2025 Subaru Forester to bring its ‘A-game’ with new hybrid at launch, turbo XT, and potential EV

November: See our evolving 2024 Forester coverage

Get on top of all you need to know about the upcoming new Forester at our linked story below.

August: Subaru hints at expansive new Forester range

Subaru Australia is preparing to consolidate its booming sales in 2023 with an all-new Forester range in 2024 that will include an updated petrol-hybrid drivetrain at launch.

This will be followed by a turbo-petrol Forester XT and off-road-focused Forester Wilderness variants, with the likelihood of an electric Forester by 2026.

Speaking to Wheels at the brand’s 50th-anniversary event, Subaru Australia Managing Director Blair Read confirmed that the company has invested heavily in the sixth-generation Forester and plans to “bring its A-game” with this all-new model, due to arrive in Australia in 2024.

“Forester is our number one selling model, and we need to bring our A-game in that segment, to keep Forester’s rightful place. So [our current] focus is [very much] on next-generation Forester,” he said, effectively ruling out any chance of Wilderness or turbocharged XT variants of the existing fifth-gen Forester being developed for our market.

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2023 Subaru Forester 2.5i S

The plan at this stage is to launch the next-gen Forester with two drivetrains – the existing 2.5-litre petrol flat four (with likely improvements) and a “stronger”, more powerful evolution of Subaru’s relatively mild 2.0-litre petrol-hybrid flat four, which will improve acceleration and make it more efficient.

Mr. Read mentioned that launching a simpler next-gen Forester range will help in managing stock and reducing customer wait times. He added that, if the demand exists, they have the capability to fulfil up to 3000 orders a month.

“There’s two aspects [to a streamlined Forester range]. One is from a fulfilment perspective – if we look at our range and the simplification of it, to deliver on that [potential 3000 units per month] is very achievable. And we’ve got the dealer network that can support that.

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“From a factory production [perspective] where we’re asking 'is there the capacity to ramp up?', we have [the] support and commitment from Subaru Japan and Subaru Corporation to make extra production available for Australia to meet additional demand.

"And that’s part of the future outlook that we’re on working with them, as [to] how we continue to support and grow the Australian market,” he said.

So far in 2023, Subaru Australia is leading the world for global Subaru market share – having recently overtaken the US – and with Crosstrek, new-gen Impreza and new-gen Forester making their debut over the next 12 months, there’s no reason why achieving over five percent of the Australian market isn’t possible.

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2023 Subaru Crosstrek

Once the core 2024 Forester model range has launched, Subaru will turn its attention to the new-generation Forester Wilderness and the return of a turbocharged Forester XT to its lineup.

Thanks to the booming success of the Japanese-built turbocharged Outback XT developed specifically for Australia (and New Zealand) – it now accounts for up to 40 percent of total Outback sales – Subaru Australia has significantly strengthened its case for future development of similar niche variants for our market, such as the new Forester Wilderness and Forester XT, along with potential 2.5-litre variants of the Crosstrek and new-gen Impreza.

Similar to its North American counterpart, which is built with left-hand drive, the new-generation Forester Wilderness will focus on off-road capabilities. This follows the pattern set by the Outback Wilderness, which is currently in development in Japan and slated for an Australian launch in 2024.

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Subaru Outback Wilderness

Featuring unique wheels, bumpers, colour treatment and body cladding, combined with underbody protection and a fresh suspension tune with increased ride height, the Wilderness is all about adding some lifestyle/outdoor chic to the relatively conservative Forester.

The existing US-market Forester Wilderness also features lower final-drive gearing for improved off-road performance from its 136kW/239Nm 2.5-litre petrol flat-four, as well as deep snow, sand and mud settings for its ‘X-Mode’ all-wheel-drive system.

The new Forester XT, on the other hand, will share its drivetrain hardware with the turbocharged Outback XT that launched in Australia earlier this year. That means a 2.4-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol flat four tied to a CVT transmission, with outputs expected to mirror the Outback’s 183kW and 350Nm.

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Previous Subaru Forester XT

As for the rest of the package, expect a touch more flamboyance than the almost indistinguishable Outback XT, with unique alloy wheels, styling details, suspension tune and interior treatment.

Mr. Read explained that the company has faced a balancing act. On one hand, they've considered focusing resources on adding new variants to existing models. On the other, they've thought about directing those efforts towards future development.

This is why the Forester Wilderness and XT variants will be introduced with the new-generation model, rather than being added to the current Forester, which is nearing the end of its five-year production cycle.

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An electric Forester also hasn’t been ruled out, based on Subaru’s recent global commitment to introducing eight new electric vehicles by 2028.

Four of those EVs are set to debut by 2026, and an electric version of the sixth-generation Forester may form part of that mix.

“[An electric Forester] is definitely something that could be an option,” said Mr Read. “We have some remarkable nameplates and that’s been a strength of the brand – [many with] a very, very long history. So those are some of the decisions ahead: where do those nameplates continue... whether it’s hybrid or BEV?

"They have to live up to the nameplate first and foremost … but there’s huge brand equity in those, so I think you’ll see a mixture going forward."

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"I think the key part of that is there’s a couple of options there with that pipeline, which is pretty exciting"

As for whether an electric Forester would be a fresh drivetrain option in the new-generation model or a completely new vehicle that simply leverages the nameplate (like Mustang Mach-E), Mr Read said “a Forester needs to be a Forester, and an Outback needs to be an Outback – not just transferring the nameplate.

“I think the key part of that is there’s a couple of options there with that pipeline, which is pretty exciting,” he said.

He also confirmed that we can expect to see some completely new models in Subaru’s showrooms going forward.

“If we’re talking eight new [EVs by 2028], there has to be some new nameplates such as Solterra within that,” he said.