2026 Subaru Forester Review: To Hybrid or Not To Hybrid?

The Subaru Forester is an absolute institution in Australia. For nearly 30 years, it has been the go-to choice for active families, weekend campers, and dog owners who value bulletproof reliability and genuine all-weather traction over flashy styling. But the medium SUV segment moves incredibly fast. Aggressive rivals like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid have absolutely dominated the sales charts by offering stellar fuel economy. Now, Subaru is fighting back with the all-new 2026 Forester. It brings a completely fresh design, heavily upgraded cabin tech, and crucially, a brand-new hybrid powertrain co-developed with Toyota.

At first glance, you might think not much has changed. The new Forester retains that signature boxy silhouette and vast glasshouse that gives it the best visibility in the class. But underneath the skin, it is a vastly different beast. The big question for buyers is this: should you stick with the proven, naturally aspirated 2.5-litre petrol engine, or fork out the extra cash for the new e-Boxer hybrid system? Does the hybrid actually save you enough money at the bowser to justify its premium? And does it still perform off-road when the tarmac ends?

Priced from $43,490 before on-road costs, the new Forester is no longer the cheap-and-cheerful option it once was. But it still undercuts several key rivals while offering Subaru’s legendary permanent symmetrical all-wheel drive as standard across the board. In this YEECAR 3.0 road test, we dive deep into both powertrains, test the new 11.6- inch infotainment system, and take it bush to see if this new generation deserves a spot in your driveway.

HOW MUCH DOES THE 2026 SUBARU FORESTER COST?

Subaru has simplified the Forester lineup for 2026, offering clear choices between the standard petrol engine and the new hybrid powertrain. While prices have crept up, the Forester remains highly competitive against the Toyota RAV4,  Hyundai Tucson,  and  Mazda  CX-5, especially since every single variant comes with all-wheel drive as standard.

The range kicks off at $43,490 before on-roads for the base petrol AWD. Even at this entry point, you get 18-inch alloys, LED headlights, the big 11.6-inch touchscreen, and wireless Apple CarPlay. Stepping up to the Premium grade ($46,490) adds a power tailgate, built-in navigation, and power-adjustable front seats. Interestingly, you can buy the entry-level Hybrid for exactly the same price as the petrol Premium, forcing buyers to choose between hybrid fuel savings or extra luxury features.

The Sport grades ($48,490 petrol / $54,990 hybrid) are aimed squarely at active families. They feature tough dark metallic wheels, water-repellent upholstery, and an advanced dual-mode X-Mode system for serious off-roading. Finally, the flagship Touring grades ($50,990 petrol / $55,990 hybrid) pile on the luxury with leather and suede trim, ventilated front seats, and a cracking 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

WHAT IS THE 2026 SUBARU FORESTER LIKE ON THE INSIDE INCLUDING DIMENSION?

Jump inside the new Forester, and current Subaru owners will feel instantly at home. Subaru hasn't reinvented the wheel here; they have simply refined a layout that already works brilliantly. The build quality feels incredibly solid. The doors close with a heavy thud, and the materials used across the dashboard feel built to last a decade of family abuse.

The biggest upgrade is the new 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen mounted in the center of the dash. It completely modernizes the cabin, replacing the messy dual-screen setup of the old car. It runs wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto flawlessly. Subaru has smartly kept the physical buttons for adjusting the cabin temperature and stereo volume, meaning you don't have to take your eyes off the road to change the fan speed.

In the Touring models, the cabin feels genuinely premium. The seats are wrapped in synthetic leather and suede with contrast stitching. They offer heating, ventilation, and excellent long-distance support. If you have kids or dogs, the Sport grade is the one to get. Its seats are wrapped in a special water-repellent material that you can simply wipe clean after a muddy weekend hike.

Dimensions and Practicality

The  Forester's  boxy,  upright  exterior  styling  pays  massive  dividends  when  it  comes  to  interior  space.  It  feels incredibly open and airy inside.

In the second row, knee room and toe room are excellent, even behind a tall driver. Thanks to the tall, flat roofline, headroom is absolutely brilliant. You can comfortably fit three adults across the back bench for short trips. Rear passengers get their own directional air vents, USB-C and USB-A charging ports, map pockets, and a fold-down armrest. The rear doors also feature hidden safety reinforcement pins—a clever structural design that protects passengers in a side-impact crash.

Boot space is highly practical. The tailgate opening is incredibly wide, making it easy to slide bulky items like mountain bikes or camping fridges inside. The petrol models offer 496 litres of space and, crucially, include a full- size spare wheel under the floor. If you opt for the Hybrid, boot space drops slightly to 484 litres. Because the high- voltage battery sits under the floor, you lose the spare tyre completely, making do with a flimsy puncture repair kit instead. If you do a lot of remote country driving, this is a major factor to consider.

WHAT'S UNDER THE BONNET?

For 2026, buyers have a massive choice to make: stick with the tried-and-tested standard petrol engine or upgrade to the all-new hybrid system.

The standard powertrain is Subaru's famous 2.5-litre naturally aspirated flat-four 'Boxer' engine. It produces 136kW of power and 247Nm of torque, paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). It is a highly reliable setup that has been powering Subaru vehicles for years.

The big news is the new e-Boxer Hybrid. Subaru has partnered with Toyota to borrow their world-leading hybrid technology and adapt it to the Boxer engine layout. The 2.5-litre engine is slightly detuned, but it is heavily assisted by a powerful 90kW electric motor. Combined, the system produces  145kW of power.  Unlike the Toyota  RAV4 Hybrid  (which  uses  an  electric  motor  on  the  rear  axle  to  provide  AWD),  the  Forester  Hybrid  retains  a  true, mechanical permanent all-wheel-drive system linking all four wheels.

Towing capacity is something to watch carefully. The standard petrol Forester can tow up to 1800kg. However, if you choose the Hybrid, that capacity drops significantly to just 1200kg, which restricts you to towing very light camper trailers or small box trailers.

HOW DOES THE 2026 SUBARU FORESTER DRIVE?

The driving experience differs quite a  bit depending on which  powertrain you choose,  but  both  models  retain Subaru’s legendary road-holding capability.

The Petrol Experience

Driving the standard 2.5-litre petrol Forester is a familiar, comfortable affair. It isn't going to win any traffic-light drag races, but it offers plenty of everyday punch for suburban driving. The CVT automatic is smooth and predictable at low speeds. The only real downside is the engine noise. When you put your foot down to overtake on the highway, the CVT holds the engine at high revs, causing a loud, droning noise to fill the cabin.  It feels a bit old-school compared to modern turbocharged rivals.

The Hybrid Experience

The new e-Boxer Hybrid is a massive step forward. Around the city, it takes off in complete electric silence. The electric motor provides instant, punchy torque, making the car feel much livelier and more responsive at low speeds than the standard petrol. It transitions between electric and petrol power very smoothly. It also features steering- wheel paddles that allow you to adjust the harshness of the regenerative braking, harvesting energy back into the battery as you slow down. Overall, the Hybrid is simply a quieter, faster, and more refined car to drive.

Ride, Handling, and Off-Road Prowess

Regardless of the engine, the Forester handles Australian roads brilliantly. The suspension is tuned for comfort, soaking up nasty potholes, speed humps, and corrugated dirt roads with incredible ease. The steering is light and accurate, and visibility out of the massive windows is the best in the business. The permanent Symmetrical AWD system provides unrelenting grip. Even in torrential rain, the Forester feels glued to the tarmac.

Take it off-road, and the Forester completely destroys its rivals. With 220mm of ground clearance and the brilliant X- Mode system, it can tackle deep mud, rutted tracks, and steep, slippery inclines without breaking a sweat. The hill descent control automatically walks the car down steep drops safely. If you regularly drive on dirt roads or snowy mountains, this AWD system puts the Forester in a league of its own.

WHAT ARE THE STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR EACH VARIANT?

Subaru packs a lot of standard value into the Forester range. You do not need to buy the top-spec model to get a well-equipped family car.

2026 Subaru Forester AWD Standard Equipment:

• 18-inch alloy wheels with full-size spare tyre

• Automatic steering-responsive LED headlights and LED fog lights

• Ladder-style roof rails and power-folding exterior mirrors

• 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen infotainment system

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto

• Wireless smartphone charging pad

• Dual-zone climate control with rear passenger air vents

• Cloth seat upholstery with heated front seats

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and proximity keyless entry

• X-Mode (single mode) and Hill Descent Control

Forester AWD Premium Adds:

• Hands-free power tailgate with kick sensor

• 8-way power-adjustable driver and passenger seats

• Built-in satellite navigation

• Auto-dipping passenger-side mirror for parking

Forester AWD Sport Adds:

• Dark metallic 18-inch alloy wheels

• Electric power sunroof

• Water-repellent synthetic leather upholstery

• Advanced X-Mode (two selectable off-road modes)

• Black front grille and exterior green accents

Forester AWD Touring Adds:

• Gloss black exterior styling accents

• Low-profile roof rails

• Leather and suede upholstery (available in black or brown)

• Ventilated front seats for cooling

• Premium 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system with subwoofer

*Hybrid  variants  mirror  the  equipment  levels  of  their  petrol  counterparts  but  add  a  digital  instrument  cluster, regenerative braking paddles, and a tyre repair kit in place of the spare wheel.

IS THE 2026 SUBARU FORESTER SAFE?

Subaru’s reputation is built on safety, and the 2026 Forester is one of the safest family vehicles on the market. It holds a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating based on strict 2024 testing protocols. It is packed with 9 airbags, including a front-passenger seat cushion airbag and a far-side airbag to stop front occupants from colliding in a crash.

Standard Safety Equipment Highlights:

• Autonomous Emergency Braking (Forward and Reverse)

• Adaptive Cruise Control

• Blind-Spot Monitoring

• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

• Lane Centring and Lane-Keep Assist

• Emergency Lane-Keep Assist and Lane Change Assist

• Driver Monitoring System

• Traffic Sign Recognition

• Surround-View 360-Degree Camera

• Front and Rear Parking Sensors

• Tyre Pressure Monitoring

The  EyeSight  camera  system works flawlessly on the  highway,  keeping the  car  perfectly centered  in  its  lane. However, the internal driver monitoring camera is incredibly sensitive. It will chime and beep at you if you look down to change the radio station or check your side mirrors for too long. It is a fantastic safety net, but the constant alert noises can get slightly annoying on a long road trip.

HOW MUCH DOES THE 2026 SUBARU FORESTER COST TO RUN?

When it comes to running costs, the new hybrid system is the big talking point. But does it actually deliver Toyota- beating efficiency?

Subaru claims the standard petrol model will use 7.9L/100km. During our real-world mixed driving, we saw figures between 9.0L and  10.0L/100km.  It  is a bit thirsty around town, mostly due to the heavy full-time AWD system dragging all four wheels.

The new Hybrid model claims 6.2L/100km. In reality, it returns just over 7.0L/100km. Yes, it is noticeably more efficient than the standard petrol version, especially in heavy stop-start city traffic. However, it still falls short of the benchmark Toyota  RAV4 AWD  Hybrid, which  routinely achieves under 5.0L/100km in the real world. Still, both Subaru engines happily run on cheap 91 RON regular unleaded fuel, saving you money at the pump.

Warranty Coverage and Servicing

Subaru provides a very solid ownership package:

• Vehicle Warranty: 5 Years / Unlimited Kilometres

• Roadside Assistance: 12 Months Complimentary

• Service Intervals: 12 Months or 15,000 Kilometres

• 5-Year Capped-Price Servicing: $2,299 Total ($459.80 average per year)

The 15,000km service intervals are very generous, and the capped-price servicing total of $2,299 over five years makes it a highly predictable and affordable SUV to maintain.

YEECAR’S VERDICT ON THE 2026 SUBARU FORESTER:

The 2026 Subaru Forester doesn't tear up the rulebook. Instead, it carefully polishes a winning formula. It  remains incredibly spacious, fantastically comfortable, and boasts a permanent AWD system that leaves its front-drive-biased competitors spinning their wheels in the dirt.

The new e-Boxer Hybrid is definitely the superior powertrain to drive. It is quieter, smoother, and packs a much better punch around town. But buyers need to be aware of the compromises: the hybrid costs $3,000 more, it drops towing capacity to 1200kg, and you lose the brilliant full-size spare tyre. If you regularly head out bush, the standard petrol Forester Sport ($48,490) with its water-repellent seats and full spare wheel is probably still the smarter buy.

However, if you mainly stick to the city and want the quietest, most refined drive possible, the Hybrid is a massive step up.  While it might not match the outright fuel efficiency of a RAV4, its unmatched visibility, brilliant safety tech, and unstoppable wet-weather grip make the Forester one of the most dependable family SUVs on the market today.