Don’t look now, the 2025 model year vehicles are beginning to hit a showroom near you.
The sixth-generation Subaru Forester Touring SUV with updated styling, safety and in-vehicle technology landed in my driveway last week.
Having purchased a Forester seven years ago, the new version felt familiar, yet fresh. It comes in Base, Premium, Sport, Limited and top-of-the-line Touring trims.
Forester has an all-new, sleek, contemporary design aesthetic while retaining the trademark looks of its classic, rugged predecessors. The front of the vehicle features a bold grille that merges into compact LED headlights. The fascia debuts the updated Subaru star cluster emblem. The SUV’s bold shoulder lines emphasize height and strength, while its prominent wheel arches highlight its off-road capability. Front, side, and rear under-guards are standard with steep rear glass offering increased cargo capacity.
The interior of the all-new Forester features a prominent multimedia system with integrated center information display. Contoured dash elements and textured trim pieces are intelligently designed to avoid visible damage from daily use. A dark headliner hides scuffs from loading/unloading passengers and cargo. Strategically designed pillars and generous glass area ensure an excellent all-around view from the inside, and rear dark-tint privacy glass is standard.
My tester was powered by a 2.5-liter, DOHC, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder engine pairs with a Lineartronic continuously variable automatic transmission. The combination delivers 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. Forester seats five adults, receives a 1,500 maximum towing capacity rating, and earns a 32 mile per gallon rating down the highway.
Forester comes standard with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and Subaru’s award-winning EyeSight Driver Assist Technology and makes available a tablet-style 11.6-inch SUBARU STARLINK Multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard on Forester Premium is driver-selectable “X-MODE with Hill Descent Control”, which maximizes wheel control on slippery surfaces and steep inclines.
The combination makes it a quintessential ride for Northwesterner’s looking for functionality, versatility, reliability, safety features and competitive price. Maybe I’m a little biased, but the facts speak for themselves. Forester is one of Subaru’s best-selling vehicles in the U.S. over the last 30 years.
The latest version of the EyeSight system operates more smoothly and quickly and under a greater range of conditions than prior versions. These improvements are thanks to a wider field of view, updated control software, and the addition of an electric brake booster. EyeSight can identify cyclists and pedestrians at intersections sooner and, when necessary, alerts the driver and applies braking to avoid collisions. Additional active safety features are available for Forester including reverse automatic braking as well as blind-spot detection with lane change assist and rear cross-traffic alert.
For enhanced all-around situational awareness while parking, an available surround view monitor offers a 360-degree overhead view of the vehicle and its surroundings. The system
combines images from four vehicle cameras to create a single image with a bird’s-eye view of the area around the entire vehicle.
The “DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System” is standard on Touring trim. The feature utilizes a camera angled at the driver’s face and facial recognition software to monitor fatigue or lack of attention.
Base Price: $41,390
Price As Driven: $31,390
Destination charge is included in base price. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturer. List price may vary at local dealerships.
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