Head-to-head
2027 Honda CR-V vs 2027 Subaru Forester
The Honda CR-V wins clearly, 98 to 82.6, on tech & comfort, safety, fuel & range. The Subaru Forester is ahead on space & cargo.
A
2027 Honda CR-V
The 2027 Honda CR-V is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the CR-V FWD, is EPA-rated …
vs
A*2027 Subaru Forester
The 2027 Subaru Forester is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Forester Hybrid AW…
Verdict · default weights
2027 Honda CR-V
Clear winThe Honda CR-V wins clearly, 98 to 82.6, on tech & comfort, safety, fuel & range. The Subaru Forester is ahead on space & cargo.
Tech & comfort 2027 Honda CR-V leads by 47
Safety 2027 Honda CR-V leads by 12
Fuel & range 2027 Honda CR-V leads by 10.9
| Category · weight | 2027 Subaru Foresteroverall 82.6 | 2027 Honda CR-Voverall 98 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 89.1 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 88 | 100 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 93.4 | 85.8 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 95.7 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 53 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | ||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 82.6 | 98 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Subaru Forester: base trim Base AWD · Honda CR-V: base trim LX FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2027 Honda CR-V wins
- It lists 25 standard driver-assist features against 13.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (33 points against 17.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It costs $200 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,550 against $1,750).
Where the 2027 Subaru Forester answers
- It opens up to 68.6 cu ft of cargo against 39.3.
What they share
- A Safety Signal of 100.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
51 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Honda CR-VLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $29,995 | — |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,498 cc | 1,498 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 4-cylinder horizontally opposed (SUBARU BOXER®); aluminum cylinder block and cylinder heads | In-Line 4-Cylinder with Turbocharger |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 180 hp | 190 hp |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft | 179 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 28 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 30 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 33 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.700 | 5.640 |
| Transmission type | cvt | cvt |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in | 7.8 in |
| Overall height | 68.1 in | 66.2 in |
| Overall length | 183 in | 185 in |
| Overall width | 72 in | 73.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 105 in | 106 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 68.6 cu-ft | 39.3 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 35.4 cu-ft | 39.3 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 111 cu-ft | 106 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 41.2 in | 40 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 38.2 in |
| Third-row headroom | 39.6 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 43.3 in | 41.3 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 41 in |
| Third-row legroom | 39.4 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,510 lbs | 3,472 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,510 lbs | 3,472 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,901 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson-type struts, lower L-arms, coil springs, dampers, stabilizer bar, hydraulic engine mounts | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear suspension type | Double wishbone, coil springs, dampers, stabilizer bar | Multi-Link |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Assisted Rack-and-Pinion (Dual Pinion) | Dual Pinion Assist Electric Power Steering (EPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 35.4 ft | 37.3 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 315 mm | 312 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | epb | Electronic |
| Rear brake diameter | 300 mm | 310 mm |
| Rear brake type | ventilated disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | 17 in |
| Wheel material | alloy | steel |
| Wheel width | 7 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 225/60R17 99H all-season | 235/65R17 104H |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 16.6 gal | 14 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | MySubaru Companion | HondaLink |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.7 in | 57.9 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 55.9 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 56.7 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
160 features · differences first, then sharedSafety34 differ · 36 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Honda CR-VLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | — | std |
| Driver & Passenger i-SRS Airbag System | — | std |
| Front i-side Airbag System | — | std |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | — | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) | — | std |
| Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines | — | std |
| Side Curtain Airbag System | — | std |
| Hill Descent Control | — | std |
| Rear i-side Airbag System | — | std |
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow | — | std |
| Adaptive Cruise Control w/Lane Centering | std | — |
| Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure | — | std |
| Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) | — | std |
| Auto Vehicle Shut Down | std | — |
| Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) | — | std |
| Driver & Passenger Knee Airbag System | — | std |
| Emergency Stop Assist | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist | — | std |
| Lane Departure & Sway Warning | std | — |
| Lead Vehicle Start Alert | std | — |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH): Lower Anchors (2nd-Row Outboard), Tether Anchors (2nd-Row All) | — | std |
| Post Collision Braking System | — | std |
| Pre-Collision Braking, Follow Distance Warning, and Throttle Management | std | — |
| Rear Seat Reminder | std | — |
| Rear Seat Reminder (RSR) | — | std |
| Rear-Vision Camera | std | — |
| Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM) | — | std |
| Seat Belt Reminder for all Seating Positions | — | std |
| Traffic Jam Assist (Traffic Jam Driving Support Function) | — | std |
| Traffic Sign Recognition System (TSR) | — | std |
| Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) with electronic traction control (TCS) and rollover sensor | std | — |
| Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) with electronic traction control (TCS) and rollover sensor | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | — | std |
| Auto High Beam Headlights | std | std |
| Vehicle Stability Assist® (VSA®) with Brake-Traction Control System | std | std |
Infotainment19 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Honda CR-VLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Hotspot Capability | std | — |
| 160-Watt Audio System with 4 Speakers | — | std |
| 3.5 MM Auxiliary Input Jack | std | — |
| 4-Speaker System | std | — |
| 7-Inch TFT Meter Display | — | std |
| 9-inch Color Touchscreen | — | std |
| AM/FM Stereo HD Radio® | std | — |
| Bluetooth® Audio Streaming, Hands-Free Phone Connectivity, SMS Text Messaging | std | — |
| Bluetooth® Streaming Audio | — | std |
| Hondalink | — | std |
| SiriusXM | opt | — |
| Subaru Dual 7-inch Multimedia System | std | — |
| USB-A charge port (Front Center Console) | std | — |
| USB-Based Android Auto™ | std | — |
| USB-Based Apple CarPlay® | std | — |
| USB-C 3.0A Smartphone / Audio Interface (x1) - Front Seats | — | std |
| Wireless Android Auto™ Compatibility | — | std |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® Compatibility | — | std |
| Wireless Charging Pad (Qi) | — | std |
Convenience9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Honda CR-VLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Push Button Start | — | std |
| 12-Volt Power Outlet (Cargo) | — | std |
| 12-Volt Power Outlet (Front Center Console) | std | — |
| 12-Volt Power Outlet (Front) | — | std |
| Cruise Control | — | std |
| Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Automatic Brake Hold | — | std |
| Honda Maintenance Program 1yr / 12k miles | — | std |
| One-Touch Turn Indicators | — | std |
| Power Windows with Auto Up/Down Driver | — | std |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Honda CR-VLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Air Conditioning with Air-Filtration System | — | std |
| Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control w/Voice Activation | std | — |
| Humidity Sensor | — | std |
Seating7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Honda CR-VLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 6-Way Manual Driver's Seat | std | — |
| 5-Person Seating Capacity | — | std |
| 60/40 Folding Rear Seatback | std | — |
| 60/40 Split Fold-Down Rear Seatback | — | std |
| Cloth Upholstery | std | — |
| Driver's Seat with Manual Height Adjustment | — | std |
| Passenger Seat with Manual Height Adjustment | — | std |
Interior13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Honda CR-VLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2-inch Combination Meter Display | std | — |
| Active Noise Cancellation™ (ANC) | — | std |
| Cargo Area Light | std | — |
| EPA Passenger Volume (cu ft.) | — | std |
| Headroom (in.) (first row / second row) | — | std |
| Hiproom (in.) (first row / second row) | — | std |
| LED Front & Rear Map Lights | — | std |
| Legroom (in.) (first row / second row) | — | std |
| Shoulder Room (in.) (first row / second row) | — | std |
| Sunglass Holder | — | std |
| Sunvisor Vanity (Driver & Passenger) | — | std |
| Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column | — | std |
| Welcome Lighting | std | — |
Exterior34 differ · 34 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Honda CR-VLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Acoustic Laminate Windshield | std | — |
| All-Season Tires | — | std |
| Approach / Departure Angles (deg.) (2WD) | — | std |
| Approach / Departure Angles (deg.) (AWD) | — | std |
| Auto-On/Off Headlight Operation | — | std |
| Capless Fuel Filler | — | std |
| Crossbar Mounting Points | std | — |
| Curb Weight (lbs.) [2WD] | — | std |
| Curb Weight (lbs.) [AWD] | — | std |
| Door Cladding | std | — |
| Ground Clearance (in.) (unladen) [2WD/AWD] | — | std |
| Halogen Rear Turn Indicators | — | std |
| Height (in.) (2WD) | — | std |
| Height (in.) (AWD) | — | std |
| Ladder Type Roof Rails | std | — |
| LED Daytime Running Light (DRL) | — | std |
| LED Front Turn Indicators | — | std |
| LED Headlights & Taillights | — | std |
| LED Side Mirror Turn Indicator | — | std |
| Length (in.) | — | std |
| Power Mirrors | std | — |
| Power Side Mirrors | — | std |
| Privacy Glass | — | std |
| Push-to-Release Fuel Filler Door | — | std |
| Smart Clear Windshield Wipers | — | std |
| Track (in.) (front/rear) [2WD] | — | std |
| Track (in.) (front/rear) [AWD] | — | std |
| Weight Distribution (%) (front/rear) [2WD] | — | std |
| Weight Distribution (%) (front/rear) [AWD] | — | std |
| Wheel Arch Cladding | std | — |
| Wheelbase (in.) | — | std |
| Wheels | — | std |
| Width (in.) | — | std |
| Compact Spare Tire | — | std |
Powertrain23 differ · 23 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Honda CR-VLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Real-Time AWD with Intelligent Control System™ | std | opt |
| Front-Wheel Drive | — | std |
| Bore and Stroke (mm) | — | std |
| CARB Emissions Rating | — | std |
| Compression Ratio | — | std |
| Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) | — | std |
| Direct Fuel Injection | — | std |
| Displacement (cc) | — | std |
| Dynamic Drive Modes | — | std |
| Engine Type - In-Line 4-Cylinder with Turbocharger / Atkinson In-Line 4-cylinder | — | std |
| EPA Fuel Economy Ratings* (City/Hwy/Combined) (2WD) | — | std |
| EPA Fuel Economy Ratings* (City/Hwy/Combined) (AWD) | — | std |
| Final Drive | — | std |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (U.S. gal) | — | std |
| Horsepower (SAE net @ rpm) | — | std |
| Idle-Stop | — | std |
| Ratio Range | — | std |
| Recommended Fuel | — | std |
| Redline (rpm) | — | std |
| Reverse | — | std |
| Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm) - Engine | — | std |
| Tune-up Interval | — | std |
| Valvetrain | — | std |
Chassis12 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Honda CR-VLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Active Torque Vectoring (Brake based) | std | — |
| Agile Handling Assist | — | std |
| Dual Pinion Assist Electric Power Steering (EPS) | — | std |
| MacPherson Strut Front Suspension | — | std |
| Multi-Link Rear Suspension | — | std |
| Stabilizer Bar (mm) (front/rear) (2WD) | — | std |
| Stabilizer Bar (mm) (front/rear) (AWD) | — | std |
| Steering Ratio (2WD) | — | std |
| Steering Ratio (AWD) | — | std |
| Steering Wheel Turns, Lock-to-Lock | — | std |
| Turning Diameter, Curb to Curb (ft.) | — | std |
| Ventilated Front Disc/Solid Rear Disc Brakes (in.) | — | std |
Cargo4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Honda CR-VLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo Area Hooks | std | — |
| Cargo Volume (cu ft.) - Behind First Row, Standard/Max | — | std |
| Cargo Volume (cu ft.) - Behind Second Row | — | std |
| Towing Capacity (lbs.) | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPSubaru Forester
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 0
Owner complaints —
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Honda CR-V
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 2 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Visibility/Wiper (1), Engine (1), Power Train (1)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Honda CR-VLX FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29,995 (base trim) | — (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $29,995 – $41,545 9 trims | — 12 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Forester Hybrid AWD | CR-V FWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 36 | 40 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,750 | $1,550 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2027 Subaru Forester or the 2027 Honda CR-V?
The Honda CR-V wins clearly, 98 to 82.6, on tech & comfort, safety, fuel & range. The Subaru Forester is ahead on space & cargo. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2027 Honda CR-V scores 98 and the 2027 Subaru Forester 82.6. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2027 Subaru Forester or the 2027 Honda CR-V?
2027 Subaru Forester: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2027 Honda CR-V: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2027 Subaru Forester and the 2027 Honda CR-V?
Where the 2027 Honda CR-V wins: it lists 25 standard driver-assist features against 13, lists more comfort and tech equipment (33 points against 17.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and costs $200 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,550 against $1,750). Where the 2027 Subaru Forester answers: it opens up to 68.6 cu ft of cargo against 39.3. What they share: a Safety Signal of 100.