After an hour of errands — and questioning all my life choices — the 2026 Subaru Forester proved comfy, competent, and cavernous. It’s the automotive equivalent of that wholesome country lad who’ll carry your groceries, pat your dog, and quietly judge your coffee order.
The hybrid setup borrows heavily from Toyota’s homework. Forester wafts around in EV mode often, yet never truly feels like an EV. Coming straight from Nissan’s e‑Power and BYD’s Shark 6 — both of which wallop you with instant series‑hybrid grunt — the Forester feels more… politely enthusiastic.
Despite Subaru’s claim that both petrol and hybrid models use a Lineartronic CVT, the hybrid actually swaps in a planetary‑gear e‑CVT. Petrol versions still rely on the classic “pair of cotton reels and an elastic band.” The e‑CVT can get the flat‑four rowdy under a heavy right foot, but whether it’s wringing every last drop from its modest 145 kW is anyone’s guess.
AWD differs too. Petrol Foresters use an Active Torque Split system with an electronically controlled clutch juggling power front‑to‑rear. Hybrid (e‑Boxer) models integrate the coupling, drive motor, and front differential into a compact unit as part of the new powertrain.
This electronic control is constantly active, predicting and responding to slip instantly, quietly optimising all four paws for stability, grip, and efficiency. Clever and smooth — though unless you moonlight as a gearbox whisperer, you’ll struggle to spot the difference.
Above: This Week’s VIDEO Review – 2025 Nissan Qashqai Review: Specs, Features & Hybrid Performance
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ABOVE: All New forester
The Looks
Butcher than before — finally — Forester now channels some of new Outback’s rugged wanderlust. Chunkier cladding, bendy headlights, and a stance that says: “I camp, but only if the showers are hot.” It looks ready to chew up a (well‑kept) fire trail for breakfast.
This is the glow‑up Forester needed.
The Cabin
Inside, it’s cosy or cluttered depending on how far you dial down your OCD. Surfaces, textures, shapes and asymmetry will either delight you or trigger a midnight cleaning frenzy. The shield‑style centre stack makes more sense in person, but minimalists should avert their eyes.
Seats are comfy, covered in outdoorsy water‑repellent trim — a nice “keepin’‑it‑real” touch versus the range‑topper’s leather “accents.” Set heating, yes. Seat cooling is reserved for the range-topper. The hands‑free tailgate opens to a generous cargo space, ready for eskies, snow gear, or that overly keen ski bunny you collected at Perisher.
The Drive
Forester feels familiar in all the right ways. The boxer engine purrs, with the electric motor adding a polite nudge rather than a shove. Subaru refuses to put proper grunt into anything that isn’t a WRX, so 145 kW means “brisk” rather than “brace yourself, Brenda.”
Steering is a treat: just the right feedback, backed by a small army of safety nannies. Ride quality remains Forester’s secret sauce — plush without float, composed without stiffness.
But yes, the CVT still has a whiff of rubber‑band about it.
Forester still isn’t a hardcore off‑roader, but it’ll tackle mud, snow, and moderately adventurous escapades with grace — and that classic Subaru wholesomeness fans love.
The Market, The Numbers – Thoe Not So Good Stuff
Forester doesn’t do anything wrong, but in 2026’s hyper‑competitive market it risks feeling safe to a fault. Want the full LCD cockpit? Only on the top trims. Want cooled seats? Pony up for the range‑topper.
At this price, there are AWD EVs, larger hybrids, and rivals drowning in tech. The field has tightened to the point of strangulation, and the ghosts of Holden past are whispering “read the room, babe.”
Hybrids are booming — up 25% year‑on‑year. PHEVs have exploded by almost 100%. Chinese brands are up 40%, stuffing their cars with tech like it’s Mardi Gras. Petrol‑only cars are sliding, SUVs are surging, and buyers are chasing more features for less money. BYD now holds 4.1% of the market, up from 1.6% last year — enough to spook the top 10. Subaru, Honda and VW were once in that club; now replaced by three Chinese brands, with Chery Tiggo Pro up 457%.
Passenger cars once held 80% of the market. The slide picked up pace, and boom — TICK‑TICK people! Can you say “Chinese competition?”
And this is where legacy brands aren’t meeting the market. New brands are hurling value and tech at buyers with the enthusiasm of a drag queen firing a confetti cannon, while Subaru still offers cooled seats only if you climb the price tree. The huge BYD Shark 6 PHEV ute is the same price as the Forester Sport Hybrid. Sure, it is a different kettle of fish, but it has 30kWh battery with 100km of EV range, DC fast charging, can power a campsite for days, has 6 household power sockets, 321kw/650Nm of on-road (off-road) power, and is a series hybrid with no transmission whatever. It has a head up display, cooled seats, a 14” rotating centre screen, and is a full off-road 4×4. Put a canopy on the back and guess what? You have an SUV. The year-old BYD sold 15,181 to Octboer giving the newcomer a 8.5% market share in the most hotly contested segment there is. 2 of its members are numbers 1 and 2 in the top 10 sellers in the country – say no more.
FCAI data makes it obvious: shoppers are less patient, pickier, and more price conscious; legacy brands can’t play it safe anymore.
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