Australian details confirmed: Here is what to expect when the new hybrid Subaru Forester goes on sale this year to take on the Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander and Kia Sportage family SUVs

The sixth-generation Subaru Forester has had its Australian debut as part of the Melbourne Motor Show, with a local launch pencilled in for mid-2025.

While the mid-size SUV was revealed in North America in late 2023, this is the first time the new Subaru Forester has been unveiled for Australia.

Along with the Melbourne reveal for the 2025 Forester, Subaru Australia has confirmed the variants for the Australian line-up, consisting of four petrol and three hybrid grades.

While pricing and more details around mechanical specifications are yet to be confirmed, the both petrol and hybrid versions of the Forester feature a drivetrain based around a 2.5-litre four-cylinder flat-four ‘Boxer’ engine.

Hybrid variants add to that a 1.1kWh battery supplying power to an 88kW electric motor, which works with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system via continuously variable transmission (CVT) that can simulate an eight-speed transmission.

The hybrid system in the Forester is new compared to the current-gen’s setup, which has been widely criticised for its lacklustre efficiency.

A big bump in tech features means even the entry-grade petrol Forester AWD comes with features like a surround-view camera for parking and traversing terrain, Subaru’s EyeSight driver assistance suite, nine SRS airbags including far side and front-centre airbags, reverse AEB and an emergency stop system for unresponsive drivers. 

Heated front seats and a wireless phone charger are welcome additions to an entry grade, although existing Subaru owners might be familiar with the 11.6-inch multimedia central touchscreen, as well as elements like the steering wheel and general interior layout.

The step up from that is the Forester AWD Premium which adds sat-nav, a powered tailgate, power-adjustable seats and auto-folding mirrors.

Moving up the line-up and the AWD Sport adds an upgraded X-Mode terrain mode select, water-repellent synthetic leather seat trim, a sunroof, 18-inch alloys and unique styling.

Finally, the top-spec Forester AWD Touring scores a leather steering wheel, 10-speaker Harma/Kardon sound system, front seat ventilation and low-profile roof rails.

The hybrid half of the line-up mirrors the petrol models, with the exclusion of a Sport variant.

As mentioned, pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet, but expect an increase over the current-gen which starts from $38,690 before on-roads and rises to $50,140.