2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Debuts in Chicago

The hills are alive with hybridity over at Subaru. The popular Japanese brand took to the floor at the 2025 Chicago International Auto Show with nit one but TWO new hybrid models: the 2025 Subaru Forester e-Boxer Hybrid and the 2026 Crosstrek e-Boxer Hybrid. The former will be in dealers this spring, the latter a little further down the line, likely Q4 of ’25.

Both models – which also happen to be the brand’s two highest sellers in Canada – get the next generation of Subaru’s series-parallel hybrid powertrain developed in concert with Toyota.

It combines a 2.5-litre boxer four-cylinder engine with an electric motor-generator for a combined output of 194 horsepower, which is a 12 hp jump over the non-hybrid Forester.

Being Subarus, both of these new hybrids will come standard with the brand’s legendary symmetrical full-time all-wheel-drive technology. That means that unlike many hybrids that rely on a rear axle-mounted EV motor to provide AWD, these will feature a mechanical connection to the rear axle. The system provides stronger off-road capability while efforts have been made to reduce the negative impacts associated with hybrids; the spare tire, for example, has been removed in order to be able to fit the battery without causing a hit to cargo room or ground clearance, which equals every other Forester model except for the more offroad-centric Wilderness version.  There are some drawbacks, however; chief among those is that we likely won’t see quite the same effect on fuel economy as expected from a hybrid system when fuel economy figures are posted later this year. The mechanical pieces add weight and that weight needs power to be driven and we all know that weight and drag are the antithesis of fuel economy.

For its part, the Wilderness will not be available with the hybrid powertrain when it gets refreshed for ’26, but it will have upgraded suspension, enhanced cooling and even more ground clearance than previous. The approach, departure and breakover angles have also been improved and full inner frame construction means torsional rigidity has improved by 10 per cent.

Styling-wise, there’s nothing to distinguish the hybrid models from others short of some new badging — US models get “Hybrid” badging throughout, while in Canada, look for “E-Boxer” badges instead. Why? Well, if Subaru knows, they aren’t telling just yet. The Crosstrek will get two new colours – Sand Dune Pearl and Citron Yellow pearl – as well as unique 18” wheels.

Inside, we find the 11.6” infotainment display with full-screen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto we’ve come to expect from Subaru as well as the latest generation of Subaru’s Eyesight suite of safety aids. That provides pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane change assist and more.

Canadian pricing has not yet been announced, but we do know that in Canada, the Hybrid will only be available on the top Forester trim. It’s not the same case in the US where it will be available on multiple trims, and starts at $34,995.