even a base Tesla 3 is more responsive than a WRXSTI engine. Yeah I know the Solterra has some serious shortcomings, but the best crossovers will all be EV in a few years.
@@planesandbikes7353 Again - you're wrong as can be. EVs are taking a real dive in sales, not only in the U.S., but in Europe, too. People don't want them... why is that?
If you want turbo and you want downsize, then why don’t you consider outback? Is it because you don’t like wagon?
If your wife needs more power, she must be a bad driver. This has plenty of “power”. Everyone acting like they need turbo for a 55mph highway merge. 😂
This car needs XT trim badly... honestly, having outback and brz, I'm past Subaru's ridiculous infotainment system. Just give this car a turbo or hybrid to boost FB25D. Then, this car becomes a serious consideration point.
Thank you for showing the extra covered slots in the back for extra devices ... I saw one with bars installed that looked really strong for two level storage ... very nice but NEVER showen .
Cargo capacity @ 8:52: Looks like with 6 bags there, that two of them stuck out to far to close the hatch. Yes / no?
Why no comparison of safety features and ratings (IIHS, etc.)? I’m curious about the upcoming hybrid model; that might be a contender for us.
That thing will be unstoppable with toyotas hybrid. They're going to put in with hopes its e cvt
Forester is their 3rd best selling model? What's the first two? Outback and Impreza?
Outback and Crosstrek
Forester used to be #1, their Forester, Outback and Crosstrek are doing a ping pong basically.
Will the hybrid be faster and have a better looking grill and backside? We can only hope.
How come the Gord Bronco Sport or Escape were not on this comparitor list?
Excellent review - as always. Alex, you have lost weight and are looking good. Well done! I too am (deliberately) losing weight slowly - though I have more to lose than you do. Lol !!!
Nice review.
are front parking sensors for a supposed off-road capable vehicle too much to ask for
What are the chances of the Wilderness being the Hybrid? It feels to me that there are too many trims as of today, adding two additional trims (Hybrid and Wilderness) seems complicated; also I have no idea if the Hybrid will keep the SAWD I think it's technically very complicated and that may be the reason why it has taken Subaru so long to release a real hybrid on the Forester.
Subaru’s infotainment system is simply not okay for 2024. And the forester needs more power. Aside from those things, I like it.
I just noticed that Subaru is selling color accented inserts for the front and rear bumpers for the shapes that match the exhaust outlet cutout. If Alex notices the same thing while he has anything in his mouth, I hope you aren’t standing in front of him.
subaru needs to get that hybrid out stat. unless its a rav4 with a subaru body which would be extremely disappointing. i'm a current outback owner but would love to upgrade to a new model with a hybrid setup.
I am trying to understand why manufacturers use incandescent bulbs today. Cost savings? Come on, how much would it add to the cost of the car to use an all-LED setup? I am sure that is not enough to tip the scales when purchasing a new vehicle unless you're looking into buying very basic transportation.
I like my Subaru Impreza, but the new touch controls in the newer cars makes Subaru a non starter going forward. I will not purchase ANY car that forces me to take my eyes off the road for basic functions while driving.
I half agree half disagree. Subaru has enough buttons and knobs still. But their touch screen is really REALLY laggy and unresponsive, making it harder and more dangerous to use. If it worked more like an iPhone or Tesla screen and was intelligently laid out/customizable it could eventually evolve to be a winner. No Tesla has not perfected this either.
agree. I don't buy the latest Subaru model because of this new touch screen design, it looks ugly and it's on all models now. I was thinking of replacing my 2018 Subaru Outback with a new Impreza until I saw this new design. why Impreza? Compared to Outback Impreza accelerates like a sports car but the new design just killed it
Loved your review, it was everything I was eager to know, so thank you for that! However Alex, how did you gain so much height over the years? Is it you or your son/younger brother? - Keep Rocking! :)
I am debating between the Forester Limited and the Crosstrek Limited, any suggestions? The Crosstrek is about 3000-4000 cheaper but do you think it's worth spending the money to upgrade to the larger vehicle with more features. I do not have a family other than my 2 small dogs that I will be carting around from time to time.
The main difference is the cargo space/rear leg room. The Crosstrek is very popular, costs less. It is a tough call which only you can make.
I hope the hybrid offers more power
Hey Alex,
One big thing that’s missing on the 2025 Forester Touring model that’s on all the “lower” trims is HomeLink. It’s not available on the Smart rearview mirror, but it is on the Ascent and Outback. It was probably left off to keep the top of the line Forester at the $39,999 price point.
That’s a HUGE miss! 😖
We have Homelink on our new 25 Forester Touring. It has the digital rearview mirror, too.
@ Really? I heard from my local dealer that they even tried to install Smart mirror from an Ascent and an Outback and the software freaked out with an error. They threw up their hands in disgust.
When did you buys yours because the Subaru site still lists HomeLink as not available on the 2025 Forester Touring model.
I’ll wait for the hybrid
All those cables crossing the road seem to be very low. How do trucks and large farm equipment travel that road or does it have height restrictions?
I think it’s just the fisheye lens playing tricks.
I like the Forester but I need a little more horses so the hybrid would be perfect.
Alex, Boxes rule so the boxier the better!! What exactly did you mean when you said 5:02 "You might want to put your purchase on paws?" Are you saying Subaru owners should invest in a new Labrador 🦮instead of a new Forester? But seriously, how can Toyota supply hybrid components to other automakers when they cannot supply themselves fast enough to meet demand? 🤔
If Subaru really wants to sell Toyota Hybrid components, they should re-badge the Corolla Touring Hybrid AWD wagon and sell it under their label. 🤩🤩
"...On pause..." as in look at your TV/blu-ray/DVD remote and see the ⏸️ button not paws
@@DaRazorback But seriously.....
I'd wait and see.
incandescent rear turn bulbs .... didn't you pay extra for LED lights? Are you sure this is a Touring ?
31K to start, wait for the Hybrid.
I am on my 4th Forester ... so I really like the Forester. BUT the hybrid is out in Japan and it is dark smelly stuff.
The practicality of the Forester does not align with the infotainment system.
My 2017 Forester was 21k. It was the base with a stick. One thing I wasn't impressed with was the build quality. I brought it back several times because of a consistent smell especially when the engine was cold. I was proven right when the clutch went on the highway going 70mph in North Carolina. The dealership tried to say it was wear and tear related but clutches shouldn't go at 25k miles. Needless to say I won't buy a Subaru anytime soon.
No physical buttons? We dont need tv screens in our cars. Lol. Very awkward and inconvenient.
Exactly.
We got a 2024 Forester because we knew the big screen was coming to the comparable 2025 model. I had a big screen on an Outback XT Limited. I didn't like it and my wife really hated it. Slow, distracting ... Love the dials/knobs/rockers on the 2023 (mine) and 2024 (hers) Foresters.
@@barryv9733 yes sir!
I like the Outback and Crosstrek. Heck I own a 2024 Crosstrek. It's more car like than Forester. But the Forester competes against the Rav 4 and sorry I trust Toyota more with a i4 and auto trans, plus hybrid options. I would totally choose Rav4 over the Forester unless I really needed the offroad capability of Subaru's superior AWD system. In 10 years time the Toyota will retain much better resale value and there is risk the CVT will mechanically total the Subaru, not to mention the spotty history of the boxer 2.5 engine. But all of these will seem like laggy dinosaurs in 5 years once the carmakers start building proper small SUV-EVs unlike the poorly executed Solterra.
The RAV4 is a tinny, noisy, cheap piece of junk - I've driven more than my share over the past five years. You don't know what you're talking about with the latest Subaru CVTs, and if a CVT is so bad - why is Toyota putting them in more and more of their cars?
Same old stuff especially the lame 2.5/cvt combo. The outback better be different or Subaru is done.
I love the forester…I just wish Subaru would put some work into their entertainment system…looks so dated and barely works half the time with the phones.
They have already said that is going to use a boxer engine that forester hybrid
Alex’s been losing weight lately eh hope all is well
I’m not buying a Ford. I’ll wait for a Subaru. 😂
After 5 Fords in row, I got a 2024 Premium.
Forester is often cited as one of the best cars for seniors thanks to ease of entry and excite, great visibility, easy to drive & park, great nanny features. Good features you young 'uns also!
Is not correct.. The Sportage is 6 insh shorter than a Forester
I agree, the 2025 Subaru Forester looks a little Fordess...
First comment let’s goooo
The back is giving 2015 Mitsubishi outlander and that’s not a good thing lol
Totally agree about the similar appearance to that model year Outlander, but I disagree about that not being a good thing. It’s a friendly, bubbly design! I like it more than the previous Forester rear end design.
They went ugly early. Bad call as always.
What about fit, finish, rattles when driving on rough roads? Both of my 2011 and 2016 Foresters developed rattles within first couple of months of driving.
They're fine, and if your previous Foresters "developed rattles within first couple of months of driving" and you didn't do anything except BUY ANOTHER ONE... troll alert!
@@eskieman3948 Yes, we go overlanding and camping in our Foresters, I don't baby them, and that's why they developed rattles. I bought a second one because I passed on the first one to my son. What's so hard to believe?
And yes, Foresters have historically been prone to rattles. Just go check in any Forester forum. Hopefully they addressed that issue in the redesign.
if SUBARU works with TOYOTA, why does Corolla have a 197 PS engine and Subaru doesn't? 😂😂🤣👍
Subaru ❤❤❤
How much this Car?
Well since the driving dynamics are so bad already wait unless they make other things about the car worse.
my 2000 Subaru Forester looked beautiful and lasted me 18 years. 2018 Subaru Outback had battery issues during the first 2 years. Car underbody is rusted now cause dealership installed so called anti rust "device" instead of proper rust proof. Subaru quality is declining, design is getting uglier. No more Subarus in the near future.
I hate the infotainment system. I want physical knobs for climate.
Waiting on the hybrid but the look is not great!
11:16 just an fyi.. this not a “moonroof” nor is it “panoramic”. A moonroof does not open and is a fixed piece of glass. A sunroof, as shown in the video, DOES open. Also, a panoramic sun/moon roof does not have a manually sliding sunshade because in order for it to be “panoramic” it would have to stretch far beyond any reachable limit of the front driver or passenger.
Go back to focusing on quality and quite trying to pump out quantity as fast as you’re taking that ozempic. Thank you! 😊
Just an FYI, sunroof vs moonroof is a marketing distinction without a generally agreed-upon difference. Once upon a time **some* manufacturers would call a metal opening a "sunroof" and a glass opening a "moonroof" but those days are long since gone. Panoramic in this context simply means "larger than average" as there is no industry standard for what "panoramic" means.
My God… who designed this?
I’d buy this. Would not want their first crack at a hybrid. 😂
The hybrid stuff will be mostly a Toyota system.
My 2018 get's better gas milage. Maybe don't keep making these things bigger.
They should have at the very least reinveted that touchscreen. It was god awful on the 2020 Outback and still is.
Mine is just fine on my '22 OB, and is as good as most of the rental car touchscreens I've driven (except for Mazda - crap!).