Honda CR-V vs. Subaru Forester

 
The 2016 Honda CR-V is one of the most well-known crossovers around Boulder and Denver, but its reputation is just the start of its advantages over the 2016 Subaru Forester. Stronger standard power ratings and more compelling efficiency scores separate the CR-V from the Forester, as does its list of outstanding features and technologies. Here’s how the two shape up against each other.

Powertrains and MPG

The 2016 Honda CR-V differs dramatically from the 2016 Subaru Forester when it comes to power and efficiency, offering up to 185 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque as standard across every trim level thanks to the inclusion of a cutting-edge 2.4L four-cylinder engine. It’s one of the most powerful standard engines around.

It’s also paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) system. This transmission eschews the traditional fixed set of gears for a dynamic belt system, helping you make up to 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway* with FWD.

The 2016 Subaru Forester comes with less power as standard: entry-level models receive a 2.5L four-cylinder rated at just 170 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. Despite that drop in performance, the Forester actually consumes more fuel, making up to just 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway with the standard transmission. Fuel economy is even worse with the optional turbocharged 2.0L, coming in at just 23 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

Interior

The 2016 CR-V offers an extremely practical cabin with an abundance of space for both cargo and passengers. You’ll even find child safety seat LATCH anchor points in all three seating positions, and an available one-touch power moonroof can be added to open up your drive to the great outdoors.

The vehicle is also noticeably more spacious than competitors like the 2016 Subaru Forester. While the Forester only offers up to 34.4 cubic feet of cargo room behind the rear seats, the CR-V can provide a generous 37.2. Need more space for anything from suitcases to the weekly shop? You’ll be better off in a CR-V.

Comfort and Convenience Features

The 2016 Honda CR-V starts off by offering superior standard features compared to the 2016 Subaru Forester, and then continues to outperform it. Even the entry-level CR-V comes with a multi-angle rearview camera. Unlike the Forester’s rearview camera, this advanced model is able to display three separate viewing modes (Normal, Top-Down, and Wide) to deliver a complete picture of the area behind your vehicle.

In upper-level trims, you’ll find that the CR-V comes fitted with 2 memory settings for your driver’s seat, headlights, and exterior mirrors, so you can snap all of them back to where you want them after someone else has used the car. Additionally, though the CR-V and Forester both offer voice-activated GPS navigation and a universal garage door openers, only the CR-V provides them as standard with high-end trim levels — the Forester will always make you pay more.

Safety Features

Both the 2016 Honda CR-V and the 2016 Subaru Forester have ample safety features, and both have performed extremely well in crash tests. That said, it is worth noting that the 2016 Honda CR-V does offer some available safety features that are entirely absent from the 2016 Subaru Forester, including the handy Honda LaneWatch feature. It uses a small camera perched below the passenger-side camera to project a view of your passenger-side blind spot on the vehicle’s monitor, helping you merge or change lanes with an added degree of safety.

The 2016 Honda CR-V Easily Outpaces the 2016 Subaru Forester

The 2016 Honda CR-V is a crossover without equal, and certainly trounces the 2016 Subaru Forester in a head-to-head comparison. If you’d like to experience for yourself just what the CR-V can offer near Denver, visit Fisher Honda in Boulder, CO.

* 26 city/33 hwy/29 combined mpg rating for 2WD models. 25 city/31 highway/27 combined mpg rating for AWD models. Based on 2016 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.