The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid will be equipped with Toyota’s hybrid technology

Here we have the 2025 Subaru Forester, the sixth generation of Subaru’s long line of compact crossover SUVs, and it has made the rounds on the web since its unveiling at the LA Auto Show primarily because of its looks. For now, though, our focus isn’t on the Forester’s square jaw and side profile but on a new hybrid powertrain which Subaru says will also be available sometime after the pure combustion engine version launches.

According to Subaru COO Jeff Walters, a hybrid version of the 2025 Forester is confirmed to be offered with a hybrid powertrain. In addition, Walters also said that the bits that will make up the hybrid system like the batteries and electric motor will be sourced from Toyota. This hybrid system, much like the hybrid Forester that Europe got, will be paired with the Forester’s boxer engine. Technical specifications on this hybrid version are not out yet, but we can expect it to be made public in the coming days. 

Subaru has announced that the 2025 model year Forester will hit US dealerships early next year, indicating that the hybrid variant is slated for the 2026 model year. The timing is opportune, considering the automotive industry's heightened emphasis on hybrids amid the broader shift towards electric vehicles.

Moving to what we do know is the specifications for the pure internal combustion version. The mechanical in the new Forester present a blend of retained elements and fresh engineering. Powering the vehicle is Subaru's well-known 2.5-liter flat-four engine, delivering 180 hp and 241 Nm of torque. 

Although two horses have left, there's a compensatory gain of seven Nm of torque compared to the previous generation. The standard configuration includes a continuously variable transmission, along with the latest iteration of Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system. This system has undergone revisions to enhance response times and introduces active torque vectoring on the rear wheels.

Toyota and Subaru have a history of collaborating and exchanging technologies so this won’t be the first time these two brands will work together. The BRZ and GR86 stand out as prominent instances, and more recently, their partnership extended to the development of the bZ4X and Solterra electric vehicles. This hybrid Forester is one of many cars that have been the product of the collaboration of Subaru and Toyota.