2025 Subaru Forester Sport Yearlong Review: Should We Have Gotten the Hybrid?

Shortly after our 2025 Subaru Forester Sport arrived in the MotorTrend yearlong review fleet, Subaru announced a hybrid powertrain would become available in the coming year. After racking up nearly 10,000 miles in our conventionally powered Forester, I finally had the opportunity to spend some time behind the wheel of the Forester Hybrid to see how it stacks up against our naturally aspirated long-term Forester Sport.

The Hybrid

While our talented test team in Michigan was able to get test numbers on a Forester Sport Hybrid (more on that later), I spent a week behind the wheel of a fully loaded 2025 Subaru Forester Touring Hybrid.

Sitting atop the Forester lineup, the Forester Touring Hybrid (in a handsome Autumn Green Metallic) is the most luxurious Forester available. It features 19-inch wheels, a digital gauge cluster, and compared to our midlevel long-term Sport model has a host of added interior amenities, such as leather-trimmed seats, heated and ventilated front seats (the Sport model only has heating), and heated second-row seats, all of which are also available on the non-hybrid Forester Touring.

The real difference, however, is the powertrain. With the addition of two electric motors, Subaru has added 14 horsepower for a total output of 194 hp, compared to the 180 hp you get from the non-hybrid powertrain found in our long termer. Subaru claims a 40 percent increase in fuel economy over the non-hybrid versions, giving the Forester Hybrid an impressive 581-mile range, an increase of 116 miles over the 465-mile range of the non-hybrid versions.

So how much does the hybrid system cost? The Forester Touring Hybrid I drove came in at an all-in price of $43,610 (including $495 for two-tone paint). The premium for the hybrid version varies throughout the Forester lineup, ranging from $3,490 in the Sport trim all the way down to $1,700 for a Touring Hybrid like the one I drove. The only model not to receive the hybrid powertrain is the base model, which means that the Premium Hybrid—with a starting price of $36,595—is your entry point if you want to get into a Forester Hybrid. Our Forester Sport would have cost $41,246 to start (thanks to a $3,490 premium) if we’d waited for the Hybrid.

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How Does Our Long-Term Sport Stack Up?

So is it worth the scratch?

Accelerating away from the stoplight near MotorTrend’s El Segundo HQ, the added oomph from the electric motors was instantly noticeable. “This is way quicker!” I yelled to nobody in the empty car. So how much quicker? I asked the test team, and they told me the Forester Hybrid is a tenth of a second quicker to 60 mph. Wait, what?

Maybe I need to explain. Yes, the Forester Sport Hybrid was able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds, compared to the 8.7 seconds that our non-hybrid Forester Sport managed. While everyone talks about 0–60 times, when it comes to a small SUV that spends most of its time on city streets, the 0–30 time is actually more important, as most of these vehicles spent most of their time around urban environments.

One of my biggest complaints about our yearlong review Forester is its initial acceleration from stop signs, and it’s in this realm where the Forester Hybrid’s torquey electric motors make a big difference. Compared to our long-term Forester Sport’s 0–30 time of 3.2 seconds, the Hybrid managed that same sprint four-tenths of a second quicker, in just 2.8 seconds. That might not sound like a lot, but it feels it.

And the times themselves aren’t even the most important thing here; the overall driving characteristic of the Forester Hybrid is just much smoother. Sure, if you’re full-throttle off the line, the regular Forester can hit 0–30 mph in 3.2 seconds, but you have to have your foot to the floor for that result. The comparably instant torque from the hybrid system means that acceleration comes on earlier and more naturally, negating the need to mash the accelerator pedal. The Forester Hybrid’s benefits start to taper off around 50 mph, and by the time you hit that usually important 60 mph mark, the two powertrains are about equal. That’s not surprising, considering the power-to-weight ratios between the Hybrid and non-hybrid versions are essentially the same: 20.1 lb/hp for the hybrid test car and 20.3 lb/hp for our long-termer.

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Any Downsides?

Batteries are heavy. Compared to our long-term non-hybrid Sport, the hybrid system and the extra luxe goodies of the Forester Touring model make it 244 pounds heavier than our own Subaru. I could feel that weight when I took the Forester Hybrid on a twisty local road. Although neither Forester is a canyon carver, I spend a lot of time in the Forester Sport chasing cars through the mountains on photo shoots, and the Hybrid definitely felt like it was carrying a little extra weight in the turns.

MotorTrend’s famous figure-eight test backs up my experience, with the non-hybrid Forester Sport delivering a leisurely time of 27.3 seconds with an average of 0.62 g, compared to the more relaxed Hybrid that only managed 28.3 seconds with an average of 0.61g.

Answer the question. Is the Hybrid Worth It?

Yes. The price premium might be a hard pill to swallow, but with the Forester Hybrid’s extra 116 miles of range and an EPA fuel economy rating of 35/34/35 mpg compared to our long-term Sport’s 25/32/28 mpg, you’re going to be able to go on longer adventures on less fuel while also having a more enjoyable day-to-day experience around town. Subaru owners tend to keep their vehicles for a long time, so if you were still driving your Forester Hybrid after abound 130,000 miles, you’ll certainly come out ahead of the game.

For More On Our Long-Term 2025 Subaru Forester Sport:

• Once I Go Subaru, Do I Go Back?
• What Does a Dog Think?
• A Look Behind The Lens
• Having fun with Subaru Badges of Ownership