All of us gearheads are typically the front line for questions from family and friends regarding cars. What’s this noise? Which one should I buy? Did I get a good deal? The standard stuff. It’s sometimes a good reminder that not everyone out there is looking for some tire burning, organ shifting, exhaust bellowing beast to jump into and test the limits of every day. Most normal people just want something comfortable, reliable, decent on gas, that can provide some utility. That’s where the 2026 Subaru Forester Hybrid comes in. We drove this car in its top Touring trim and for a price tag in the middle $40,000 range, there’s a great case to be made for the Forester hybrid to anyone asking what new cars they should check out, especially if they’re not enthusiasts.
That last line may come off as some sort of a shot but it really isn’t. The 2026 Subaru Forester Hybrid is about doing all the fundamental car stuff right and delivering that fundamental driving experience that most people want. It is quiet, it has great visibility, it has enough ride height to feel traditional SUV adjacent, and with the Touring trim package it is comfortable and classy.
The hybrid system here adds a few things, for starters it takes the 180hp 2.5L engine and creates a 194hp total package while also bolstering torque and the responsiveness of the Forester. It also takes the rated mileage pretty deep into the 30s with a rating of 34 city and 35mpg highway. Those are solid numbers and it’s this kind of bread and butter stuff that the typical Subaru buyer is seeking.
With the tall roof and a massive rear hatch, usable space is more than generous. The Forester has the benefit of a lower loading height while still delivering huge volume in comparison to other SUVs. There is a HUGE difference between the normally cramped, too full of compromises CUV and a Forester. THIS is the larger and more functional option.
The interior of the 2026 Subaru Forester Hybrid is much like the rest of the Forester in that it’s good, it’s not controversial, it’s not emotionally stirring or really even inspiring enough to generate a passionate opinion from us. That does not mean it is bad, quite the opposite. The interior is comfortable, the dash is very nicely laid out and the center screen is really big, which we like. All of it works just like you’d want it to. No drama, no quirks, no hidden functions, buttons, or tech to transform this lifted station wagon into a WRX. That’s not the point here.
The Forester is not sa drag strip terror with a 0-60 time of just under nine seconds and a quarter mile elapsed time of just under 17 seconds. It is not loud, it doesn’t really ask you to throw it around or challenge it in the corners, it’s just like a well mannered, always willing, and lovable for reasons you cannot quite pinpoint dog.
Car buyers who are not interested in camshaft specs, axle gear ratios, and skid pad numbers are the most massive part of the marketplace and this car speaks to all the things those people, frankly most people, want in their automobile. Good economy, good comfort, good functionality, good price.
Next time you are asked what people should look at you have another option to throw at them. The 2026 Subaru Forester Hybrid didn’t surprise us, but it didn’t let us down either. No drama, no gimmicks, just high function and safe form.
