William Stopford
Subaru Forester, Crosstrek’s new hybrid technology detailed
Subaru's new-generation hybrid powertrain features a larger engine and battery for more grunt and greater economy.
5 Months Ago
About the Subaru Forester
Last updated Dec 18, 2024Although Subaru has just revealed the new-generation Forester over in the United States, the Japanese carmaker’s local division is sticking with the outgoing model for now and has given it some minor tweaks for the 2024 model year.
The 2024 Subaru Forester is set to arrive in Australia early next year. The company has now also reopened orders for the previously sold-out Forester Hybrid.
Subaru Australia says there is “limited MY23 Forester stock” still available at dealers.
All 2024 Subaru Forester models have had a price increase of $800. This means the range now starts at $38,690 before on-roads for the 2.5i, and extends to $50,140 before on-roads for the Hybrid S.
Pros
Cons
Subaru Forester Rating
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2024 Subaru Forester Reviews
2024 Subaru Forester Price
Sport
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.5L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | $44,840 |
Luxury Special Edition
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.5L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | $39,690 |
Premium
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.5L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | $43,090 |
Base
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.5L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | $37,890 |
S 50 Years Edition
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.5L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | $46,840 |
L
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.5L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | $40,290 |
| 2.0L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | $43,290 |
50 Years Edition
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.5L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | $38,890 |
S
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.5L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | $46,340 |
| 2.0L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | $49,340 |
STI Sport
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.5L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | $48,640 |
*excl. on-roads
All Subaru Forester Pricing
2024 Subaru Forester Specs
See our comprehensive details for the Subaru Forester
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2024 Subaru Forester Dimensions
1730mm
1815mm
4640mm
The dimensions shown above are for the base model.
See all 2024 Subaru Forester Dimensions2024 Subaru Forester Boot Space
Boot space with the rear seats upright is 498 litres in petrol an 509 litres in the hybrid variants.
This expands to 1779 litres in the hybrid variants, while that figure is 1768 litres in all regular petrol models except for the Sport and 2.5i-S where it’s 1740 litres.
2024 Subaru Forester Gallery
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2024 Subaru Forester Exterior
For 2024, the rear spoiler and shark-fin antenna have been changed from body colour to Crystal Black Silica, while all models now come standard with LED front fog lights.
The 2.5i, 2.5i-L and 2.5i Premium previously had halogen units. The Forester 2.5i Premium’s front fog light surrounding accents have been changed from a painted dark metal colour to all resin, and the sports pedals have been removed from the 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Sport, 2.5i-S and Hybrid S.
Subaru refreshed the exterior design of the Forester for the 2022 model year which brought a revised front bumper and grille, as well as new headlights and fog lights, among other minor design changes.
2024 Subaru Forester Interior
For 2024, The entire range now goes without a CD player, with the media icon on the infotainment screen removed to reflect this change.
You are treated to a practical, sensible interior with plenty of space for the whole family.
The seats are trimmed in what feels like high-quality leather, and neatly balance softness with support. With heating and electric adjustment, you couldn’t ask for much more.
Facing the driver is a leather-trimmed steering wheel featuring plenty of buttons. There are 17 on the wheel, and that doesn’t include the paddle shifters. Bundle in controls for the active safety down by the driver’s right knee, as well as a trip reset button behind the wheel, and there’s a bit going on.
The rear seats were a strong point when this Forester generation launched, and time hasn’t changed that. With a tall, boxy roofline and massive windows, it feels much brighter back there than in some of its more style-focused rivals.
Even with a panoramic sunroof fitted the Forester has enough headroom for tall teens, and legroom is good behind taller adults. The bench itself is plush, and is wide enough for three people to sit across without too much trouble.
You get air vents, two USB ports, a fold-down armrest, and two-tiered pockets behind the front seats, along with door pockets that comfortably swallow a water bottle.
Speaking of the rear doors, the fact they open to almost 90 degrees makes it easier to load a child seat into the Forester than some of its rivals.
2024 Subaru Forester Infotainment
the infotainment system is functional. Wireless smartphone mirroring would be nice, given it’s rolling out in the Forester’s rivals, but you still get wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the factory system blends a logical layout with bright, crisp graphics.
It also has factory mapping. The shortcut buttons and volume/tuning dials below the screen are both welcome in a world that’s going touch-only, but the taller screens in the new Outback and WRX make the dash in the Forester look a bit old.
Like the Outback and WRX, the Forester has a facial recognition system. It can remember up to five drivers, and moves the seats and configures the infotainment system when it works out who’s behind the wheel. It also chimes when you take your eyes off the road, which sounds good in theory but tends to jump at shadows in practice.
The clear analogue dials flank a 4.2-inch trip computer with a huge range of layouts, including a digital speedo. At just shy of $50k though, they’re old-fashioned compared with the digital options Hyundai and Kia offer in their mid-sized SUVs.
It partners a horizontal display atop the dashboard, capable of showing fuel economy, media information, a breakdown of your active safety systems, or details about your all-wheel drive system.
The hybrid also features displays showing what’s happening with your petrol engine and e-motor, which usually serves to show you how little the electric bits are doing… but more on that later.
They’re both useful, but both have their quirks. You lose your dash-top display in favour of an EyeSight graphic when cruise is engaged, for example, and unless you’re particular with how you set the screens up it’s easy to have the same information on show in three places.
2024 Subaru Forester Safety Rating
All 2024 Subaru Forester models receive the following safety equipment:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Lane centring
- Autonomous emergency steering
- Adaptive cruise control
- Reverse camera with washer
- Rear parking sensors
All bar the base 2.5i come standard with a facial recognition camera to detect driver drowsiness or distraction, as well as rear AEB and front and side cameras.
2024 Subaru Forester Fuel Economy
The 2024 Subaru Forester is claimed to consume 7.4 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, or 6.7 litres per 100km in the hybrid.
All Foresters can run on 91 RON regular unleaded petrol. The regular petrol models have a 63-litre fuel tank while the hybrid has a 48-litre tank.
| Subaru Forester | Fuel Type | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | Unleaded | 7.4 L/100km |
Cost of ownership
What are the running and servicing costs of a Subaru Forester?
Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 12,500km, whichever comes first. Subaru also offers three- and five-year servicing plans.
For non-hybrid models they cost $1387.25 and $2674.64, respectively, while the Hybrid’s cost $1398.62 and $2693.61.
How does the 2024 Subaru Forester drive?
Our expert take on Subaru Forester drivability.
Non-hybrid variants of the 2024 Subaru Forester are powered by a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder flat-four engine producing 136kW of power and 239Nm of torque.
This is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with drive sent through an all-wheel drive system.
Hybrid variants of the 2024 Subaru Forester on the other hand are powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 100kW and 196Nm, mated with an electric motor producing 12kW and 66Nm and a lithium-ion battery pack.
Drive is also sent through a CVT to an all-wheel drive system.
2024 Subaru Forester Colours
What colours are available for the Subaru Forester
The 2024 Subaru Forester is available in the following exterior paint colours, depending on the variant:
- Crystal White Pearl
- Ice Silver Metallic
- Brilliant Bronze Metallic
- Crimson Red Pearl
- Autumn Green Metallic
- Horizon Blue Pearl
- Cascade Green Silica
- Magnetite Grey Metallic
- Crystal Black Silica
- Sapphire Blue Pearl
2024 Subaru Forester Warranty
The 2023 Subaru Forester has a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, plus an eight-year and 160,000km warranty for the Hybrid’s lithium-ion battery.
Subaru offers three- and five-year servicing plans.
Should you buy the 2024 Subaru Forester
Is this the right car for you? Out experts buy or not guide.
Subaru Forester FAQs
The cheapest Subaru Forester is the 2.5X (AWD) that starts from $36,600.
The most expensive Subaru Forester is the HYBRID S (AWD) that starts from $49,300.
The best towing capacity of a Subaru Forester is 1800 kg offered by the following variants: 2.5X (AWD), 2.5i (AWD), 2.5i (AWD) LUXURY, 2.5i-L (AWD), 2.5i PREMIUM (AWD), 2.5i SPORT (AWD), 2.5i-S (AWD) 50 YEARS EDITION, 2.5i-S (AWD) and 2.5i-S (AWD) STI SPORT.
The largest Subaru Forester is the 2.5X (AWD) which measures 1815mm wide, 4640mm in length and sits 1730mm tall.
The most powerful Subaru Forester is the 2.5X (AWD) which has 136kW of power from its 2.5L DIRECT FUEL INJ engine.
The Subaru Forester is built in Japan and shipped to Australia.
The heaviest Subaru Forester is the 2.5X (AWD) which weighs 2223 kg (kerb weight).
The Subaru Forester may use different fuel/energy types based on the variant which includes Unleaded Petrol or Unleaded Petrol-Electric Hybrid.