SK · 2018–2025
Subaru Global Platform arrives; hybrids and turbos stay overseas.
Presented March 28, 2018, the fifth generation moved to the Subaru Global Platform, with US power staying naturally aspirated (FB25 DI, 182 hp / 176 lb-ft, CVT-only). Europe got a Forester e-Boxer mild hybrid (March 2019) pairing a modified FB20 (148 hp) with a 16 hp electric motor; Japan got a JDM-exclusive Forester Sport (October 2020) using a CB18 1.8L turbo (174 hp, 221 lb-ft) — neither offered in the US. A September 2021 facelift added fourth-generation EyeSight and the off-road-focused Wilderness trim (0.5 in lift, 9.2 in total ground clearance).
US-market power stayed naturally aspirated (FB25 DI); Europe and Japan received meaningfully different powertrains this generation — a clear US-vs-global divergence.
CoverageGeneration tracer-bullet · 23 July 2026
Powertrain
Engine options
| Engine | Years | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|
| FB25 DI (US) | 2018–2025 | 182 hp | 176 lb-ft |
| e-Boxer Mild Hybrid (Europe) | 2019–2025 | 148 hp (gasoline engine) + 16 hp electric motor | Not researched |
| CB18 Turbo (JDM, Forester Sport) | 2020–2025 | 174 hp | 221 lb-ft |
Configuration
Trims and transmissions
The US did not get a Forester hybrid option at all until the following (SL) generation — the SK-era e-Boxer and CB18 turbo were both non-US-exclusive powertrains during their introduction.
Identify & buy
Identification and ownership notes
A Wilderness badge on this generation dates to the September 2021 facelift or later; a CB18-badged engine bay indicates a JDM-only Forester Sport, never sold in the US.