Subaru Forester Grade Guide: Touring, SPORT EX, X-BREAK, and Premium S:HEV Compared

The 6th-generation Subaru Forester runs a genuinely two-track lineup in Japan: a 1.8L turbo gasoline side (Touring, Touring EX, SPORT EX, SPORT EX Black Selection) and a newly added strong-hybrid e-BOXER side (X-BREAK S:HEV, X-BREAK S:HEV EX, Premium S:HEV EX) — the first time Forester has offered a genuine strong hybrid rather than its old mild-hybrid e-BOXER. Here's how all seven grades actually compare.

📅 6th-generation Forester: Announced in Japan April 17, 2025 · Touring/Touring EX turbo grades added May 21, 2026 🚗 7 grades across 2 powertrains: 1.8L Turbo and Strong Hybrid e-BOXER (S:HEV) 🇯🇵 Japan Domestic Market, All Grades AWD

Quick Grade Comparison Table

All grades are AWD only — Subaru doesn't offer a front-wheel-drive Forester in Japan.

What Changed: May 2026 Update Added Two Cheaper Entry Grades

On May 21, 2026, Subaru added Touring and Touring EX to the 1.8L turbo lineup — new, lower-priced entry points below SPORT EX, at ¥3,850,000 and ¥3,993,000 respectively. Both ride on 18-inch wheels with dark metallic paint and cut-metallic finishing, and carry unpainted black front and rear bumper guards as a distinguishing styling cue versus the SPORT EX grades. This matters for import buyers: a Forester badged "Touring" or "Touring EX" is a genuinely newer addition to the catalog than SPORT EX, so don't assume it's an older or lesser trim just because it's cheaper — it's a deliberately simplified, value-focused turbo grade added after launch.

Two Powertrains, Genuinely Different Characters

1.8L Turbo (Touring / Touring EX / SPORT EX / SPORT EX Black Selection)

A horizontally-opposed 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder rated at 177 PS, paired with a CVT and full-time AWD. WLTC fuel economy across these grades is 13.6 km/L (13.5 km/L on SPORT EX with the optional large sunroof, due to added weight).

Strong Hybrid e-BOXER / S:HEV (X-BREAK S:HEV / X-BREAK S:HEV EX / Premium S:HEV EX)

This is the first Forester generation with a genuine strong hybrid, replacing the old e-BOXER's small mild-hybrid motor with a much more powerful setup: a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine (160 PS) paired with a 120 PS electric motor, sharing its fundamental hybrid system with the Crosstrek S:HEV. The stronger motor extends how far and how often the car can run on electric power alone, which is the main reason fuel economy jumps to 18.5–19.1 km/L WLTC — a meaningful improvement over the old mild-hybrid system, and over the turbo grades' 13.6 km/L.

If fuel economy and everyday electric-assist driving matter most, S:HEV is the clear pick. If outright acceleration feel and a lower entry price matter more, the 1.8L turbo is the more direct, traditionally-powered choice.

Full Grade Breakdown

Touring — New Entry Grade (Turbo)

¥3,850,000

• 1.8L turbo, 177 PS, CVT, AWD
• 4.2-inch multi-information display in the instrument cluster
• Fabric/tricot seats with seat heaters, power front seats
• 18-inch aluminum wheels (dark metallic, cut-metallic finish)
• Unpainted black front/rear bumper guards
• Does not include EyeSight X or the 12.3-inch digital cluster

Touring EX — New Entry Grade, Adds EyeSight X (Turbo)

¥3,993,000

Adds over Touring:

• EyeSight X advanced driver-assist system
• 12.3-inch full LCD instrument cluster
• EyeSight Assist Monitor

SPORT EX — Upper Turbo Grade

¥4,191,000

Adds over Touring EX:

• Ultrasuede®/synthetic leather seats
• Bronze-finished 18-inch wheels
• Hands-free power tailgate
• Wireless smartphone charger
• Optional large sunroof (fuel economy drops slightly to 13.5 km/L with it fitted)

SPORT EX Black Selection — Dark-Styling Special Edition (Turbo)

¥4,301,000

Based on SPORT EX, adds:

• Dark metallic-finished 18-inch wheels
• Dark gray front/rear bumper guards
• Piano-black leather steering wheel and shift lever

X-BREAK S:HEV — Rugged-Styling Entry Hybrid

¥4,378,000

• 2.5L N/A engine (160 PS) + 120 PS motor strong hybrid, CVT, AWD
• Rugged SUV-style exterior with green accents and ladder-type roof rails
• 12.3-inch LCD cluster with power meter
• Hands-free power tailgate
• 1500W AC power outlet
• Water-repellent cargo floor board
• Does not include EyeSight X (notable gap versus the turbo Touring EX and above)

X-BREAK S:HEV EX — Adds EyeSight X to the Rugged Hybrid

¥4,521,000

Adds over X-BREAK S:HEV:

• EyeSight X
• Driver monitoring system
• Automatic driver's seat retraction (slides back for easier entry/exit)

Premium S:HEV EX — Top Grade

¥4,642,000

• 19-inch wheels (largest in the lineup)
• Wireless smartphone charger
• 1500W AC power outlet
• EyeSight X standard
• Optional leather upholstery (standard seats are water-repellent fabric, notably practical rather than purely luxury-focused)

Full Feature Comparison Table

✓ = Standard/Available | ✗ = Not offered. Features sourced directly from Subaru's official grade pages (subaru.jp/forester).

6th-Generation Overview: What's New Since the Previous Forester

Subaru announced the current 6th-generation Forester in Japan on April 17, 2025. While it retains the prior platform, it adopts a full inner frame structure for improved body rigidity and lighter weight. Key updates versus the previous generation:

• Upgraded EyeSight driver-assist with a wide-angle camera
• A pedestrian-protection airbag that also protects cyclists — described by Subaru as a world first for this application
• An 11.6-inch center display, navigation, and ETC2.0 standard across every grade
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster on six of the seven grades (Touring is the sole exception)
• Kick-sensor hands-free power tailgate, standard or optional depending on grade
• Optional large sunroof and Harman Kardon audio with a 200mm subwoofer on applicable grades
• The first genuine strong hybrid e-BOXER/S:HEV powertrain, replacing the old mild-hybrid system

Importing a Subaru Forester

For buyers sourcing a Forester from Japanese auction, a few identification points matter:

• Touring and Touring EX are the newest grades in the lineup, added May 2026 — don't mistake their lower pricing for an older or stripped-down trim; they're a deliberate value play on the current-generation turbo range.
• EyeSight X presence is the fastest way to separate base Touring from everything above it — it's the one feature missing from both Touring and the base X-BREAK S:HEV.
• X-BREAK S:HEV (non-EX) is the only S:HEV grade without EyeSight X — don't assume every hybrid Forester has the full driver-assist suite.
• 19-inch wheels confirm Premium S:HEV EX — every other grade, turbo or hybrid, rides on 18-inch wheels.
• Bronze wheels mean SPORT EX; dark metallic wheels mean SPORT EX Black Selection — the two share nearly everything else, so wheel finish is the quickest visual tell.

Always confirm the exact grade, powertrain, and accident/mechanical history against the chassis number before bidding — hybrid-specific components (battery condition, motor health) are especially worth a close look on S:HEV grades. If you're bidding from overseas, running the chassis number through a Japanese auction sheet and history check before you commit is the safest way to confirm the car in front of you actually matches the grade it's listed under — that's exactly the kind of check we built JPChecker to make simple.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest Subaru Forester grade? Touring, at ¥3,850,000 (tax included), added to the lineup on May 21, 2026 as a new entry-level turbo grade.

What is the difference between Forester's turbo and hybrid (S:HEV) models? The turbo grades (Touring, Touring EX, SPORT EX, SPORT EX Black Selection) use a 1.8L turbo engine (177 PS) with WLTC fuel economy of 13.6 km/L. The S:HEV grades (X-BREAK S:HEV, X-BREAK S:HEV EX, Premium S:HEV EX) use a strong hybrid system — a 2.5L engine (160 PS) plus a 120 PS motor — returning 18.5–19.1 km/L WLTC, a significant fuel economy advantage.

Is the Forester's hybrid system the same as before? No. The current S:HEV is a genuine strong hybrid with a much more powerful electric motor than the previous generation's mild-hybrid e-BOXER, extending electric-only driving range and meaningfully improving both fuel economy and acceleration. It shares its core hybrid system with the Crosstrek S:HEV.

Which Forester grades have EyeSight X? Touring EX, SPORT EX, SPORT EX Black Selection, X-BREAK S:HEV EX, and Premium S:HEV EX all include EyeSight X. Base Touring and base X-BREAK S:HEV do not.

Is the Subaru Forester available with front-wheel drive in Japan? No. Every grade sold in Japan is AWD only.

What's new with the 6th-generation Forester compared to the previous model? A stiffer full inner frame structure, upgraded EyeSight with a wide-angle camera, a cyclist-protecting pedestrian airbag described as a world first, an 11.6-inch standard center display, and — most significantly — the first genuine strong hybrid powertrain in Forester's history.

What's the top Forester grade and what does it add? Premium S:HEV EX, at ¥4,642,000, with 19-inch wheels (the only grade with them), a wireless charger, a 1500W AC outlet, standard EyeSight X, and optional leather upholstery.