2021 Subaru Forester vs 2021 BMW X5

BMWs were known for their high-quality craftsmanship, and the X5 was no exception. The X5 was part of BMW's true SUV range, which included the odd-numbered SUVs—X1, X3, and X7. The even-numbered models (X2, X4, and X6) were more like high-riding hatchbacks and crossovers. The X5 luxury SUV delivered on what was expected both with proportions and BMW sameness. From the kidney grille to the body shape, there was no mistaking the X5 for anything other than a BMW. This could be both good and bad, as the X5 could easily get lost in the shuffle amongst other BMWs parked in grocery store lots.

The Forester, redesigned for the 2019 model year, had styling that looked older because it largely carried over from the previous generation. The biggest difference was the taillights, which had a distinctive cross shape on the current, fifth-generation Forester. Subaru likely didn't try to fix something that wasn’t broken. With its boxy, upright shape, the Forester had exactly the kind of styling many SUV shoppers wanted. While the Base trim level looked a bit plain with its 17-inch steel wheels, the Forester had a clean and unpretentious look compared to many other compact crossovers.

BMW brought a number of powertrain options to the table for the X5, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i was powered by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that delivered 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. The X5 M50i featured a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 achieving 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. The more powerful X5 M got 600 hp from its twin-turbo V8, which increased to 617 hp with the Competition Package. The X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid model achieved 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque from its 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine paired with a 24-kilowatt-hour battery, capable of up to 30 miles of all-electric range. The X5’s steering and drive dynamics were not as engaging as other BMW SUVs, and it had a Lincoln-like cabin that minimized road and engine noise. Charging the X5 was easy, and it took five hours to charge on a Level 2 charger. The X5 M was the least fuel-efficient, achieving an EPA-estimated 15 mpg combined, while the X5 xDrive45e was rated at 50 MPGe when using both electricity and gas.

The 2021 Forester was available with only one powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, connected to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine had a boxer configuration, providing a lower center of gravity. Subaru quoted a 1,500-pound maximum towing capacity, with Trailer Stability Assist as standard. The Forester’s power felt adequate in most situations but lacked thrust when merging onto highways or overtaking. The suspension tuning was soft, resulting in poor body control and lots of body roll in corners. AWD was standard, with a sophisticated drivetrain including X-Mode for different surfaces. The Forester had 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it better suited for mud and dirt than the average compact crossover.

BMW made good use of space in the X5. Cupholders were positioned at the front of the center console, and the wireless phone charging pad kept technology out of the driver’s line of sight. Seating was spacious and comfortable for short trips, but the front seats felt hard after a few hours. Rear seats were comfortable for kids, and two adults could fit easily. The X5’s split liftgate was easy to operate with full power functionality, and the vehicle height adjustment button was helpful for loading cargo. Without the third row, the X5's cargo area was spacious, though the xDrive45e offered slightly less cargo space. Moving children and cargo in and out of the second-row seats was challenging due to the narrow door openings.

The Forester offered above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roof. The roofline also provided excellent outward visibility but let in lots of sunlight, raising the cabin temperature on sunny days. The Forester had 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 76.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. It had more cargo space than a Honda CR-V or the redesigned 2022 Hyundai Tucson with the rear seats folded but less with the rear seats up. The Forester lacked a sliding second-row bench but offered a power liftgate on higher trims. The cupholders were decently sized, and the center console was reasonably sized, though the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average-size phone. The Forester had large knobs for audio volume, tuning, and climate control, but the number of buttons on the steering wheel caused confusion.

BMW equipped the X5 with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, proximity key, and a panoramic moonroof. Optional features included remote start, a head-up display, quad-zone automatic climate control, a wireless smartphone charger, massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, rear sunshades, and a dual-panel panoramic roof. The BMW iDrive system took some getting used to but was easy to navigate after some time.

The standard Subaru Starlink infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, front-row USB ports, and a CD player. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring models added navigation and dual USB ports in the rear center console. The Forester’s infotainment system was easy to use, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls. However, the screen was slow to boot up when starting the car. Subaru included a small secondary screen in the center of the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying secondary information like fuel economy and tire pressure.

BMW equipped every X5 with blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, fatigue and focus alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The hands-on Driving Assistance Professional Package included adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, but it did not react to stopped traffic in time for a comfortable stop. The lane-keeping system struggled with sunshine and light rain, causing the vehicle to swerve. The 2021 BMW X5 received nearly all Good ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2021 Forester received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” award from the IIHS, with top “Good” ratings in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech. The NHTSA gave the Forester a five-star overall rating. The Forester came standard with EyeSight, a group of driver-assist features including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. Subaru also offered a driver-monitoring system called DriverFocus. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking.