Subaru Forester e-Boxer Hybrid Review: Forester With A Greener Conscience

What we like:

New hybrid system makes the Forester competitive.

Improvements all count for something when driving.

Eyesight system works great.

What we dislike:

11.6” screen’s UX shows its age.

The Chinese are charging ahead, literally, with EVs. The Europeans are doing backflips to modernise. And the Japanese? They’re standing quietly off to the side, arms folded, watching everyone tire themselves out.

Instead of diving headfirst into the EV pool, they’ve doubled down on something they know better: Hybrids.

That’s the route Subaru has taken with its new 2025 Forester.

All Things New

Beneath the bonnet lies a more powerful 2.5-litre flat-four paired with a reworked hybrid system co-developed with Toyota. Together, they deliver a combined 162bhp, enough to keep the Forester lively without betraying its sensible side.

Outside, the new design feels sharper and more European, with horizontal lines that visually widen the SUV. Inside, a large central screen, physical buttons (thankfully), and noticeably comfier seats make it feel familiar yet more mature.

How Does It Drive?

Our 926 km drive from Singapore to Hat Yai sounded punishing on paper, but the Forester turned it into a calm, easy-going cruise. The 2.5-litre engine has enough shove, and it’s satisfying to see the “EV” light flick on during jams or steady cruising; knowing the battery’s quietly helping out.

The steering is reassuringly firm, the CVT stays civilised unless pushed, and extra insulation keeps noise down. It’s not the sort of car that thrills, but one that shrugs off distance effortlessly like a Labrador on a long walk.

What Stood Out

First, the buttons. Subaru, like me, mourns the death of physical controls. The big, tactile ones here make adjusting settings effortless on the move. Because of that ease, I used the adaptive cruise control constantly; and it’s excellent.

Subaru’s updated Eyesight system manages braking and acceleration smoothly, pairing well with Lane Keep Assist. Still, always stay alert as lane-cutters can trip the system into momentary panic.

Comfort was another surprise. The 10-way, lumbar adjustable seat and added soundproofing worked wonders; we arrived fresh even after such a long drive. The infotainment system is intuitive, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto working seamlessly and air-con controls permanently docked for easy reach.

Not everything’s perfect, though. There’s a noticeable lag when switching screens, and the rear-view camera quality leaves you wanting better. Both are small annoyances, but enough to remind you that there’s still room for refinement.

Fuel Economy

Subaru claims 16.9 km/L (under ideal conditions, of course); but we simulated two kinds of long-distance driving to find the floor and ceiling for what’s possible. Here’s what we managed:

Fuel-economy drive (avg. 80–90 km/h)
• Average: 20 km/L (5.0 L/100 km)
 • Range: 926 km (completed) + 230 km (remaining) = 1,156km

Highway drive (avg. 110–120 km/h including traffic jams)
• Average: 14.3 km/L (7.0 L/100 km)
 • Range: 725 km (completed) + 120 km (remaining) = 845km

The 20 km/L figure required saint-like patience and feather-light throttle work; basically, not how anyone drives daily. The 14.3 km/L result, achieved with a mix of highway stretches and bumper-to-bumper jams, feels more realistic.

Considering city driving will engage the electric motor more often, taking the pressure off the engine and keeping fuel economy in check, the 16.9km/l clearly doesn’t seem too far-fetched.

The Forester for the Trees

Yes, it sits in Category B, where competition is fierce. But if you’re cross-shopping it purely against full EVs or other hybrids, you’re missing the point.

The Forester keeps its signature boxer engine and symmetrical all-wheel drive, now sharpened with a stronger hybrid system, greater comfort, and design maturity.

If full electrification feels a step too far but you’d still like to save fuel without giving up a proper SUV feel, the Subaru Forester e-BOXER Hybrid might just be the wild card you didn’t know you needed.

Photos by Jegan Das and Subaru Singapore

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