2025 Subaru Forester vs. 2025 Honda CR-V Power & Handling

The 2025 Subaru Forester and 2025 Honda CR-V both boast powertrains with impressive fuel economy ratings and distinctive performance capabilities. Each offers one gas and one hybrid engine option, and both are equipped with a continually variable transmission (CVT), with the Honda CR-V hybrid engine offering an electronic continuously variable transmission (E-CVT). The Forester is standard with symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD), while the CR-V is available with either two-wheel drive (2WD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). If you’re planning to tow a light trailer, the Subaru Forester Wilderness trim can tow up to 3,000 pounds, while the Honda CR-V can tow a maximum of 1,500 pounds.

For quick reference, take a look at the Subaru Forester and Honda CR-V engine specs.

2025 Subaru Forester

2025 Honda CR-V

2025 Subaru Forester vs. 2025 Honda CR-V Interior

Inside the 2025 Subaru Forester and 2025 Honda CR-V, you’ll find cabins designed to keep everyone comfortable. Driver’s seats in both SUVs are available with ten-way power adjustability. Meanwhile, the Forester offers an eight-way power front passenger’s seat and the CR-V is available with a four-way power front passenger’s seat. Both are also available with heated front seats to maximize relaxation after a long day. The Forester also exclusively offers available ventilated front seats and heated rear outboard seats.

Available Subaru Forester interior features include:

• Ten-way power adjustable driver's seat with two-position memory
• Eight-way power adjustable front passenger’s seat
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated rear outboard seats
• Cloth, water-repellent StarTex®, or leather seat upholstery
• Reclining 60/40-split flat-folding rear seatbacks with one-touch fold
• Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Leather-wrapped shifter handle
• Dual-zone automatic climate control system

2025 Subaru Forester vs. 2025 Honda CR-V Exterior

Both the 2025 Subaru Forester and 2025 Honda CR-V are sleek and approachable SUVs. Each offers a hands-free power tailgate for easy access to the cargo compartment. Easily navigate the dark thanks to the LED headlights with auto on/off that are standard on both SUVs. Encourage your passengers to point out interesting cloud patterns through the available power moonroof offered on either SUV.

Available Subaru Forester exterior features include:

• Foot-activated hands-free power rear gate with automatic close, height memory function, and vehicle lock button
• LED steering responsive headlights with auto on/off
• LED fog lights
• Roof spoiler
• Heated, folding side mirrors with integrated turn signals
• Panoramic power moonroof
• Raised or low-profile roof rails
• Single stainless steel exhaust outlet
• 17- to 19-in. wheels
• Windshield wiper de-icer

2025 Subaru Forester vs. 2025 Honda CR-V Dimensions

Whether you opt for the 2025 Subaru Forester or 2025 Honda CR-V, you’ll find spacious interiors inside both. Use the 60/40 split flat-fold rear seat function in either SUV to quickly fold down the seat and expand your cargo capacity. The Subaru Forester can hold up to 74.4 cubic feet with the rear seat down, while the Honda CR-V offers up to 76.5 cubic feet of cargo space. Front-seat legroom is 43.3 inches in the Forester or 41.3 inches in the CR-V.

Interior and exterior dimensions are shown in the accompanying table.

2025 Subaru Forester vs. 2025 Honda CR-V Technology

You’ll find numerous modern tech systems in the 2025 Subaru Forester and 2025 Honda CR-V. The Forester offers the larger infotainment display — an 11.6-inch SUBARU STARLINK® Multimedia Plus or Multimedia Navigation system. Meanwhile, the CR-V is available with a 9-inch color infotainment display. To access either SUV’s infotainment system, you can turn to available wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. Pipe your favorite playlists and podcasts through the available Harman Kardon® speakers on the Forester or the available Bose® speakers on the CR-V.

Available Subaru Forester technology features include:

• 12.3-inch configurable fully-digital instrument cluster
• SUBARU STARLINK 11.6-in. Multimedia Plus or Multimedia Navigation
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• HD Radio™
• Bluetooth®
• Subaru Live Traffic
• SiriusXM® Travel Link®
• 11-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi® capability

2025 Subaru Forester vs. 2025 Honda CR-V Safety

The driver assistance and safety systems in the 2025 Subaru Forester and 2025 Honda CR-V are designed for your peace of mind. Both SUVs come standard with a premium suite of driver assistance systems — EyeSight® on the Forester or Honda Sensing® on the CR-V. You’ll find that both suites offer similar features like adaptive cruise control and a lane-keeping system. However, the CR-V Honda Sensing suite is exclusive with a Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™). Meanwhile, the Forester offers exclusive safety features like an 180-degree front-view monitor and a DriverFocus® distraction mitigation system.

• High beam assist
• DriverFocus distraction mitigation system
• Blind-spot detection with lane change assist and rear cross-traffic alert
• Reverse automatic braking
• 360-degree surround view camera
• 180-degree front-view monitor
• Rear-vision camera
• EyeSight driver assist technology
  • Advanced adaptive cruise control with lane centering
  • Pre-collision braking
  • Lane departure and sway warning
  • Lane-keep assist
  • Automatic emergency steering