Is the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid a good car?

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid earns a 7/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Safety at 8/10.

From the test-drive summary, you’re looking at a more efficient version of Subaru’s rugged compact SUV, with added power and a few extra features. It’s especially appealing if you want a practical SUV that leans into all-weather confidence, everyday usability, and off-road capability. The main trade-offs are that performance is fairly pedestrian and the ride quality is firm.

That mix makes sense if you value efficiency and capability more than quick acceleration or a plush ride. Good and great deals account for 30.5% of listings, which gives you a decent amount of market flexibility.

Is the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid reliable?

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid is presented as a well-sorted, easy-to-live-with SUV with a hybrid system that behaves much like the gas model from the driver’s seat. The powertrain transitions are described as smooth enough that you’ll need to pay close attention to notice them, and the brakes stay consistent whether regenerative braking or the physical brakes are doing the work.

The cabin materials are chosen with durability in mind, especially in the rear seat area, which should help it hold up well to family use. The cost-effectiveness notes also point to meaningful fuel savings, which can help offset ownership costs over time.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is that the hybrid’s added complexity makes a clean service history and careful inspection especially important.

What should I look for when buying a used 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 96.6% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re considering a higher-mileage example or one that’s been used on rough roads. Focus on overall condition, tire wear, brake feel, and whether the cabin and controls show signs of hard use.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The redesign gives the Forester a more cohesive look, but it also loses some distinctiveness. The hybrid adds subtle exterior badges, and the top trim gets a contrasting black roof, a digital instrument panel, ventilated front seats, and heated outboard rear seats.
• Powertrain: All hybrid models use a 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder with a parallel hybrid system and two motor/generators. Output is 194 horsepower, and standard all-wheel drive plus a driveshaft-based setup should help with traction and off-road consistency.
• Safety package: Subaru’s EyeSight suite is standard and includes frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, rear automatic braking, and automatic high beams. A driver attention monitor is included on the top Touring trim.
• Infotainment: All Hybrid Foresters come with an 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen, built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot. The system also supports off-road camera views and, in higher trims, an 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
• Fuel efficiency: The EPA estimates up to 35 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined. The standard Forester is estimated at 26/33 mpg city/highway and 29 mpg combined, and the hybrid is expected to save $300 per year in fuel costs.

Which 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid trim should I buy?

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid is offered in 2 trim levels: Premium and Touring.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: The Premium trim is the entry point, and it gives you the hybrid powertrain, standard all-wheel drive, EyeSight safety tech, and the large infotainment screen, but it skips the more upscale comfort and convenience touches reserved for the top trim.
• Premium trim: This is the value play if you want the hybrid’s efficiency and capability without paying for the most luxurious extras. It’s the trim that makes the most sense if you care more about the core SUV package than premium amenities.
• Premium/top trim: The Touring trim adds the most noticeable upgrades, including the black roof option, digital instrument panel, ventilated front seats, heated outboard rear seats, a driver attention monitor, and the available Harman Kardon audio system.

The safety package is standard across the lineup, so you don’t need to move up a trim just to get Subaru’s core driver-assistance features.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you have some room to shop carefully without expecting a deep bargain on every listing.

• Deal availability: 30.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 465 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 96.6% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $36,422.68, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid safe?

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid earns five-star ratings in every NHTSA evaluation except rollover protection, where it received a four-star rating.

It earns a 8/10 safety score from our experts.

Subaru’s EyeSight suite is standard, with frontal collision warning and automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, rear automatic braking, and automatic high beams. A driver attention monitor is included on the top Touring trim.

The available crash-test context is strong overall, and the main caveat is the lower rollover result from NHTSA. Even so, the standard safety equipment and the expert safety score make this a strong choice if safety is high on your list.

Should I buy a 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2025 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2025 if:

• 30.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 96.6% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• The redesigned 2025 Forester Hybrid adds efficiency, more power, and a few extra features while preserving Subaru’s rugged, all-weather character.

The bottom line: If you want the newest Forester Hybrid with the strongest mix of efficiency, capability, and standard safety, the 2025 is the one to target. If you’re especially price-sensitive, you can still shop carefully within this year’s listings and focus on clean, well-maintained examples that land near the lower end of the price range.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.