2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda's fifth generation of compact crossovers, had a design that was both familiar and enjoyable. Its exterior styling was characterized by soft, curvy lines that gave it a car-like appearance, reminiscent of Honda's sedan lineup. The CR-V's design leaned more towards a station wagon than an SUV, making it a modern family vehicle on the outside. However, the interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery clashing with lower-quality plastics. This reminded drivers that even the pricier CR-V models were upgrades of a commodity car rather than premium products.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, although redesigned for the 2019 model year, retained a styling that appeared older due to its carryover design from the previous generation. Its boxy, upright shape appealed to SUV shoppers, offering a clean and unpretentious look. The Forester Sport models added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, enhancing its appearance. Built on the Subaru Global Platform, the Forester shared underpinnings with other Subaru models, maintaining its rugged SUV image. Inside, the Forester's no-nonsense mix of materials promised durability, with the Sport trim adding orange accents for a touch of flair.

The 2020 Honda CR-V featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This powertrain provided a well-matched driving experience, with the CVT offering a credible imitation of a conventional automatic. The CR-V's road manners were excellent, with nimble handling and minimal body roll, thanks to its low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model. Fuel economy was impressive, with FWD models achieving 30 miles per gallon combined and AWD models managing 29 mpg, placing the CR-V at the top of its class.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, also mated to a CVT. While adequate for most situations, the engine lacked the desired thrust for highway merging and overtaking. The Forester's suspension tuning prioritized comfort over handling, resulting in poor body control and noticeable body roll in corners. However, Subaru's standard AWD system, along with X-Mode and Dual X-Mode on Sport models, provided enhanced traction on various surfaces. The Forester's 8.7 inches of ground clearance allowed it to handle off-road conditions better than many competitors.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and storage solutions. Its cabin offered ample head- and legroom, with a seating position that maximized front visibility. The cargo compartment matched the Volkswagen Tiguan in volume, with a two-position load floor providing flexibility. Clever storage solutions, such as a deep center console and large door pockets, made the CR-V easy to live with, accommodating various items with ease.

The 2021 Subaru Forester provided above-average headroom and legroom, thanks to its tall roofline. This design also contributed to excellent outward visibility. The Forester offered 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing the CR-V in total cargo capacity. However, it lacked a sliding second-row bench. The Forester's interior featured decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, though the phone-storage cubby was small, and wireless charging was unavailable.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age, with a standard 5-inch screen on the LX trim and a 7-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were only available with the larger screen. However, the CR-V offered plenty of USB ports, with two in the front and two high-powered ones in the backseat. A wireless phone charger was added to the Touring trim for 2020.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured the Subaru Starlink infotainment system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and more. Sport models upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring models added navigation and rear USB ports. The system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls. However, the screen was slow to boot up, and the setup included multiple displays that seemed overly complex.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came standard with the "Honda Sensing" system, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with the Touring trim's LED headlights improving nighttime visibility. A recall for a possible rear subframe failure affected only a small number of vehicles.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, receiving the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It featured Subaru's EyeSight system, which included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Forester also offered a driver-monitoring system called DriverFocus, ensuring drivers remained attentive. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking.