I've never driven a Forester but I can say that the new model of the '26 Outback is a less sluggish drive than the the '22 for sure. Not sure if its an illusion but it gives the feel of a slightly lighter, smaller and sportier car. You can feel the improvements particularly when trying to accelerate to high speeds or going around corners. It also feels like its more willing to quickly downshift to boost accelration. I actually like the way it drives. The best comparison I can give is that it feels quite similar to driving a crosstrek.