Latest news with #ForesterHybrid
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
2026 Subaru Trailseeker Leads the Brand into Its All-Electric Off-Road Future
The Solterra marked Subaru's first step into off-road-ready EVs—but the Trailseeker proves they're taking it to the next level. Subaru and Toyota didn't try that hard to hide the fact that the Solterra and bZ4X were rebadged versions of the same car. The interior design was identical, there were only minor changes to the exterior between the two companies, and the pricing was nearly identical, too. Subaru adapted its own AWD system for the Solterra, but otherwise, it was a Toyota. While it wasn't shocking, and seemed a little lazy to some, it proved to buyers that Subaru had its foot in the door—they were ready to step into the developing market of off-road-ready, rugged, capable, 'adventure' EVs. Then the company revealed the Trailseeker at the NY Auto Show. More horsepower, a higher range, a longer wheelbase, full-time AWD, an NACS charging port, raised roof rails, all-terrain tires, higher ground clearance, and a dual-function and updated X-MODE Terrain Selector showed us that Subaru means business. And if it's done right, business is about to be booming. This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Now that we have a Forester Hybrid, which leans a lot less on Toyota like the previous Crosstrek Hybrid did, Subaru truly is stepping up to the plate. Which we love to see, as they were drastically behind the electrification game. Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, and Mazda were able to produce (and sell a lot of) AWD drive hybrids that put the Forester in than desirable position on the scoreboard. People put a lot of pressure on Subaru to produce a hybrid and an EV, and it took them many years to finally put one out. Subaru says the Forester hybrid is one of Subaru's best, since it's a hybrid with an electric motor but still has a true, mechanical AWD system—unlike the Toyota RAV4. The Solterra was Subaru's way of finally arriving at a party it was very, very late to. But we're happy to see it here, and come back stronger with the Trailseeker and an updated and redesigned Solterra for 2026, which is 100% Subaru engineering and design. It shares the same platform as the Trailseeker and bZ, but it has a better range, a sporty XT trim, and adorable styling changes. Now that Subaru's gained some confidence and is a little more surefooted, the company is likely gearing up to produce some incredibly capable, efficient, and very Subaru-y EVs in the near future, especially once the company doesn't have to borrow so much from Toyota. Unlike the Solterra, Subaru is riding shotgun instead of sitting in the backseat. With the announcement of the bZ (previously bZ4X) Woodland, it seems like The Trailseeker is just a redesign of that. And with nearly identical exterior and interior designs, it would be fair to say they're industry twins. The Trailseeker sits on the e-SGP EV platform, which is identical to Toyota's EV platform, e-TNGA. Obviously, Toyota has its name on a lot of the EV tech in the Trailseeker, like the improved battery technology and some EV drivetrain bits, but Subaru's designed it carefully to appeal to its loyal fanbase. The two share the same AWD system, too. Both the bZ Woodland and the Trailseeker have independent electric motors on the front and rear axles—there's no physical connection between the two axles and the generator. Both axles are electronically controlled. Which is only a bad thing if the main computer doesn't do a good job of communicating which wheels should be doing what, and Subaru claims their version of X-MODE makes all the difference. The bZ Woodland and the Trailseeker have a dual-EV motor setup that generates 375 horsepower, with a range of about 260 miles. Which is probably the most amount of horsepower any Subaru has ever had (more than the STi S209, by the way). Both EVs share identical ground clearance figures (8.3 inches) and wheelbase length, too. Trust us, though—this time, the Trailseeker truly feels and looks like a Subaru instead of a rebadged bZ Woodland, and that's because this time, it was truly a joint effort of the two the redesigned 2026 Toyota RAV4, Toyota announced its new 'Arene' software, which is a new software that would control and improve the multimedia system, enhance voice recognition software, and make it a more 'software-defined' SUV. Most importantly, it will roll out the newest version of Toyota's safety suite. The bZ Woodland will have that, too, and it will hopefully fix all the issues many drivers reported with the infotainment system and voice assistance. Subaru's new EV will have the most recent version of the tri-camera EyeSight safety system, which is winning awards left and right. Toyota's safety suite uses radars instead of cameras, which makes them more reliable in rain or snow, but less reliable in places where cameras excel—like bumper-to-bumper traffic, driving downtown where there are a lot of pedestrians, or driving at night. As of right now, Subaru's EyeSight system is the only safety system in the industry that can detect pedestrians at night, no matter what they're wearing. You can't lose with either one, though, as all models from both companies are regularly taking lead positions as Top Safety Picks with the IIHS and the you look at the manufacturer images of the bZ Woodland and the Trailseeker, you'll notice the curvature on the front and rear doors is identical, the taillight bar is essentially the same, the exterior cladding is the same, and most of the front fascia is the same. Subaru uses some silver accenting in the front while Toyota's accenting is all black to fit within the Woodland brand. The main difference is the 'face' of the car. The Trailseeker has Subaru's EV design signature: larger, more open 'star' headlights (the same sort of design we saw in the updated Solterra), and a softer, rounder look as opposed to Toyota's more angular and squinted design. It's a more approachable look, while the bZ is more executive-like. Inside the car, the interior design is eerily similar. Both screens are similarly sized (14 inches), the driver control buttons are in identical places, the driver information screen is the same size and in the same place, too. But the steering wheel is a different shape. It's more of a squirkle in the Subaru instead of a perfect circle seen in the Toyota. Interior colors and materials are slightly different, though. The Trailseeker uses Subaru's StarTex technology, which is the company's water-resistant fabric seen in the Wilderness and Onyx editions (which is LIFE CHANGING with toddlers, let me tell you). Toyota's SofTex isn't marketed as waterproof, but it's meant to be 'more resistant' to spills and stains. Otherwise, Subaru's more open to contrasting colors with a khaki-ish gray and black, while Toyota's interior is all black. Of course, Subaru opted for a funkier wheel design, while Toyota's wheels are more muted and subtle (and all black—yum).Subaru hasn't announced pricing for the Trailseeker just yet, but if we've learned anything from the Solterra vs. bZ4X, the pricing is likely going to be very similar, but slightly lower than the Toyota. Based on the technology in either car, we'd wager that if the Toyota costs close to $50,000 for the base model and around $54,000 for the top-shelf trim level, the Subaru will likely range between $45,000–$50,000. Which, when looking at what's included, is not a bad range at all. However, since the Trailseeker is set to be built in Subaru's Japan plant, it won't be eligible for the full federal tax credit. The bZ is going to be built in Japan, too, putting it in the same boat as the Subaru. Then there's also tariffs to worry about, too. Subaru has already announced that cars built in Japan, like the Outback, Solterra, and Trailseeker, will be subjected to tariffs.I've done a lot of off-roading in my 14 years on the road, and I'll tell you, being able to carry extra canisters of gasoline inspires both confidence and a sense of adventure. You can easily explore that unmarked trail because you know you can fill up and make it home. You can't do that with an EV, and having a range of only 260 miles doesn't leave a lot of room to explore remotely. Should you run out of charge, you'd have to call a tow truck, and many tow companies will likely feel very nervous about fishing an EV (packed with incredibly heavy and expensive batteries they could be liable for if damaged) out of a ditch, pond, or deep mud. However, if you're looking to the Trailseeker to do just that—seek Trails—it will be a great scouting vehicle, camping companion (especially with a 3,500 lb towing rating), or softroader. I used the Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT to scout trails around my home of Bend, Oregon, to bring my Jeep later, and it was wonderful. It was a blast to drive, had the capability to handle the soft, silty dirt, break loose on the gravel roads, and handle minor, easily walkable trails. And I did it comfortably. That's what I imagine the Trailseeker would be great for, especially with the plethora of off-road view cameras, dual-function X-MODE, all-weather floor mats, waterproof seating, and high ground clearance. If anything, it would be about four times more capable than the Hyundai, solely because of the ground clearance. If I fit my kids extremely comfortably in the Hyundai, I can only imagine how much room they'd have in the 260-mile range isn't all that impressive in the world of more modern EVs, but it's not too shabby, either. My 2011 Subaru Forester averages about 17 mpg, and I'm lucky if I get more than 280 miles out of a full tank of gas. So, a 260-mile range for a very heavy, full-time AWD all-electric SUV isn't too shabby. But let me be the devil's advocate here for a second. In a standard Crosstrek, my best friend regularly gets about 400 miles out of a full tank of gas. When she goes on long road trips, she regularly travels about 500 miles before she needs to fuel up. My sister's Forester Wilderness can go about 540 miles before needing to be topped off. Unlike an EV, fueling up is much quicker than charging, and the infrastructure is more supported. So, if range is a deciding factor, it might be smarter to go with gas—for now, anyway. No other Subaru has the cargo space of the Trailseeker, but range is a big deal for those who have to charge publicly. Now, if you have an at-home charger and you rarely leave town, range will never be an issue. Since the Trailseeker comes with an NACS charging port, you'd be able to charge at a lot more stations. Reliability improves every day, and Subaru has access to Tesla's vast (and growing) Supercharging network, making it less and less frustrating to charge publicly every day. Since Rivian won the 2023 Rebelle Rally, which is the longest off-road competition in the US, it won't take much longer.
7NEWS
7 days ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
2026 Subaru Forester price and specs: Base price up almost $5000 for new-gen SUV
The new-generation Subaru Forester will be pricier than its predecessor, but fitted with more standard kit and a much more impressive hybrid powertrain. Pre-orders have now opened, ahead of first customer deliveries in early July. Subaru Australia expects strong demand for both petrol and hybrid powertrains, though it says wait times will be kept to a 'reasonable minimum'. The new mid-size SUV comes in seven distinct variants, comprising four non-hybrid petrol grades – powered by the same 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine as the existing model – and three hybrid variants using Subaru's new 'strong hybrid' powertrain. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Boasting greater power and battery capacity and reduced fuel consumption than the old Forester Hybrid, it offers a claimed range of more than 1000km between refills. The base price has climbed by $4800, however, the new entry-level grade – renamed simply AWD – gains features such as heated front seats, a larger 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless smartphone mirroring, larger alloy wheels, and Subaru's driver monitoring system. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is reserved for the top two hybrid grades, marking the first time a digital cluster has been available in a Forester in Australia. New safety equipment across the range include an emergency driving stop system, a wide-angle monocular camera, and two additional airbags. Pricing The outgoing Forester was priced from $38,690 before on-road costs for the base 2.5i and $50,140 before on-roads for the flagship Hybrid S. Drivetrains and Efficiency There's a new e-Boxer 'Strong Hybrid' powertrain available, while the carryover petrol engine has received some enhancements. To give you an idea of the upgrade the Forester Hybrid has received, the outgoing model utilises an electric motor producing just 12kW of power and 66Nm of torque to supplement its smaller 2.0-litre boxer four, which produces 100kW and 196Nm on its own. It also upgrades from a 48-litre fuel tank to a 63L one, while combined cycle fuel consumption has been reduced by 0.5L/100km compared with the outgoing hybrid. That means the Forester Hybrid is still thirstier than, for example, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid which consumes 4.8L/100km. The hybrid features Subaru's TH2B hybrid transaxle, with a planetary gearseat and a secondary electric motor/generator to handle engine starts and battery recharging. A transaxle damper replaces the traditional torque converter, and unlike the CVT in the petrol Forester there are no pulleys or chains – power delivery is instead managed by the electric motor and planetary gear set. The petrol Forester has the same power output as its predecessor, though torque is up by 8Nm and the CVT has a broader gear ratio range with lower first and reverse gears to aid hill climbing. Subaru also claims it has reduced noise, vibration and harshness and improved the engine's reliability and responsiveness. The Forester rides on MacPherson strut front and double-wishbone rear suspension. Dimensions The new Forester is 15mm longer and 11mm wider than its predecessor. All petrol models have a spare wheel with hybrids having a tyre repair kit, however, a towbar-mounted spare wheel carrier (pictured) is optional, as is a full-size spare wheel. Servicing and Warranty Subaru Australia backs its lineup with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, along with an eight-year, 160,000km warranty for the hybrid's battery. Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Capped-price servicing information isn't yet available. Safety The updated Subaru Forester is yet to receive an ANCAP safety rating, but it was awarded five stars by sister organisation Euro NCAP. Standard safety equipment includes: 9 airbags, including: Wide-angle monocular camera (NEW) Front side radar Autonomous emergency braking (forward and reverse) Autonomous emergency steering Adaptive cruise control Blind-spot monitoring Driver monitoring system Emergency lane-keep assist Lane-keep assist Emergency driving stop system (NEW) Traffic sign recognition Rear cross-traffic alert Surround-view camera Rear parking sensors Tyre pressure monitoring Standard Equipment Specification differs slightly between petrol and hybrid models. 2025 Subaru Forester AWD equipment highlights: 18-inch alloy wheels Automatic, steering-responsive LED headlights Power-folding exterior mirrors LED front fog lights Front cornering lights Ladder-style roof rails 'X-Mode' with one drive mode Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) with two modes Hill descent control Proximity entry with push-button start 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment system Wireless Apple CarPlay Wireless Android Auto Wireless phone charger USB-A and USB-C outlets 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen 6-speaker sound system Heated front seats Cloth upholstery Dual-zone climate control with rear vents Leather-wrapped steering wheel One-touch power-folding rear seats 60:40 split/fold rear seats Auto-dimming rear-view mirror Forester AWD Premium adds: Power tailgate with kick sensor 8-way power driver's seat with lumbar 8-way power passenger seat Satellite navigation Auto-dipping passenger-side mirror Power-folding exterior mirrors with memory Forester AWD Sport adds: Dark metallic 18-inch alloy wheels Power sunroof 'X-Mode' with two drive modes Black front grille with green insert Green badging Water-repellent synthetic leather upholstery Leather-wrapped steering wheel Green interior stitching Forester AWD Touring adds: Gloss black front grille, front and rear bumper accents, side mirrors Low-profile roof rails Leather and suede upholstery in black or brown Ventilated front seats 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system with subwoofer Forester AWD Hybrid adds (over base Forester): Paddle shifters for regenerative braking Forester AWD Sport Hybrid adds (over Forester Sport): Bronze 19-inch alloy wheels 'Enhanced suspension for improved comfort on bumpy roads' Bronze exterior accents Low-profile roof rails 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system with subwoofer Forester AWD Touring Hybrid adds (over Forester Touring): Dark grey machined gloss finish 19-inch alloy wheels Colours No exterior finishes come at an additional cost. The full colour palette comprises: Crystal White pearl Ice Silver metallic (excludes AWD Hybrid Sport) Magnetite Grey metallic Crystal Black silica Crimson Red pearl (excludes AWD Sport) Brilliant Bronze metallic (excludes AWD Sport and AWD Hybrid Sport) Daybreak Blue pearl (excludes AWD Sport and AWD Hybrid Sport) Sapphire Blue pearl (excludes AWD Sport) Cashmere Gold Opal (excludes AWD Sport) Autumn Green metallic River Rock pearl Interior colours differ across the range. AWD, AWD Premium and AWD Hybrid variants come with a choice of either black or grey/platinum cloth upholstery. AWD Sport and AWD Hybrid Sport grades exclusively offer water-repellant grey/black upholstery. AWD Touring and AWD Hybrid Touring grades, which feature leather and Ultrasuede upholstery, offer a choice of either black or brown/black colourways.
Perth Now
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
2026 Subaru Forester price and specs: Base price up almost $5000 for new-gen SUV
The new-generation Subaru Forester will be pricier than its predecessor, but fitted with more standard kit and a much more impressive hybrid powertrain. Pre-orders have now opened, ahead of first customer deliveries in early July. Subaru Australia expects strong demand for both petrol and hybrid powertrains, though it says wait times will be kept to a 'reasonable minimum'. The new mid-size SUV comes in seven distinct variants, comprising four non-hybrid petrol grades – powered by the same 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine as the existing model – and three hybrid variants using Subaru's new 'strong hybrid' powertrain. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Boasting greater power and battery capacity and reduced fuel consumption than the old Forester Hybrid, it offers a claimed range of more than 1000km between refills. The base price has climbed by $4800, however, the new entry-level grade – renamed simply AWD – gains features such as heated front seats, a larger 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless smartphone mirroring, larger alloy wheels, and Subaru's driver monitoring system. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is reserved for the top two hybrid grades, marking the first time a digital cluster has been available in a Forester in Australia. New safety equipment across the range include an emergency driving stop system, a wide-angle monocular camera, and two additional airbags. The outgoing Forester was priced from $38,690 before on-road costs for the base 2.5i and $50,140 before on-roads for the flagship Hybrid S. There's a new e-Boxer 'Strong Hybrid' powertrain available, while the carryover petrol engine has received some enhancements. Overseas model shown Credit: CarExpert To give you an idea of the upgrade the Forester Hybrid has received, the outgoing model utilises an electric motor producing just 12kW of power and 66Nm of torque to supplement its smaller 2.0-litre boxer four, which produces 100kW and 196Nm on its own. It also upgrades from a 48-litre fuel tank to a 63L one, while combined cycle fuel consumption has been reduced by 0.5L/100km compared with the outgoing hybrid. That means the Forester Hybrid is still thirstier than, for example, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid which consumes 4.8L/100km. The hybrid features Subaru's TH2B hybrid transaxle, with a planetary gearseat and a secondary electric motor/generator to handle engine starts and battery recharging. Supplied Credit: CarExpert A transaxle damper replaces the traditional torque converter, and unlike the CVT in the petrol Forester there are no pulleys or chains – power delivery is instead managed by the electric motor and planetary gear set. The petrol Forester has the same power output as its predecessor, though torque is up by 8Nm and the CVT has a broader gear ratio range with lower first and reverse gears to aid hill climbing. Subaru also claims it has reduced noise, vibration and harshness and improved the engine's reliability and responsiveness. The Forester rides on MacPherson strut front and double-wishbone rear suspension. The new Forester is 15mm longer and 11mm wider than its predecessor. Supplied Credit: CarExpert All petrol models have a spare wheel with hybrids having a tyre repair kit, however, a towbar-mounted spare wheel carrier (pictured) is optional, as is a full-size spare wheel. Subaru Australia backs its lineup with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, along with an eight-year, 160,000km warranty for the hybrid's battery. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Capped-price servicing information isn't yet available. The updated Subaru Forester is yet to receive an ANCAP safety rating, but it was awarded five stars by sister organisation Euro NCAP. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Standard safety equipment includes: 9 airbags, including: Wide-angle monocular camera (NEW) Front side radar Autonomous emergency braking (forward and reverse) Autonomous emergency steering Adaptive cruise control Blind-spot monitoring Driver monitoring system Emergency lane-keep assist Lane-keep assist Emergency driving stop system (NEW) Traffic sign recognition Rear cross-traffic alert Surround-view camera Rear parking sensors Tyre pressure monitoring Specification differs slightly between petrol and hybrid models. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 2025 Subaru Forester AWD equipment highlights: 18-inch alloy wheels Automatic, steering-responsive LED headlights Power-folding exterior mirrors LED front fog lights Front cornering lights Ladder-style roof rails 'X-Mode' with one drive mode Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) with two modes Hill descent control Proximity entry with push-button start 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment system Wireless Apple CarPlay Wireless Android Auto Wireless phone charger USB-A and USB-C outlets 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen 6-speaker sound system Heated front seats Cloth upholstery Dual-zone climate control with rear vents Leather-wrapped steering wheel One-touch power-folding rear seats 60:40 split/fold rear seats Auto-dimming rear-view mirror Forester AWD Premium adds: Power tailgate with kick sensor 8-way power driver's seat with lumbar 8-way power passenger seat Satellite navigation Auto-dipping passenger-side mirror Power-folding exterior mirrors with memory Forester AWD Sport adds: Dark metallic 18-inch alloy wheels Power sunroof 'X-Mode' with two drive modes Black front grille with green insert Green badging Water-repellent synthetic leather upholstery Leather-wrapped steering wheel Green interior stitching Forester AWD Touring adds: Gloss black front grille, front and rear bumper accents, side mirrors Low-profile roof rails Leather and suede upholstery in black or brown Ventilated front seats 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system with subwoofer AWD Hybrid Sport Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Forester AWD Hybrid adds (over base Forester): Paddle shifters for regenerative braking Forester AWD Sport Hybrid adds (over Forester Sport): Bronze 19-inch alloy wheels 'Enhanced suspension for improved comfort on bumpy roads' Bronze exterior accents Low-profile roof rails 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system with subwoofer Forester AWD Touring Hybrid adds (over Forester Touring): Dark grey machined gloss finish 19-inch alloy wheels No exterior finishes come at an additional cost. The full colour palette comprises: Crystal White pearl Ice Silver metallic (excludes AWD Hybrid Sport) Magnetite Grey metallic Crystal Black silica Crimson Red pearl (excludes AWD Sport) Brilliant Bronze metallic (excludes AWD Sport and AWD Hybrid Sport) Daybreak Blue pearl (excludes AWD Sport and AWD Hybrid Sport) Sapphire Blue pearl (excludes AWD Sport) Cashmere Gold Opal (excludes AWD Sport) Autumn Green metallic River Rock pearl Interior colours differ across the range. AWD, AWD Premium and AWD Hybrid variants come with a choice of either black or grey/platinum cloth upholstery. AWD Sport and AWD Hybrid Sport grades exclusively offer water-repellant grey/black upholstery. AWD Touring and AWD Hybrid Touring grades, which feature leather and Ultrasuede upholstery, offer a choice of either black or brown/black colourways. MORE: Everything Subaru Forester
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Subaru weighs options to curtail a potential $2.5B tariff hit
This story was originally published on Automotive Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Automotive Dive newsletter. Subaru could face a $2.5 billion hit from tariffs unless it takes measures to mitigate the impact, a company spokesperson said in an email to Automotive Dive. But the automaker is proactively working to avoid that fate by weighing strategies to reduce costs fueled by higher duties on parts and vehicles brought into the U.S., company officials said while discussing its fiscal year 2025 earnings on May 14. Subaru, like other automakers, is exploring boosting domestic production and considering its suppliers' capacity, the spokesperson said. The automaker's only U.S. manufacturing site, located in Lafayette, Indiana, is currently at a normal operating level of around 350,000 units, the spokesperson said, adding that 'the plant does have capacity to ramp up.' Sales in the company's key North American markets continue to show strong momentum, President and CEO Atsushi Osaki said on the earnings call. Subaru's best-selling vehicle in the U.S. is the Forester compact SUV, which sold 69,195 units year-to-date through April, a 4.2% year-over-year improvement, the automaker reported. This bodes well for Subaru's plant in Indiana, where the automaker will start building the vehicles in the fall, Osaki said. The company invested 40 billion yen ($274 million) in the facility where it will manufacture the Forester and Forester Hybrid next spring. Subaru is ending its production run of the Legacy sedan in Indiana this spring and also is ending production of the Outback at the end of the year, according to a company spokesperson. 'The all-new Forester began sales last year in North America and this spring in Japan, and has been met with greater-than-expected reception and demand from customers,' Osaki said. While Subaru is proceeding with its plan to build the Forester in the U.S. and remains committed to its shift to electrification, Osaki said global uncertainties have moved the company to reevaluate its investment plans. 'Although the business environment is undergoing major changes, we are committed to overcoming these challenges together as one team,' Osaki said. The uncertainty caused by tariffs has moved Subaru to withhold its future guidance. However, Osaki said that even if the impact of U.S. tariffs continues throughout the fiscal year, it still aims for at least 100 billion yen ($685 million) in operating profits. 'We will strive to further enhance profitability by continuing to improve productivity and create new revenue opportunities,' he said. Recommended Reading Subaru the most reliable car brand: Consumer Reports
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Gets Genuine Off-Roadability
Subaru adds a hybrid drivetrain to the Forester SUV, with some shared Toyota hybrid components and its own take on all-wheel drive. The new setup proved quite capable off-road. On-sale now, the Forester Hybrid ranges from $36,045 to $42,495. There are a lot of improvements to the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid, only the third hybrid in the Subaru lineup after the 2014 Crosstrek and 2019 PHEV Crosstrek paved the way for electrified powertrains for the marque. The first and most obvious improvement to the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid is the all-new two-motor/one engine hybrid powertrain shared at least in part with the Toyota RAV4 and other Toyota models. Hybridizing the Forester is good for 14 more peak horsepower, up to 194 hp, while efficiency is up to 35 mpg city, 34 highway, and 35 combined. Together with its standard 2.5-liter internal combustion flat-four, operating on the Atkinson cycle for greater efficiency and making 162 hp, and the two AC synchronous motor-generators making 118 hp, you can now go 581 miles between fill-ups in your Forester. It also gets improved comfort, refinement, and driving dynamics, thanks to greater torsional rigidity and more sound deadening. Its standard all-wheel drive is improved with a new center differential that distributes torque faster as a result of improvements to that unit's electronics. Pretty good for what might not even be a mid-cycle facelift for a model that was all-new just last year. But the most impressive thing about the new Forester Hybrid was that it can actually go off-road a respectable amount. As part of the new crossover's introduction, we took Forester Hybrids to Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area about an hour southeast of San Francisco. This area, one of several throughout the state, is like a gym for your 4x4. There were wild whoop-dee-doos and purpose-built sections of terrain that would require a short-wheelbase Wrangler—or a tank—to get over. We didn't try those sections. This is still a family-haulin' suburban grocery getter, after all, in addition to its other talents. So we goofed around on a few steep dirt hills just so we truly believed in the power of symmetrical AWD, and then off we headed to the highest point in the whole SVRA, a peak called Hector Heights Overlook. Granted, it was mostly graded dirt road, but there were sections with semi-washouts and some steep rocky parts that might give you pause when you thought that this was a basic street vehicle at heart. There were actual Jeep Wranglers on this road we were climbing. In fact, Jeeps were the only other vehicles we saw all day. But the Forester Hybrid's 19-degree approach angle, 19.3-degree departure angle, and 24.6-degree breakover angle—combined with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and the aforementioned all-wheel drive—got us up a mountain we might not have thought a Subaru built for the street could have climbed. When we got to the top, the Wranglers followed, somewhat amazed to see a couple mere Subarus there. 'Do you think you have big enough tires?' a colleague asked them, with just a little good-natured sarcasm. The Jeeper got out, doffed his cap, and gave a curt bow. 'Congratulations,' he said. 'I wouldn't have thought you'd make it.' And yet there we were. On the way down, we utilized Subaru's X-MODE with Hill Descent Control a few times but, this being California, we didn't need Snow or Deep Snow/Mud modes. You can get Yokohama Geolander 235/60R-17 A/T tires on the Wilderness trim level of the Forester Hybrid. That will be a good idea for anyone planning to go off-road at all. Not only will the tread bite into the dirt and mud better, but the more robust construction of the A/T tire will be more resistant to punctures, which you don't want when you are far from AAA coverage. If you're not going off-road, the other Foresters get all-season rubber. The latter will be quieter on pavement. It does have a CVT like so many competitors, including the top-selling Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Honda CR-V Hybrid. Maybe most people won't notice, but if you do, you'll be longing for the days of the automatics. Regardless of whether you go off road or not, you'll appreciate the new digital gauge cluster and 11.6-inch infotainment control screen. There's even a MySubaru Concierge service that integrates everything from NAV to scheduling service appointments. And you get 69.1 cubic-feet of cargo space with the rear 60/40 seats folded down. Does a Forester Hybrid make good business sense? Ward's Intelligence said that combined sales of hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and battery electric vehicles increased from 19.1% of total new light-duty vehicle sales in the United States in the second quarter of 2024 to 21.2% in Q3. Subaru cited an S&P forecast that said by 2036 electrified vehicles will make up 95% of sales: 58% EVs, 28% PHEVs, and 10% Hybrids. And if you're going to go electric, you might as well be able to go ff-road, too. While you still can. Are you ready for electrification? Let us know below.
