2021 Subaru Forester vs 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered six distinct versions, each with unique styling cues. The base LS and popular LT trims featured different grille patterns, while the sporty RST had a slotted grille, blacked-out appearance, and 22-inch wheels. The rugged Z71 combined the LS grille with a blacked-out look, red tow hooks, a skid plate, and unique 20-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. The upscale Premier trim borrowed the RST’s slotted grille with chrome accents and polished wheels, while the luxurious High Country boasted a chrome bar grille, 22-inch wheels with a bright finish, and body-color mirror caps. Standard LED headlights and expressive taillights added to the Tahoe's bold design. Prices ranged from $49,000 for the base LS to $72,600 for the High Country, with our tested Z71 model priced at $76,225.

Inside, the Tahoe featured a larger 10.2-inch infotainment screen and new electronic transmission controls, improving storage capacity but compromising control layout. The LS trim included cloth seats, while leather upholstery was standard from the LT trim upwards. The Premier trim added perforated leather, and the High Country offered perforated and textured leather. The Z71 trim we tested met quality expectations with exposed stitching and soft-touch surfaces in the upper cabin, while the lower half was covered in hard plastic.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, redesigned in 2019, retained a boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The biggest styling change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. The base trim looked plain with 17-inch steel wheels, but the Forester Sport added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, making a significant visual impact. The Forester rode on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with other Subaru models, and featured a no-nonsense interior with materials designed to withstand years of use. The Sport trim added orange interior accents, while higher trims offered leather upholstery and heated front seats.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered three engine options. The standard 5.3-liter V8, available in all trims except the High Country, produced 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The High Country featured a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. A turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel inline-six, available in all trims except the Z71, delivered 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, promising improved fuel efficiency. The Tahoe's 10-speed automatic transmission powered the rear wheels, with a four-wheel-drive system optional on most trims and standard on the Z71. The Tahoe could tow up to 8,400 pounds and handle a payload of up to 1,834 pounds.

The major engineering change for the 2021 Tahoe was the adoption of an independent rear suspension, improving ride quality, handling, and interior comfort. The Z71 trim impressed with its smooth ride, thanks to the independent rear suspension, adaptive damping, and air suspension upgrades. The 5.3-liter V8 and 10-speed automatic transmission provided ample power and a satisfying V8 rumble. The Tahoe's handling was commendable, with the adaptive and air-ride suspension upgrades controlling body roll and excessive motion.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured a single powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine had a boxer configuration, providing a lower center of gravity. The Forester's towing capacity was 1,500 pounds, with Trailer Stability Assist as standard. The engine felt adequate in most situations but lacked the desired thrust for highway merging and overtaking. The Forester's suspension was softly sprung, resulting in poor body control and a bouncy ride on uneven pavement.

All-wheel drive (AWD) was standard on the Forester, with a sophisticated drivetrain featuring X-Mode for different surfaces. Sport models had Dual X-Mode with "Snow/Dirt" and "Snow/Mud" modes. Premium and higher trims included hill-descent control, and all models had 8.7 inches of ground clearance. While the Forester handled mud and dirt better than average compact crossovers, it wasn't as capable off-road as the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk or Ford Bronco Sport.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe's new independent rear suspension improved passenger comfort and cargo space. The test vehicle featured heated power-adjustable front seats and a heated steering wheel. The power sliding storage console was highly recommended, providing a large storage tray and a locking drawer. The second-row offered a 3-person bench seat or individual captain’s chairs, with the latter option proving comfortable. The third-row seat was easily accessible and provided substantial room for adults. The Tahoe offered 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, 72.6 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, and a maximum of 122.9 cubic feet.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roof. The roofline also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feeling. 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. While it lacked a sliding second-row bench, a power liftgate was available on higher trims. The Forester's cupholders were decently sized, and the center console was reasonably spacious. However, the phone-storage cubby was too small, and wireless charging was not available. A power-adjustable driver’s seat was only available on the Premium trim and above.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe featured a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice recognition, and Chevrolet Connected Services. Navigation and two different Bose premium audio systems were available. The infotainment system was user-friendly, but the main-menu shortcut icons were somewhat hard to use. The voice-recognition system was impressive, and Bluetooth pairing was fast. The test vehicle included a Rear Seat Media system with WiFi wireless device projection and content sharing. A 15-inch head-up display was also available.

The 2021 Subaru Forester's standard Starlink infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and front-row USB ports. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while higher trims included navigation and rear USB ports. The infotainment system was easy to use, but the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also featured a 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.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe came standard with Teen Driver, a rear-seat reminder system, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, and low-speed automatic emergency braking. Higher trims and options added lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and rear pedestrian detection. Premier and High Country trims included adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, a Safety Alert Seat, and an upgraded blind-spot warning system with trailer coverage. A surround-view camera was recommended for maneuvering the large SUV. The Tahoe had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review.

The 2021 Subaru Forester received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. The Forester came standard with EyeSight, a suite of driver-assist features including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. EyeSight's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering functions performed adequately, but the latter's steering inputs felt jerky. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. The Forester also featured a driver-monitoring system called DriverFocus.