Subaru Forester is about to have a hybrid version

Japanese automaker Subaru has just announced the launch of a hybrid version of the new generation Forester model for the US market in mid-2025 and may be sold in the market under the 2026 model year. The Subaru Forester Hybrid will still retain the brand's famous symmetrical all-wheel drive system.

The Subaru Forester Hybrid is expected to feature a self-charging hybrid setup similar to the one found on the new Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, which was launched in Japan in October this year. This series-parallel hybrid system intelligently switches between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor as power sources, depending on driving conditions.

This setup will combine a 158-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine with two electric motors. The first electric motor, which Subaru calls a traction motor, adds 118 horsepower to drive the wheels.

The second electric motor acts as a generator that charges the 1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which powers the electric drivetrain.

Although the battery pack has a modest capacity and will not be able to provide much range when operating in pure EV Mode. But this will help improve fuel economy. This is considered the result of the cooperation between Subaru and Toyota in developing the new hybrid powertrain.

Subaru also claims the new hybrid system will improve fuel efficiency by 20% compared to the current e-Boxer Hybrid system used on Subaru models sold in Japan, Europe and some other markets.

In terms of price, the base 2025 Subaru Forester starts at $31,115, so the hybrid version will certainly start at a higher price. The price difference will depend on whether Subaru offers the hybrid system on the base or premium versions.