Subaru’s snow-beating box gets a new look inside and out
Defining the Playing Field
Then there are the dirt roads that surround my home at the tail end of the Adirondacks, which see no ice melting chemicals at all but rely instead on an arterial gravel spray from municipal trucks whose presence is directly proportional to the distance from regional garages. That this makes for adventurous driving nearly every time I leave my home is an understatement on the tail of a storm like the one that hit immediately prior to the Forester’s presence.
Ride Tall, Ride True
With all of the above in mind, I first want to commend the Subaru Forester’s almost entirely unchanged all-wheel drive system. It’s a feature that has performed at its peak for years, and kudos to the automaker’s engineers for not messing with its ability to parse varying levels of traction from one second to the next.
It’s worth noting that unlike other all-wheel drive systems that feature a distinctive front bias, the Forester is unwilling to plough the front end when pushed through deep, uncleared snow. You don’t have to worry about being pulled in one direction or another by ruts, and there’s also zero sensation of wheel spin as torque is apportioned out to the axle that needs it most. It simply works, and in a more transparent fashion than several of its rivals.
Middling Motor in a Sea of Turbos
You might look at those uninspiring numbers and undercut the Forester’s lack of slippery-stuff torque steer by remarking on its lack of, uh, actual torque. More problematic for Subaru’s do-everything compact hauler, however, is that almost every other rival in its class comes with a turbocharged option that adds between 70 and 100 extra horses to the equation. This is apparent even in the Forester’s own showroom, with the Outback XT providing a turbocharged, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that pumps out 260 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque.
Once upon a time, the Subaru Forester also benefited from an XT trim, and this model was positioned as a sporty alternative to the more staid personality of the standard SUV. With the Wilderness family having apparently supplanted STI among Subaru’s special models, the days of an exciting-to-drive Forester have faded into the rear view.
This is unfortunate, because as it is, the massaged chassis that underpins the 2025 Forester is worthy of a throatier exhaust note. Unlike the larger and more ponderous Outback, the Forester was more predictable and less willing to step out when taking the snowed-over downhill corner that leads to my home, with its shorter wheelbase and overall length providing a reduced pendulum for unwanted weight transfer.
It’s also surprisingly comfortable over heaves and bumps, and surefooted even when not testing the goodness of its grip. In short, the Forester’s platform is worthy of more than econocar numbers under the hood, especially considering that the SUV’s fuel economy failed to impress (I saw about 10 L/100 km).
Big Digital Arrives in Forester-Town
So much of the new Forester feels familiar out on the road, but the aesthetics of the SUV, inside and out, present far more obvious differences compared to the departed model.
There’s a little Ford found in the vehicle’s new face, and more angular wheel wells and body lines visible along its sides, but in general the Forester remains a handsomely executed design that won’t turn off long-time fans or deter newcomers curious about the brand. Inside, nearly every surface has been given a do-over, with differences immediately apparent on the dash, the doors, and seats. It’s a cohesive, and functional approach, and it fits the utilitarian nature of the Forester’s character.
Perhaps the most major shift is found right at the centre of the dash, where the Forester moves on from its horizontal infotainment screen and embraces the deep, plunging proportions of the corporate 11.6-inch infotainment screen that has colonized nearly the entire Subaru lineup. This move also eliminates the smaller dash-top screen that offered secondary information about the vehicle, as all of that has been incorporated into the top section of the new primary display.
There are still buttons and dials on hand to take care of certain climate functions, as well as volume and tuning controls, but the vast majority of the Forester’s feature set now lies behind a digital divide. You’ll be using this screen as your portal into nearly every Forester function, and while for the most part it’s easy enough to navigate, there are still some aspects — such as setting the climate details — that I found a little too fiddly to do while driving without diverting my attention from the road.
Most importantly, the Subaru Forester is still capable of swallowing a respectable amount of stuff. That includes rear seat riders, who enjoy impressive legroom and headroom, as well as everything they might see fit to bring with them. The SUV’s cargo area is about the same size as the model it replaces, with 838 litres available behind the back bench and 2,155 litres in total with the seat folded flat.
The Forester is a Bigger Crosstrek
Is the Forester positioned to do more than keep customers in the family? There’s no question that the SUV is competent, and there are many who wouldn’t give a second thought to its less-than-exciting engine in order to sample its solid cargo capacity, its affordable pricing (starting at $33,495, with the Limited I tested sitting at $42,995) and its excellent complement of standard safety equipment.
For everyone else, it’s a question of whether the Forester’s stiff upper lip in the face of a snowpocalypse is enough to make up for a lack of muscle under the right pedal. Most Canadians are fortunate enough to live in cities where ploughs and blowers deploy post-haste, keeping streets clear for most of the season. This might de-emphasize the Subaru’s all-wheel drive acumen in favour of more gifted, and smoother, engines available from the competition. If like me, however, you find yourself alone against the elements more often than not, the Forester is a proven antidote to staying inside all winter long.
Pros
✔ Solid cargo capacity
✔ Affordable pricing
✔ Excellent standard safety equipment
Cons
✘ Not very exciting to drive
✘ Smoother engines available from the competition
✘ Climate control settings are fiddly
Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X, Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.