Subaru Bares Grand Master Plan To Sell More Cars This Year - CarBuzz

The Subaru Forester Hybrid has been officially confirmed for this year, with a price tag that starts at $34,995, signaling the automaker’s entry into the electrified market. Arriving at dealerships this spring, one could argue that this move is rather late, but as they say, better late than never. Plus Subaru’s banking on this strategy to record an almost record-high sales this year.

2025 Subaru Forester

Base MSRP: $29,695
Engine: 2.5L Flat 4 Gas
Horsepower: 180 hp
Torque: 178 lb-ft
Transmission: CVT
Fuel Economy: 26/33/29 mpg

The strategy was revealed by Subaru CFO Katsuyuki Mizuma during the automaker’s quarterly financial results, Automotive News reports. It’s eyeing to move 675,000 vehicles this year in the US, representing a 4.2 percent market share. That’s a tad higher than Subaru’s numbers in 2024 and nearer its all-time highest figures in 2019 at 700,117 units.

“We will produce the Forester in the US for American customers. As a result, we will sell a large number of units. The market share of hybrid vehicles is increasing there, so we would like to increase our market share by introducing our strong hybrid products.”

– Katsuyuki Mizuma, Subaru CFO

Electrified Subaru SUVs Coming

Subaru has long been without a hybrid in its lineup – no, we’re not talking about the expensive, compliance PHEV model that left immediately after the Solterra EV’s arrival in the lineup. That will change with the 2026 Forester Hybrid, which is powered by a more efficient Atkinson cycle 2.5-liter boxer four engine working in concert with electric motors. Total output is rated at 194 horsepower, with a promised 9 mpg improvement in fuel economy.

The Most Important Change Subaru Made To The New Powertrain It Borrowed From Toyota

While Subaru borrowed quite a lot from Toyota for its new powertrain, a couple of key differences set the two versions widely apart.

The Forester will not be the only hybrid Subaru in North America. The all-wheel-drive specialist is also introducing the Crosstrek hybrid later this year for the 2026 model year, with the same setup as the Forester. The automaker has yet to reveal the pricing for the electrified Crosstrek, though it will arrive in showrooms in the fall. Subaru has previously confirmed that it plans to produce the Forester Hybrid stateside, though we have yet to hear if the same thing applies to the Crosstrek.

Reflecting The Hybrid Strategy Of Rivals

The decision to focus on selling hybrids reflects the strategy employed by other Japanese makers, Toyota and Honda. Evidently, it paid off, with both marques recording significant rise in sales of its electrified models. Even Toyota’s premium arm, Lexus, adapted the same approach, now offering a hybrid model across its lineup, outpacing every other Japanese luxury marque in the US by a huge margin. We’ll see by the end of this year whether the same strategy will pay off for Subie.