2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid POV Cold Start, On-Road Test Drive (2.5-Liter Boxer Hybrid)

POV cold start and test drive of a 2025 Forester Sport Hybrid featuring a newly developed 2.5-liter Atkinson/Miller-cycle Subaru Boxer engine and transaxle paired with an electric motor generator, and electric traction motor. This new Subaru hybrid powertrain is rated for 194 combined horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque from the Boxer engine alone and another 199 pound-feet of torque from the primary traction motor.

Note: you'll notice both a Forester Sport Hybrid model and Forester Touring Hybrid model are featured because I got a good cold start of one before a track day began at Road America, but there was something wrong with the vehicle during our drive - it must've sustained damage from off-roading the day before because it was making a noise that I did not want to hear in the video - so I reshot the drive portion with a different example later.

The new Forester Hybrid was one of my most anticipated drives this year. After attending the reveal at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show and learning more about the new hybrid powertrain while still utilizing Subaru's mechanically-coupled symmetrical all-wheel drive system, I was very intrigued about the capabilities of this electrified, off-road-capable SUV.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to experience the Forester Hybrid both on-road and off-road. I will save my off-road impressions for another video. Though my time with the Forester Hybrid was brief, it certainly gave me a solid first impression. It's not menacing, but it does offer a 14-horsepower advantage over the gas-only model. The powertrain is butter smooth; transitions between the electric motor and gas engine are near undetectable. You won't be running quarter-miles in under 10 seconds, but you will get to speed smoothly, quietly, and with ease.

Subaru says the hybrid SUV utilizes a high-capacity, sealed lithium-ion battery for enhanced efficiency. As a result, the Forester Hybrid is expected to return up to 40% better fuel economy in the city, and up to 25% better fuel economy in combined city and highway cruising, compared to the non-hybrid model. For the Forester Hybrid, Subaru claims up to 581 miles of range on a single tank of fuel, and earns an EPA-estimated rating of 35 MPG city, 34 MPG highway, 35 MPG combined, which is an improvement of 10 mpg in city fuel economy over the non-hybrid model. This example was reading 39.7 MPGs during my time with it.

I like how the new digital gauges mirror the style and design of Subaru's analog gauges. The infotainment software is painfully dated, but the overall layout leaves everything within reach. Materials feel durable yet are soft-touch, comfortable.

Part 2 with the 2025 Forester Hybrid off-road to come!

Big thanks to the Midwest Automotive Media Association and Subaru for the opportunity to experience this at #mama25sr!

Shot on GoPro Hero11 featuring binaural (3D) audio. The use of headphones is recommended.

Instagram:   / carappiehl  

0:01 Exterior view, vehicle unlock, and vehicle entry
0:26 Hybrid powertrain cold start (until rev-down at 1:20)
1:28 Begin driving through Road America
4:24 Medium acceleration
5:35 Hard acceleration
6:25 Dynamic driving through winding wooded roads
8:45 Light acceleration
10:10 Residential low-speed driving
11:30 Hard acceleration
12:06 Light acceleration
13:12 Hard acceleration
13:54 Driving through Road America
15:51 Light acceleration
16:15 Light acceleration
17:01 Parking near Road America's track
17:15 Vehicle off, vehicle exit, vehicle lock, exterior view