Life in Southern California demands a vehicle that is not only reliable and practical but ready for adventure at any time. While a compact SUV is the perfect fit for that role, there are a lot out there to choose from, including the 2021 Subaru Forester. It's consistent award-winning safety, standard all-wheel drive, and spacious interior make it the ideal vehicle for your family. In the paragraphs below we've put together a side-by-side comparison to the 2021 Honda CR-V so you can see for yourself why Subaru is the best choice before coming to McKenna Subaru for your test drive.
2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Honda CR-V: Utility & Comfort
While we all know the driver's comfort is important, Subaru doesn't overlook the passengers. In the 2021 Subaru Forester, all of your passengers are kept happy and comfortable with more headroom and two inches more front legroom than the 2021 Honda CR-V. Plus there's a spacious 111.9 cubic feet of passenger volume in the Forester, 6 cubic feet more than the CR-V. When it comes to cargo, both vehicles offer abundant space, but the Subaru Forester gets the win with 76.1 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded.
While both the Forester and the CR-V offer available features such as heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and a heated steering wheel, only the Subaru Forester provides heated rear outboard seats on the top trim level. This is a feature not offered by the Honda CR-V. The CR-V has a leather-wrapped steering wheel that comes standard on the top two trim levels, however it comes standard on all trim levels of the Subaru Forester except the base model.
2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Honda CR-V: Technology
Staying connected is a necessity in today's world. That's why the 2021 Subaru Forester offers standard Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto® capabilities and hands-free phone connectivity. To get those features from the 2021 Honda CR-V, you would have to upgrade trim levels. The Forester has a standard 6.5-inch display in the center stack while the CR-V has a 5-inch display. You can step up to a higher trim level in the CR-V for a 7-inch touchscreen but the Forester provides an 8-inch high-resolution touchscreen with voice-activated controls and dual USB ports to keep both the driver's and the passenger's devices charged on long drives.
2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Honda CR-V: Performance
While the 2021 Honda CR-V may generate a bit more horsepower than the 2021 Subaru Forester, the Subaru still has the advantage. The powerful BOXER® engine's lower center of gravity means better control and the flat layout means reduced noise, vibration and harshness. The Forester's standard All-Wheel Drive gives you the confidence to handle everyday driving or off-road adventures. The Honda CR-V comes standard with Front-Wheel Drive but All-Wheel Drive is an option if you want to pay an extra $1,500. The Subaru Forester also offers standard Active Torque Vectoring for better handling and available X-MODE® for optimized engine output on slick surfaces like dirt trails, two features the Honda CR-V does not have.
2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Honda CR-V: Safety
Both the 2021 Subaru Forester and the Honda CR-V were awarded five stars by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration but only the Forester was named a Top Safety Pick + in 2020 by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. The 2020 CR-V performed poorly in headlight tests and was only named a Top Safety Pick. Both vehicles have standard suites of driver assist features to give you extra peace of mind including LED daytime running lights, Lane Departure Warning, and a rear view camera for safer reversing.
2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Honda CR-V: Standard & Available Features
Both the 2021 Subaru Forester and Honda CR-V offer impressive available features such as a panoramic moonroof, a power rear gate, LED fog lights, and a sporty roof spoiler. The Subaru Forester, however, comes standard with LED Steering Responsive Headlights that swivel with the vehicle for better vision while cornering. The CR-V offers LED headlights but they remain stationary. Inside the Forester, you get a standard cargo area grocery bag tie-down plus the available option of a cargo net and separator. The CR-V doesn't offer any of these features.
2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Honda CR-V: Value
Even without seeing the price, it's clear that the 2021 Subaru Forester is the best value for your money. What's even better, however, is that across all trim levels, the Forester costs less than the 2021 Honda CR-V. When you add in all the standard features on the Subaru Forester that would cost more on the Honda CR-V, you're saving even more money. Come see the difference for yourself at McKenna Subaru in Huntington Beach and take a test drive.
| 2021 Subaru Forester |  | 2021 Honda CR-V |
| $24,795 | Starting MSRP* | $25,350 |
| 111.9 Cubic Feet | Passenger Space | 105.9 Cubic Feet |
| Standard | All-Wheel Drive | Available Upgrade |
| 33 Highway - 26 City | Fuel Economy (MPG) | 34 Highway - 28 City (FWD Model) |
| 1,500 Pounds | Standard Towing Capacity | 1,500 Pounds |
| 182 | Horsepower | 190 |
| Standard | Touchscreen Infotainment | Available Upgrade |
| 76.1 Cubic Feet | Max Interior Cargo Volume | 75.8 Cubic Feet |
| Standard | LED Headlights | Available Upgrade |
| Standard | USB Charging Ports | Available Upgrade |
*Manufacturer's suggested retail price does not include destination and delivery charges, tax, title and registration fees. Destination and delivery includes handling and inland freight fees and may vary in some states. Prices, specifications, options, features and models subject to change without notice.
