There are a few approaches competitors have taken to creating their hybrid compact SUVs, but one thing’s consistent: None are geared toward off-roading. Toyota fits its RAV4 hybrid with a gas engine assisted by two motors spinning the front axle, with a third motor living by itself on the rear axle and turning the rear tires as needed (the combination enabling all-wheel drive). Honda routes its two-motor hybrid setup’s power through a traditional all-wheel-drive system to all four tires, as does Hyundai’s Tucson and Kia’s Sportage, but no current CR-V, Tucson, or Sportage so equipped can be described as adventurous. Not Subaru. Uninterested in compromising its identity as a builder of rough-and-tumble crossovers, the company instead keeps the Forester’s substantial ground clearance and symmetrical AWD intact in the hybrid model. The full-time system uses front, rear, and center differentials to deliver constant, varying amounts of power to each wheel.Powering that system is a 2.5-liter flat-four that, unlike in the regular Forester, runs on the Atkinson combustion cycle for improved efficiency, and it’s joined by a motor-generator unit and a larger traction motor. A continuously variable automatic transmission handles ratio changes. Power increases over the standard Forester, if modestly—by only 14 hp—but more is always better, and most people will appreciate the hybrid’s efficiency. Honda and Toyota hybrid compact SUV competitors still get better fuel economy, but the gas-electric Forester makes significant headway compared to them. The Subaru matches the hybrid CR-V AWD’s 34 mpg highway rating and earns a combined 35 mpg, only 2 mpg off its rivals’ combined mpgs. The Forester Hybrid also uses a relatively large 16.6-gallon fuel tank like the gas model, while the RAV4 uses a 14.5-gallon tank, and the CR-V runs a 14-gallon tank. Partly because of the enhanced reservoir, the Forester Hybrid's driving range is an estimated 581 miles compared to the RAV4’s 536 miles and CR-V’s 518 miles. The Forester’s hybrid system relies on a lithium-ion battery that’s located under the trunk floor. Subaru hasn’t released its capacity yet, but we’re told it’s the same size battery that’s in the Crosstrek Hybrid, so figure on 1.1 kWh. The battery’s location meant eliminating the SUV’s spare tire and giving it a standard tire repair kit instead. This Forester’s suspension is also slightly stiffer in the rear to account for the added weight of the battery. Interior measurements are the same between gas and hybrid models, though. Floor height is unchanged, and about the only differences in specs between the SUVs are curb weight and ramp breakover angle. Of course, the hybrid is heavier (depending on trim, in some cases almost 300 pounds heavier) but it’s also capable of only 19.3 degrees of breakover compared to the gas model’s 19.6 degrees. A 19-degree approach angle and 24.6-degree departure angle (24.7 degrees for the Sport and Touring models) is the same between gas and hybrid. See All 54 PhotosFancy Vibes, Entering its sixth generation, the 2025 Subaru Forester receives some meaningful updates, but the result is a more generic-feeling SUV that lacks driving verve., Discover the Subaru Forester’s specs and trims to find the right features for you. Choose options that deliver the performance, safety, and style you need..