2025 Subaru Forester launched in Japan – 1.8L turbo, 2.5L hybrid, world’s first cyclist airbag, fr RM125k

You’d think that a Japanese carmaker would reserve its cars’ debuts for their home country, but Subaru doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo – its sixth-generation Forester arrives in Japan a full 18 months after it was first shown in the US. However, the island nation does get a few choice upgrades to make up for the delay.

For a start, while the sole petrol model in America is the base 2.5 litre naturally-aspirated flat-four, Japan receives a far more exciting-sounding 1.8 litre direct injection turbo (DIT) flat-four. As expected, it makes slightly less power (177 PS from 5,200 to 5,600 rpm) but quite a bit more torque (300 PS between 1,600 to 3,600 rpm), mated as always to a Lineartronic CVT and Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.

The S:HEV hybrid model that was introduced in the US earlier this year remains, utilising a 2.5 litre Atkinson-cycle naturally-aspirated mill, also with direct injection. In this tune, it produces 160 PS at 5,600 rpm and 209 Nm from 4,000 to 4,400 rpm, which is then combined with a Toyota-sourced Strong Hybrid system with a 119.6 PS/270 Nm electric traction motor for a total output of 197 PS.

Subaru quotes a WLTP-rated fuel consumption figure of up to 18.8 km per litre, versus 13.6 km per litre for the petrol model. Unlike Toyota hybrids, the Forester still uses a mechanical all-wheel-drive system to power the rear wheels instead of a separate rear motor.

The other new feature is a larger pedestrian airbag, the world’s first designed to protect cyclists. A U-shaped ‘bag wraps around the A-pillars to offer greater protection to cyclists’ heads, which tend to strike the car in a different position to a pedestrian’s in an accident.

The Forester has also been engineered with a wider bumper beam and a collision subframe for increased energy absorption efficiency in a collision. On hybrid models, the power control unit (PCU) has also been moved to the front, which not only allows the fuel tank to be larger (and the range to be increased) but also improves crash safety.

Meanwhile, the EyeSight driver assistance system gains a new wide-angle centre camera and front-side radar sensors to expand the operation of the autonomous emergency braking. The new Forester is also the first to come with EyeSight X, enabling hands-free semi-autonomous driving in highway traffic jams.

On the outside, the Japanese Forester is practically identical to the US model, meaning you still get a rather uninspiring blocky design with a large hexagonal grille, sweptback headlights with eyebrow-style daytime running lights, inverted L-shaped taillights joined by a black bar and more hexagonal elements in the wheel arches, bumpers and even the glasshouse shape. The car is available with wheel sizes measuring up to 19 inches in diameter, and you also get 11 colours to choose from, including a new River Rock Pearl.

The hexagonal motif continues on the inside, adorning the air vents, the gearlever base and even the door cards. Dominating proceedings is of course a large 11.6-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen that incorporates the air-con controls, joining a 12.3-inch digital instrument display. A Harman Kardon sound system is available, replete with a 200 mm subwoofer in the boot.

Subaru has paid particular attention to outward visibility, lowering the bonnet corners and A-pillar base, making the door mirrors smaller and redesigning the wipers to reduce obstruction. The bottom edge of the rear quarter windows has also been lowered to improve off-shoulder visibility.

The cabin also comes with some cool Easter eggs, such as a hummingbird graphic in the rear quarter windows and optional panoramic glass sunroof, as well as Mount Akagi in the rear windscreen. Elsewhere, the seats have been redesigned to support the pelvis better, while the rails are now fixed directly to the car body itself to reduce shaking. Upholstery options include a water-repellent tricot fabric, Nappa leather and Ultrasuede and, on the turbo Sport model, Ultrasuede and faux leather.

Cargo space is said to be largely identical to the previous model (around 500 litres), and you also get cargo hooks, “utility nuts” for affixing accessories such as bars and racks, and an optional hands-free powered tailgate. Last but not least is a rugged X-Break trim level, available only with the hybrid powertrain and coming with colour-coded exterior and interior bits, beefier roof rails and water-repellent faux leather seats.

Pricing starts at 4,048,000 yen (RM125,300) for the base Sport turbo, rising up to 4,202,000 yen (RM130,100) for the X-Break S:HEV and 4,488,000 yen (RM139,000) for the full-spec Premium S:HEV. EyeSight X adds between 110,000 yen (RM3,400) to 275,000 yen (RM8,500) to each variant.

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