I have always had a soft spot for Subaru. In the late 1990s and through the 2000s, the brand was a genuine force in South Africa, especially with the Forester and Impreza. Those were the glory days. Subaru showrooms were busy places, sales were strong, and local enthusiasts embraced the brand with the kind of loyalty you simply can’t manufacture.
Today, Subaru is a noticeably smaller player in our market than it once was. Yet what’s interesting is that its popularity among existing fans hasn’t faded. Sales remain modest but steady, mostly unmoved by the wave of new entrants competing for attention. Subaru engineering has always had a sort of understated brilliance, and the people who appreciate that still show up when a new model arrives. That said, Subaru would undoubtedly love to regain some of the momentum it once had here. Until recently, though, the spark needed to reignite that broader affection was somewhat lacking.
This changed with the arrival of the sixth-generation Forester, revealed locally at the 2025 Festival of Motoring. The design is recognisably Forester, which will reassure long-time fans, but it has matured into something visually stronger and more confident. There’s a newfound sense of purpose in its stance, inching it closer to what many consider the premium end of the segment. It looks more muscular without abandoning the upright, spacious shape that has always defined the model.
SENSIBLE YET SPORTY
The Forester’s styling has always stood out in a segment often dominated by flowing curves and softened forms. Subaru has stuck to a more upright, boxier profile that speaks to ruggedness and functionality. This new generation refines that approach well. I may have a well-known bias toward boxy cars, but the Forester wears its shape with confidence. There’s a blend of elegance and toughness that feels unique in its class. The Sport derivative I had on test sits alongside the Field, Touring, and Premium variants in the local line-up. To my mind, the Sport makes the most sense for a wide range of buyers. It brings enough visual flair to feel special, yet it doesn’t push the price into territory that feels unnecessarily aspirational. The exterior’s bright green accent stripes are distinctive without dominating the design. They inject character, give the Sport identity, and make it feel more playful while still fitting neatly into the broader Forester family.
The green accents are mirrored inside, and stitch together a cabin that feels practical and welcoming. Subaru interiors have never chased flamboyance, and that remains true here. Instead, the focus is on durability, ease of use, and ergonomics that simply work. The layout is intuitive, the materials solid, and the visibility excellent. It’s the kind of interior you settle into quickly, then forget about because it’s just that good.
COMMITTED TO SAFETY
A major part of the Forester story has always been safety, and this latest model demonstrates just how committed Subaru remains to that philosophy. The Sport is equipped with the full suite of Subaru’s Eyesight driver-assistance features, and the depth of technology included as standard is impressive. Adaptive cruise control manages speed and distance, pre-collision braking intervenes if a potential impact is detected, and lane departure warning with lane-keep assist helps the driver stay centred. The system also monitors you for signs of unresponsiveness, and if necessary, can bring the car to a stop in an emergency.
Reverse automatic braking is another useful inclusion, especially in tight parking areas. It’s reassuring to know that every Forester sold here comes with these systems without forcing buyers into expensive option packages.
REAL-WORLD USABILITY
Of course, a defining feature of every Subaru is the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. Subaru has been developing and refining this layout since the earliest days of the brand, long before most competitors adopted all-wheel traction. It remains one of the most confidence-inspiring systems on the market. The vehicle’s balance and control on gravel, wet roads, or uneven surfaces feel almost effortless. Yes, all-wheel drive does add weight, and that will never change, but the trade-off is a level of grip and stability that drivers quickly learn to appreciate. The Forester has never claimed to be a performance machine, aside from a few memorable turbocharged versions from the past, but it has always been an SUV you can rely on.
Powering the Sport, as well as every other derivative in the local line-up, is Subaru’s familiar 2.5-litre naturally aspirated Boxer engine. It produces 136 kW and 247 Nm, and while those figures won’t trouble performance-focused SUVs, they are perfectly suited to the Forester’s everyday versatility. The horizontally opposed layout keeps the engine mounted low in the chassis, contributing to the car’s characteristic stability. It also works in harmony with the all-wheel drive system, ensuring predictable weight distribution across all four wheels.
The drivetrain is paired with a continuously variable transmission that prioritises smoothness and steady progress rather than brisk acceleration. The combination of the Boxer engine’s linear power delivery and the constant readiness of the all-wheel drive system makes the Forester feel composed in a wide variety of real-world scenarios.
COMPETITORS WORTH NOTING
In terms of positioning, the Forester Sport competes in a busy arena. Buyers might also consider the Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0TDI Life 4Motion (R774,400), which offers strong diesel torque, or the Chery Tiggo 9 2.0T Vanguard AWD (R779,900), which delivers on styling and generous equipment. Then there’s the Haval H6 GT 1.5T PHEV 4WD Ultra Luxury (R799,900), appealing to drivers exploring electrified options. These alternatives vary significantly in character, power, and drivetrains, yet they show the broad range of choices available at this price point if you’re shopping for a sportier midsize SUV.
LAST WORD
Despite the crowded market, the Subaru Forester 2.5i Sport stands apart through authenticity. It doesn’t rely on trends or theatrics to get its point across, and it doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t. Instead, it offers capability, safety, practicality, and genuine engineering integrity. For returning Subaru fans, the Forester will be a reminder of why the brand once had such a strong following in South Africa. For newcomers, it offers a refreshing alternative to SUVs that promise flash but lack substance.
The Forester Sport won’t dominate sales charts, but that’s never been its mission. Its purpose is to serve drivers who want a dependable, capable, and well-made SUV with a personality all its own. And in that mission, it succeeds brilliantly.
Report by BERNIE HELLBERG JR | Images © SUBARU SOUTH AFRICA
