Our Rides: The Right Combination for Us

How do you align the wants of LGBTQ+ new vehicle consumers?

If we looked at market trends within our community, we would see two things: brand loyalty and a desire to live a sustainable life.

When it comes to brand loyalty, Subaru has been at the top of our community’s list. They were among the first automotive entities to reach out to us through their marketing efforts. In return, our purchasing track record speaks for itself, with repeat buyers coming from our demographic.

As for sustainability, we were among the first adopters of electrified vehicles. Not just the first hybrids, but also of battery-electric vehicles. We have always been tech-forward in many ways, which justifies our purchasing power when it comes to both hardware and software — automobiles included.

What if you put them all together?

Yes, Subaru has a battery-electric vehicle. We covered the Solterra EV a few years ago. They are tripling down on their commitment to EVs in 2026.

We’re talking hybrids here.

Subaru had been working on a hybrid driveline for over a decade. In fact, this is their third-generation system — Minnesotans and Wisconsinites never received the first two as new. It appears that they finally got it right.

By the end of this year, you can experience the new hybrid driveline in the Subaru Forester and Crosstrek. We got the chance is see how this system works in a 2025 Forester Touring Hybrid recently. I bet you’re as curious as we were if this is the way to go for your next Subaru.

Underneath the hood, Subaru’s third-generation hybrid system starts with a 2.5-liter BOXER four-cylinder engine. While similar to the one powering the non-hybrid Forester, it was switched to run on an Atkinson Cycle to better match the two electric motors attached to this engine.

One of the two motors is the traction unit — the most significant part of the hybrid system. Usually, there is one such power unit in most hybrids. Subaru added a second motor to act as a generator and starter. Both motors receive their energy from a 1.1-kilowatt-hour battery pack that runs from a parallel system with the gasoline engine.

This driveline is connected to Subaru’s Lineartronic continuously variable transmission and Symmetrical all-wheel drive system. Combined, the entire hybrid driveline is rated for a net 194 horsepower.

It is important to know what’s underneath the hood first. It is the only significant difference between a “regular” Forester and the Hybrid. Other than three badges on the exterior, it just looks like any other Forester Touring.

It has been over a year since its redesign. While it may look familiar from the previous generation model, the 2025 Forester adds a bolder grille, a new LED lighting signature front and back, a reshaped C-pillar glass area and a cleaner side profile.

A lot of the 2025 Forester has remained true to its beginning. The doors open wide, and there’s a lot of glass all around. In fact, we believe that the 2025 Forester has the best rearward vision of any vehicle in its class.

Touring models wear a set of 19-inch machined-finished alloy wheels with some chrome trim and a black contrasting roof. This top-of-the-line trim simply looks elevated, while retaining a lot of its friendly nature that is found on a Forester.

Stepping inside, the Forester Hybrid Touring greets you with a new 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster. It may look like the usual analog gauge and small digital screen combination found on other Foresters, but it offers more customization and readouts that are clean and easy to read. The controls are familiar and work very well.

The center stack is dominated by an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented Starlink infotainment screen. This is a hub for connectivity, information, all vehicle settings and the automatic climate control system, although we did find that the system lagged when switching between functions. Sound is emitted through 11 Harmon Kardon speakers positioned throughout the cabin.

The Touring’s seats are upholstered in black leather with some Ultrasuede inserts that are also found on the door cards. The front seats were a bit on the firm side with plenty of support. Rear seat room is very good for most bodies. Four adults or a rainbow family of five can sit comfortably inside across two rows of seats.

In terms of cargo space, there is 27.5 cubic feet of volume available with the rear seats up. This is expandable to 69.1 cubic feet with the rear seats down. The 2025 Forester’s best attribute is its taller cargo height than most competitors in its class. If you’re a pet lover, you will love the space it has for them to ride comfortably.

Behind the wheel, the hybrid driveline just feels nice. The CVT does not feel rubbery, and power delivery was improved overall. All-wheel drive traction was superb. Highway driving posed no problem. The best part? The Forester Hybrid was also very efficient — averaging 33.7 mpg in our care.

The ride quality was simply superb on multiple surfaces. The suspension and dampers absorbed everything in their wake. Yet, the handling felt a bit soft, with some lean and roll through the corners. It was quite composed in everyday maneuvers.

The steering system’s on-center feel and wheel response were good. We found a good turning radius thanks to a quicker steering set that is precise. Braking was also good with excellent pedal feel. We observed good stops in normal and panic situations.

You can select from four trim levels for the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid. Pricing starts from $36,595. Our Touring Hybrid tester came with a sticker price of $43,610. Non-hybrid 2026 Forester models start from $29,995 with six trim levels to choose from — including the new Wilderness model.

For the sustainable consumers among us, the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid seems like the perfect vehicle. It remains one of our favorite vehicles. Adding the cleaner and more efficient electrified driveline is simply the icing on the cake.