The 2025 Subaru Forester has launched in South Africa. Here’s a look at what’s changed and how much this capable family SUV costs.
- Pricing starts from R699 000, the same as the outgoing model
- Four derivatives offered in South Africa
- New safety tech and convenience features
The Subaru Forester is now in its 6th generation and has just gone on sale in South Africa. It will be available in four trim derivatives; Field, Touring, Sport, Premium and pricing starts from R699 000, which is identical to the outgoing model.
In terms of sizing, the 2025 Subaru Forest is 4 655 mm long, 1 830 mm wide and has a height of 1 730 mm. As before, the ground clearance is impressive at 220 mm, which is higher than some dedicated off-roaders like the Suzuki Jimny. It boasts approach and departure angles of 20.4 and 25.8 degrees, respectively.
New for this model is a safety feature where the vehicle will try alert the driver by pulsing the brakes if it detects no steering inputs and if there’s no response (in the event of the driver falling asleep/medical emergency), the car will automatically come to a stop, unlock the doors and flash the hazard lights.
Also making its debut is the ability to swipe your foot under the rear bumper to open the powered tailgate. Finally, the fabled Subaru Eyesight safety system has been upgraded with a larger field of view.
Engine and Efficiency
The naturally aspirated 2.5-litre Boxer engine makes 136 kW and 247 Nm, and drives all four wheels permanently via a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Subaru claims a fuel consumption figure of 7.9 L/100 km.
Customers have 11 colours to choose from. Every derivative comes standard with the following convenience items:
- X-Mode offroad system
- Smart entry, push button start
- 6-speaker audio system
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto/Bluetooth
- Dual-zone climate control
- LED headlights with LED cornering lamps
- 9 airbags
- Subaru Eyesight (Adaptive cruise control, emergency driving stop system)
Trim Levels
Field
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto via cable
- Cloth trim
- Front USB charging points
- 2x 7-inch screens
Touring
- 11-inch infotainment screen
- Wireless charging pad
- Wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Front & Rear USB
- Driver power seat with lumbar support
- Passenger power seat
- Powered rear tailgate with kick sensor
- Front fog lamps
Sport
- Water resistant trim
- Electric sunroof
- 360 degree camera system
- 18-inch alloys in dark metallic
- Green accents
Premium
- Heated steering wheel
- 10-speaker Harmon Kardon audio with subwoofer
- Leather trim
- Solid roof rails
- Driver monitoring system
How much does the 2025 Subaru Forester cost in South Africa?
| Forester Field | R699 000 |
| Forester Touring | R740 000 |
| Forester Sport | R790 000 |
| Forester Premium | R830 000 |
The new Subaru Forester is sold with a 5 year/150 000 km warranty and a 3 year/75 000 km maintenance plan.
Further Reading
Want to buy a new or used Subaru? Browse vehicles for sale
Read the latest Subaru news and reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the 2025 Subaru Forester cost in South Africa?
The starting price for the 2025 Subaru Forester is R699 000 for the Field derivative. The Touring costs R740 000, the Sport is R790 000, and the top-of-the-range Premium is R830 000.
What engine powers the new Forester?
The 2025 Subaru Forester is powered by a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated Boxer engine that produces 136 kW and 247 Nm. It comes standard with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and Subaru’s permanent all-wheel-drive system.
What are the key new safety features in the 2025 Forester?
The new Forester introduces a safety feature that can detect a driver’s unresponsiveness (e.g., in a medical emergency) and will automatically bring the car to a stop. The Subaru Eyesight safety system has also been upgraded with a larger field of view.
What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Subaru Forester?
Subaru claims the new Forester has a fuel consumption figure of 7.9 L/100 km.
What is the ground clearance of the new Forester?
The 2025 Subaru Forester has an impressive ground clearance of 220 mm.
