Body Styles

The 2025 Forester continues as a five-door compact crossover SUV, offering a tall, upright silhouette with generous glass area and near-vertical rear hatch. Its boxy proportions are function-driven, maximizing interior headroom and cargo versatility while maintaining a small overall footprint ideal for suburban maneuverability. Flared wheel arches and a high beltline lend it a subtle ruggedness, while short front and rear overhangs improve off-road approach angles. With a 105-inch wheelbase and ground clearance of 8.7 inches, it blends car-like road manners with SUV practicality.

Model Name Meaning (Manufacturer)

Subaru chose the name “Forester” to reflect the vehicle’s intended purpose: venturing into nature with confidence. The name symbolizes forested trails, outdoor adventures, and a lifestyle of exploration, aligning with Subaru’s brand image centered on all-weather utility, pets, and wilderness-ready design.

Model Name Meaning (Languages)

"Forester" is an English term historically used to describe a person who lives in or manages forests. The name reinforces an image of someone connected to the natural world and echoes themes of sustainability and outdoor life. It is direct, evocative, and widely understandable across English-speaking markets.

Body & Interior Colors and Rims

Exterior color choices for the 2025 Forester include Crystal White Pearl, Horizon Blue Pearl, Magnetite Gray Metallic, Crimson Red Pearl, and Autumn Green Metallic. Premium and Touring trims add exclusive finishes like Brilliant Bronze Metallic, giving the SUV a more upscale edge. Special editions may feature blacked-out elements or bronze-accented roof rails and wheels.

Inside, the Forester offers durable cloth in lower trims and perforated leather in higher grades. Touring models are equipped with brown leather upholstery with contrast stitching and soft-touch panels, while the Sport trim uses water-repellent StarTex® synthetic material with orange accents. Dash trims feature textured black plastic or brushed silver inserts depending on the variant.

Wheel designs range from 17-inch silver alloys on base models to 19-inch dark metallic or bronze-finished multi-spoke designs on Sport and Touring trims. The wheel arches remain unpainted for practicality, emphasizing the Forester’s utilitarian roots. Each wheelset is designed to visually balance the SUV’s high-riding, symmetrical form.

Top Expensive Options

• Navigation with 11.6" touchscreen: $1,500
• Harman Kardon® 9-speaker audio system: $1,200
• StarTex® water-repellent interior: $1,000
• Power panoramic moonroof: $1,000
• Power rear tailgate with memory height: $600
• Dual-function X-MODE with Snow/Dirt settings: $800
• Heated steering wheel and rear seats: $600
• LED Steering Responsive Headlights: $600
• Blind-Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert: $500
• Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB): $600

vs Competitors

The 2025 Subaru Forester goes head-to-head with the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. While the RAV4 Hybrid offers more power and slightly better fuel economy, the Forester counters with standard all-wheel-drive across all trims and superior ground clearance. Compared to the CR-V, the Forester provides a more upright seating position and better outward visibility. Unlike the more urban-focused Tucson, the Forester leans into its rugged identity, offering off-pavement capability that others in the class don’t match. While some competitors may look flashier or drive sportier, the Forester doubles down on being functional, reliable, and genuinely outdoors-ready.

Fun Fact

The 2025 Forester's hybrid system includes components co-developed with Toyota, marking one of the most integrated collaborations between the two brands to date. Despite this, Subaru retains full control of the drivetrain tuning and AWD calibration, making the Forester Hybrid a uniquely Subaru-feeling vehicle—engineered for mud, snow, and gravel, not just urban traffic.