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Fresh hybrid to lead Forester charge
Richard Bosselman
April 4, 2025
New look, a different petrol-electric drivetrain, mid-year arrival confirmed with brand yet to share model choices, prices and specs.
ELECTRIFICATION inclusion being set to step up with the new-generation of Subaru’s smallest off-road nugget, the Forester, has been confirmed with unveiling of the NZ-market car today.
However while the covers have come off the new-generation model - at a motor show in Melbourne - ahead of its mid-year availability, the brand’s regional representatives are still not saying what potential benefits will come from the fresh hybrid powertrain.
Replacing the outgoing car’s 2.0-litre-based unit, the latest e-Boxer includes an 88kW electric motor and a 1.1kW battery system, again with an eight-speed CVT, and now works with the make’s long-serving 2.5-litre flat four that will also continue in fully orthodox form. In present state the latter makes 136kW/239Nm.
No power or torque figures for the hybrid have been shared, specifications, prices and model choices won’t be announced until closer to launch. It might be useful that Australia will take seven models, four petrol - from the base Forester through the Premium, Sport and a range-topping Touring - and three hybrids, in Premium, Sport and Touring.
The only comment from the make in respect to efficiency is that there’s optimism the new hybrid might achieve 1000 kilometres range on a tank.
There’s no absolute certainty to that yet, with Australian Design Rules’ ratification pending. Even then the outcome might not be legitimate to NZ, as ADR uses a test (ADR 81/02) that fundamentally relies on NEDC, whose outcomes are no longer prioritised here. Our country encourages WLTP protocols, but Australia does not.
The hybrid drivetrain coming here is the same sold in North America, which has had the car for a year, but it’s not clear if tuning is identical. Subaru is also continuing with a 2.0-litre hybrid in some right hand drive markets, notably the United Kingdom, but there’s assumption that choice will not continue here.
The car is claimed to deliver a 25 percent fuel efficiency improvement on the US EPA test cycle for combined city and highway driving – while it delivers an almost 30 percent improvement in lower-speed urban environments.
The 35 miles per US gallon combined fuel consumption (6.7 litres per 100km) calibrates from a different test standard used here. And EPA has no standing in NZ.
The outgoing car’s 2.0-litre e-Boxer was claimed to achieve 6.5L/100km but real-world testing consistently showed negligible consumption saving over the regular 2.5-litre. The same has been said about the new car in its UK-spec hybrid format.
The 2.5-litre hybrid is tuned to run the Atkinson cycle, and in US market tune is cited to generate 120kW on its own or 144kW combined with the primary electric motor. The NZ market 2.0-litre e-Boxer returned 110kW/196Nm.The old diesel, which departed some years ago, provisioned 110kW/320Nm and gave thrift of 6.3 litres per 100km. Its issue was CO2.
The previous Subaru hybrid was an in-house concoct. The new is not. Major electric elements have sourced from Toyota, an obvious technology specialist and a Subaru shareholder. The makes, of course, have combined on projects; the current Toyota GT 86 and Subaru BRZ are twins, as are the electric Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X.
Subaru’s integration has not been to extent of altering fundamentals; in Toyota all-wheel-drive with hybrid, an electric motor is intrinsic to all-paw. Forester’s all-wheel drive system remains mechanically linked.
Forester Hybrid keeps the standard car’s X-Mode off-road traction system, hill descent control and active torque vectoring.
This Forester is the sixth generation to use that nameplate, and delivers with evolutionary styling with cues from the latest WRX, Outback and Crosstrek, as well as previous Foresters.
The updated front end brings a wider grille, new headlights with a slimmer DRL signature, more plastic cladding for the lower bumper, and slender triangular fog lamps.
The car also sports body cladding similar to the WRX and Crosstrek, and a prominent D-pillar line with ‘symmetrical AWD’ badging.
Other than its powertrain, the Hybrid differs from the regular model in a few other ways, as it features its own unique damper tuning to account for the added weight of the hybrid system, along with additional sound deadening material, but no spare tyre to make room for the battery pack. It has the same 220mm ground clearance as the fully ICE types.
The hybrid and standard cars share a 11.6-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone. but high-end editions of the hybrid also take a customisable 12.3-inch digital driver’s display,“to keep drivers informed and connected on the move”.
One question still unanswered is whether Subaru NZ can achieve a Wilderness edition that has a jacked-up appearance and enhanced features for off-road performance and durability.
The X-mode recalibrates with additional modes, gearing alters for better low-pace oomph and suspension is retuned It achieves additional body protection. Approach, departure and break-over angles are better than from the standard car and it gets gnarlier tyres, which being taller enhance the ground clearance fractionally.
Kym Mellow, general manager of Subaru’s distributor, Inchcape, contends this Forester is stronger, smarter and more capable than previous types and contends there’s no better place for it than New Zealand.
“This country has some of the most challenging and spectacular terrain anywhere in the world — and Forester is built to thrive in it.”
