Subaru has officially confirmed that the new-generation 2025 Forester will arrive in Australia by mid-2025, offering both petrol and ‘strong hybrid’ powertrains. The hybrid model, developed with Toyota-sourced electric motor and battery technology, marks Subaru’s most significant step into hybrid technology in Australia to date. However, the availability of the off-road-focused Wilderness edition for the Australian market remains uncertain.
Hybrid Model Debuts in the US
The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid was unveiled in the United States, directly positioning it against hybrid rivals such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. The model is expected to replace the current 2.0-litre ‘e-Boxer’ hybrid system with a more powerful 2.5-litre hybrid system, also set to feature in the smaller Crosstrek.
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Real-world testing of the previous e-Boxer system in Australia revealed minimal fuel savings compared to the non-hybrid 2.5-litre Forester. However, Subaru claims the new hybrid system delivers a 25% improvement in fuel efficiency on the US EPA test cycle, rising to nearly 30% in urban environments. The Forester Hybrid has a claimed 35 miles per gallon (6.7 litres per 100km) combined fuel consumption in the US market, slightly trailing the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid’s 39mpg (6.0L/100km) under different testing conditions.
The hybrid powertrain combines Subaru’s 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine with Toyota’s electric motor and high-voltage battery. This setup delivers a total system output of 145kW and is paired with an electronic continuously variable transmission (E-CVT). Unlike Toyota’s on-demand AWD system, Subaru retains its traditional all-wheel-drive setup, ensuring consistent power delivery.
Australian Launch Timeline
While specific Australian launch dates are yet to be confirmed, the new Subaru Forester lineup, including petrol and hybrid variants, is expected in local showrooms by the end of 2025.
The Forester will also be the first Subaru model in Australia to feature a digital instrument cluster, available on select variants. Subaru Australia has stated that further details on pricing, specifications, and features will be revealed closer to the launch.
Wilderness Edition: Still Uncertain for Australia
The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness, an off-road-focused version, was also revealed in the US. This rugged edition builds upon the standard Forester with off-road enhancements such as improved suspension, increased ground clearance, unique front and rear bumpers, all-terrain tires, underbody protection, and modified CVT tuning for enhanced capability.
While Subaru Australia has shown interest in bringing the Wilderness edition to local markets, official confirmation remains pending. A spokesperson for Subaru Australia commented, “We remain very interested in Wilderness editions for our market and are working closely with Subaru Corporation on future opportunities for Australia.”
The Wilderness lineup, including the Outback Wilderness and Crosstrek Wilderness, has been on Subaru Australia’s radar for nearly a year, with the Forester Wilderness potentially being the first model to arrive locally.
Pricing and Features
In the United States, the Forester Hybrid is priced from $US34,995 (approximately $AU56,000), representing a $US2885 ($AU4500) premium over its petrol counterpart. Standard features for the hybrid model include:
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with Apple Maps integration via CarPlay
- Animal-free StarTex leather-accented upholstery
- Exclusive Daybreak Blue Pearl exterior paint
- Hybrid badging
- Subaru’s X-Mode off-road system, hill descent control, and active torque vectoring
The Subaru Forester Hybrid aims to offer Australian customers a more fuel-efficient alternative in the mid-size SUV market. More details, including specific hybrid and Wilderness edition availability, will be provided as the Australian launch date approaches.
