2025 Forester Seat Comfort

[Oldtech]

Potential buyer asking for input on 2025 Forester comfort on long trips of at least 10 hours. Typically take breaks every 3 hours. Also, not sure I can get comfortable with head rests.
Current owner of 2010 Forester. Thanks

 

[Dick Foster]

I think it depends a lot on your trim level. My 21 touring came with fully adjustable powered bucket seats with lumbar support but I know lesser trim levels did not. My seats are very comfortable, especially after I added custom cut neoprene seat covers which adds a thin layer of fabric coated foam rubber. Think 1/4" wetsuit material. I doubt anything is different with today's models.

 

[John Grimes]

My 2019 Subaru Outback's seats are very comfortable for me. The head rest is perfectly mounted about an inch and a half behind my head. I think that is ideal to help in whiplash should I get hit hard from behind. HOWEVER, the small panel on some plastic material on the left side of seating area, just split. Nothing caused it, other than defective material. Subaru replaced it free (out of warranty). THEN about a year later, the very same panel of material split again. I am trying to get Subaru to replace it again. Cold weather seems to be part of the problem.

 

[MikeinPDX]

I just picked up a 2025 Forester in the Premium trim package. That means you get a power driver's seat, which was a requirement for me. I'm an old guy and really concerned with seat comfort. The comfort with the power seat is what I'd call average. Like almost all new cars, the bottom cushion is too short for most drivers so you don't get enough thigh support. It's also a little too firm for me, but that may improve with time or I may add a bit of cushion myself. The seat back is pretty good. The adjustable lumbar support hits me in just the right place.

 

[SbForest]

Don’t like the forester seat bottoms too short - Outback at least had an adjustable part to lengthen them. I do like the ventilated seats in my touring trim

 

[MikeinPDX]

I've added some upholstery foam on the seat and put a seat cover over it to mostly hold it in place. It doesn't take much foam to make a big improvement. A one inch thick sheet of firm upholstery foam was much appreciated. I also have a 1.5 inch piece that incorporates two types of foam. It doesn't seem like a big improvement over the simpler one inch piece.

BTW, I did find an upholstery shop that said they could add some memory foam to the seat and still keep the OEM seat fabric.

I still find the seatback on my 2025 Forester to be reasonably comfortable.

 

[Dick Foster]

Don't know who or how many this may help, but I've found that getting good, well fitted and well made, neoprene seat covers adds to comfort while protecting the leather seat covers from the factory while also making care and cleaning easier. I've used Cover King for two subi foresters now. Don't cheap out and get the cheap stuff because, as in all things, you get what you pay for. Do it right.