Subaru buyers seem to favor the previous generation Forester over the redesigned 2025 model

The 2025 Subaru Forester may have arrived at US dealerships this spring, but its predecessor is stealing the spotlight. The 2024 model is surprisingly sold out at most dealerships halfway through the year. This unexpected surge in demand is particularly notable given that the newer model is already available.
Buyers are typically attracted to newly redesigned vehicles with updated features. As a result, companies often provide generous incentives for the remaining older models in dealer inventories. Interestingly, this wasn’t the case with the 2024 Subaru Forester. Despite the arrival of the redesigned 2025 model, demand for the outgoing version has been unexpectedly strong.
According to Cars Direct, out of the 9,400 Subaru Forester listings in the U.S., only 950 are for the 2024 model year. This means that the 2025 model year makes up 90 percent of the available Foresters at Subaru dealerships.
We contacted Subaru for a comment on their inventory, and they confirmed that there are “very few remaining examples” of the 2024 Forester at dealerships nationwide.
Official data shows that Forester sales soared by 51.4 percent in the first half of 2024, with 92,849 units sold compared to 61,310 units during the same period last year. The 2024 model year significantly contributed to this increase, with 48,546 units sold in the first quarter alone, just before the 2025 model year was released.

What makes an SUV that has remained largely unchanged since the 2022 facelift so appealing? One could argue that the polarizing exterior design of the new generation is driving buyers towards its predecessor, despite improvements in chassis and technology.
It’s also likely that pricing plays a significant role in why people continue to buy the older model. The entry-level 2025 Forester starts at $29,695, which is $2,600 more expensive than the model it replaces. Similarly, price increases range from $1,700 to $2,630 across the rest of the lineup, except for the Wilderness trim, which has been carried over from last year.

Subaru is currently offering 4.9 percent APR financing for 36 months on the 2025 model year. In contrast, the 2024 model year comes with a more attractive 2.9 percent APR for 72 months. Leasing deals are also similar: $329 per month with a $3,229 downpayment for the 2025 model, compared to $309 per month with a $3,134 downpayment for the 2024 model (both offers are for a 36-month lease).
The bottom line is, if you’re in the market for a 2024 Subaru Forester, you should act quickly and get one while you still can.