Subaru is actively working to bolster the availability of Forester Hybrids in Australia ahead of the anticipated launch of a new model in 2025. Last year, Subaru Australia succeeded in securing a greater supply of its Toyota RAV4 Hybrid competitor, and efforts are ongoing to further increase availability and reduce wait times.
“We actually doubled our supply on Forester Hybrid last year, and all we’ve been able to do is let’s say manage that lead time as we get more,” explained Subaru Australia managing director Blair Read to CarExpert.
“We’re continuing to work on and again trying to increase that production capacity to meet the customer demand.”
Subaru has made strides in reducing wait times from 9-10 months to 4-6 months, and the company is optimistic that the increased supply achieved last year sets the stage for further improvements in availability.
Despite the current Forester nearing the end of its lifecycle, demand remains strong, especially with the promise of a new model featuring a likely more efficient hybrid powertrain in 2025.
The existing Forester Hybrid is equipped with a 2.0-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine generating 100 kW of power and 196 Nm of torque, paired with a 12 kW/66 Nm electric motor and a battery pack.
However, its combined cycle fuel economy of 6.7L/100km falls short compared to rivals like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD, which achieves 4.8L/100km.
Despite facing stiff competition, Subaru enjoyed its best sales year in Australia, delivering 16,381 Forester units in 2023, surpassing the previous record set in 2019. Hybrid variants contributed 8.5 percent of Forester sales, while hybrids made up 6.5 percent of new Crosstrek sales.
“We are always reviewing that in terms of the mix. It’s something that’s on the radar but not in the definitive stage at this point, but we’re watching,” noted Mr. Read.
In contrast, rival hybrid SUVs such as the Nissan X-Trail, GWM Haval H6, and the segment-leading Toyota RAV4 (86.6 percent hybrid) have seen greater adoption rates.
Although Subaru offers hybrid versions of the Crosstrek and Forester in Australia, there is currently no Impreza Hybrid available, despite its availability in Japan as a competitor to the Toyota Corolla Hybrid.