Recommended Hitch for a 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid

Updated 02/23/2026 | Published 02/19/2026

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

(649)

$179.05

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

(96)

$268.94

Question:

Hi there, Ive bought trailer hitches from you guys in the past, so I trust your products/opinions. I have a question. I recently sold my Pilot and got a 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid. I found products that fit my Forester- using your vehicle down menu. When shopping around, the same Curt trailer 13409 listed as a fit on your site was listed as not a fit on a competitors site. So that got me thinking. Your site just lists the Forester, but without the additional trim option of Hybrid while the competitor site did. When I removed Hybrid from the competitor, then the Curt trailer was listed as may fit with conditions. So is it possible that your listed trailers for my Forester might not actually fit my Hybrid trim, i.e., they only fit the base Forester? Thanks for your time

asked by: Nelson W

Expert Reply:

Hey Nelson, welcome back and congrats on your new SUV! We get our information directly from Curt and their item # C13409 and item # C47HR hitches fit all models of the 2025 Subaru Forester including the hybrids. This is why we don't list a hybrid option because there's no compatibility issues across the many models of the 2025 Forester. It sounds like the other website doesn't do their research as well.

Out of those two hitches, I recommend the Curt item # C47HR. This custom fit class III hitch has a 2" receiver and will allow you to utilize your Forester's full towing and tongue weight capacity.

I really like the Curt item # C47HR because of how it looks once it's installed. If you look at the pictures attached below you'll see the only visible portion of the hitch is the 2" receiver and safety chain loops. The crossbar is completely hidden unlike the Curt item # C13409. Concealing the crossbar behind the rear bumper not only looks better but helps with ground clearance.

What do you plan on using your new hitch for?

You can add this information, along with any other questions you have, where it says Add Comment.

expert reply by: Jerred H

C47HR
(click to enlarge)

C13409
(click to enlarge)

William

2/22/2026

Sorry, I can't help with that as I have a 2019 Subaru Forester Sport i Installed that on. Worked perfect for that model.

Nelson W.

2/22/2026

Hi Jerred, thanks for your detailed response. I'll be mainly using the hitch for my bike rack and cargo carrier, less so with towing. I'm actually looking at the etrailer Trailer Hitch Receiver, Part Number: e83ZR. I think I'd like to go with the Matte Black Finish, rather than the Gloss this time around. Regards, Nelson

Heather A.

2/23/2026

@NelsonW Hi Nelson, Jerred is on vacation. Lucky! The etrailer hitch receiver part # e83ZR will work well for your Forester Hybrid. A lot of customers like the rugged look of the matte black finish and have successfully installed this on their hybrid.

Thomas

2/23/2026

Hello Nelson, I have a 2023 Subaru Forester Sport. I have this Part Number: C13409. i use it to carry my e-bike and sometimes some cargo using a carrier from Harbor Freight. I have had no issues. The installation was completed in about an hour and half. I had a friend help me. The only issue was that the 2 holes (on the Subaru) for bolts closest to the middle of the car had to be enlarged just a bit. Other than that, the item was easy to install and works great. Good luck sir.

2/23/2026

I have installed multiple trailer hitches on my Subaru Foresters since 2012, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2023 with no problems at all. In all installations I had to move the exhaust pipe/muffler and heath shields out of the way and then put them back. In a Forester with the hybrid trim, there should be an exhaust system as well which should require the same installation procedure as the conventional one.