The Forester Goes Local
In 2024, Subaru said that the next-generation Forester would be built at its Indiana plant. Now, as automakers face growing pressure from higher import tariffs, that decision ended up timely, with both the gas and hybrid Forester officially in production.
The current-gen Forester marks the first time the nameplate has been built locally since it debuted in 1997. It also represents the first hybrid produced at the Indiana plant, which assembles the Ascent and Crosstrek as well. Adding the Forester is unlikely to significantly increase the facility’s workload, particularly after the discontinuation of the Legacy, which ended a 36-year production run in the U.S.
More Than Just an Address Change
With production localized, the Subaru Forester stands to benefit from lower trade risks, “Built in America” branding, and a faster response to U.S. demand after decades of being produced in Japan. More importantly, these advantages could help make the model more competitive in the compact crossover segment, particularly against rivals such as the all-new Jeep Cherokee.
The 2026 Forester is offered in six trims: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Touring, and the off-road-oriented Wilderness. The Wilderness model adds features such as a raised suspension with 9.3 inches of ground clearance and 17-inch wheels wrapped in Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires. Meanwhile, the hybrid version – which uses a 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine and Toyota‘s hybrid tech – is available in the Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring trims.
Subaru also highlights the latest generation of its EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, an SAE Level 2 driver-assistance system comparable in function to Ford’s BlueCruise. Complementing this, the Forester has earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating—the highest safety designation awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
A Measured Approach to Going Electric
Speaking about the Forester hybrid’s localized production, Scott Brand, president and chief operating officer of the Indiana plant, said, “Bringing hybrid vehicle assembly to our facility has been in the works for five years.” He added, “Seeing the start of mass production is highly rewarding and represents the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work by our associates.”
While the Indiana plant has begun transitioning toward electrification, Subaru’s new battery-electric vehicle (BEV) models are still produced in Japan. Following the brand’s first BEV, the Solterra, the automaker will introduce a smaller model called the Uncharted, while the Trailseeker will slot into the midsize segment, putting it against the likes of the Honda Prologue.
