Subaru revealed the 2025 Forester at the Los Angeles Auto Show

The 2025 Forester unveiled today at the LA Auto Show isn't a next-generation model, but you could be forgiven for thinking it is, because Subaru has given it a major update that has resulted in an all-new exterior as well as a new interior, plus the promise of hybrid power.

The Forester's new, squarer front end is dominated by a large, upright grille flanked by a pair of headlights that extend into the surrounding body like a pair of wings.

The interior design is an evolution of what we're used to, with the centerpiece being a portrait touchscreen embedded in the dashboard between a pair of vertical heating vents. Base cars get a 7.0-inch screen, but an 11.6-inch alternative is sure to be popular and comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Fans of analog dials will be pleased to see a pair of traditional "clocks" in the dashboard, but unfortunately the handy climate control switches  usually found under a Subaru's touchscreen have been removed. But you can still control the temperature and audio with physical elements embedded in the screen bezel.

The 2025 Forester offers no real mechanical surprises, at least until a hybrid model joins the lineup a year after the gasoline car's arrival in 2024. It still features the same 2.5-liter boxer engine and standard all-wheel-drive transmission.

Power actually drops by 2 hp (2 PS) to 180 hp (183 PS) for 2025. But torque is up fractionally, from 176 lb-ft (239 Nm) to 178 lb-ft (241 Nm).

The 8.7-inch (221 mm) of ground clearance Subaru quotes is identical to the one it claims for the previous iteration of the car, but the updated Forester does have the benefit of a 10 percent stiffer chassis structure and a new electric power steering system inherited from the WRX sedan. Base and Premium models get 17-inch wheels, while the Limited gets 18-inch wheels and the upscale Sport and Touring grades get 19-inch wheels.

New features for the '25 model year include an available panoramic sunroof and a foot-activated power liftgate. But the bigger news is an improved EyeSight driver-assist package that now has a wider field of view and can identify cyclists and pedestrians more quickly.

The really big news, though, remains the confirmation that the U.S.-spec Forester is finally getting hybrid power. Subaru didn't give away any details about what form that powertrain might take or how much power it might have, but it sounds like it might be worth holding off on ordering one of the cars unveiled today until more information is released, probably sometime in 2024.

Source: Subaru