Subaru’s first-ever hybrid vehicle – the all-new 2025 Forester Hybrid – is officially on the market in the United States. The model was unvealed earlier this month at the 2025 Chicago Auto Show.
To meet the sustainability goals set for the car industry, Subaru has decided to focus the majority of its efforts on hybrid technology, as opposed to incorporating alternative fuels just yet.
Its reasons for this are clear: in terms of infrastructure, cost, and alignment with the brand’s core strengths, the market seems most ready for hybrid tech as opposed to relying solely on hydrogen, fully electric or other fuel sources.
The car manufacturer explained that hybrid technology is currently well-established and widely accepted by consumers. By joining a fuel-efficient engine with electric power, the company explained that it has set out to reduce emissions while still providing the performance and capability drivers expect from the brand.
Hybrid tech does not mean no four-wheel drive
The 2025 Forester Hybrid combines a 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER engine with electric motors and a high-capacity lithium-ion battery.
Subaru says that the Forester offers up to 40% better fuel economy than its other non-hybrid model, but still delivers 194 total system horsepower!
As such, it is well-worth the $34,995 price tag.
And for the most part, the Forester still has all the bells and whistles of its predecessors.
It definitely still has the standard Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, which has, over the years of its existence, become the hallmark of the brand. Like all other Subaru SUVs, it is also built to handle any road with X-MODE Dual Mode and Hill Descent Control for better grip on rough terrain.
It also has Active Torque Vectoring and Vehicle Dynamics Control to keep driving smooth and stable. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance, it handles bumps easily.
The Forester Hybrid can go up to 581 miles on a full tank and gets around 35 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 35 mpg combined.
The Forester Hybrid’s electric edge
Now comes the electric components: The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid may run on a typical 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER engine but this is now paired with an electric motor generator and an electric traction motor. The carmakers have done this specifically for better fuel efficiency and less carbon emission.
The system can use power from the engine, the electric motor, or both, depending on driving needs. A high-capacity lithium-ion battery increases its efficiency, helping the SUV go further on less fuel.
Subaru drives towards a greener future
While it is not the most environmentally friendly vehicle on the market just yet, Subaru has, in more recent times, been deeply committed to its environmental responsibility.
Subaru’s manufacturing plants, particularly its Indiana facility in the US, have achieved zero-landfill status. This means that 99.9% of waste generated during production was recycled or reused.
Subaru has set ambitious targets to reduce its carbon footprint. The company said that it aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its operations by 2050.
According to the company, the plan is to eventually fully electrify its vehicle line-up to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But it has chosen to do so at the pace at which the industry can handle in terms of infrastructure and awareness.
In addition to the 2025 Forester Hybrid, the brand has also introduced the Solterra EV which was co-developed with Toyota.
Now the Solterra EV is the world’s first All-Wheel-Drive electric vehicle, and according to Subaru, “the Solterra delivers standard capability the Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5 just can’t match.”
Its built-in fast-charge capability results in a charge of 10% to 80% in about 35 minutes. The company confirmed that it aims for 40% of its global sales to be electric or hybrid vehicles by 2030.
