Subaru Forester SUV steps up with new look, features

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- For the 2025 model year, Subaru has extensively reworked an old favorite, the Forester.  And yeah, all the new stuff works really well on the old girl.

The exterior look of the compact crossover sport-utility vehicle is more sleek, even sporty if you will.  Inside, modern touches made me feel comfortable behind the wheel.

Subaru said the chassis is 10 percent stiffer than the previous generation, and that was apparent in the seat of my pants as my Limited edition tester held the line on sharp corners taken at high speed.

The 2.5-liter, four-cylinder, horizontally opposed "boxer" engine is responsive and peppy with a 180-horsepower rating.  I put the tester through all the paces and never found it lacking.  And interior roominess, quiet and comfort were an extra bonus.

While Subaru's legendary handling remains constant, new contemporary perks have been added to the rugged Forester package.  That includes a foot-activated, hands-free power liftgate.  Driver-assist technology is also part of the 2025 model. The on-board safety technology is likewise state of the art.

For an automaker that takes safety seriously, the 2025 Forester has two special mentions.

The company's award-winning EyeSight Driver Assist Technology can identify cyclists and pedestrians at intersections quickly and alert the driver to brake to avoid collisions. And for the first time on a Subaru, Emergency Stop Assist activates if the driver does not respond to warnings while using the automaker's Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control.

Fuel mileage is pretty good at 26 miles per gallon in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

The 2025 Forester can be had just about any way you want it: base, Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring trim levels.  My Limited tester was priced at a reasonable $38,990.

I'm not much of a camper, but I've always regarded the Forester as a likely top choice for an extended outdoor outing.  Given all that's been added to the Forester for 2025, I think its usefulness also can be expanded to enjoyable daily driver.