2022 Subaru Forester vs 2021 Honda HR-V

The 2021 Honda HR-V displayed a unique, friendly styling that diverged from Honda's more traditional SUV aesthetic. Unlike the masculine and upright designs seen in the CR-V, Passport, and Pilot, the HR-V carried a softer, approachable look. This was accentuated by distinctive design details like the converging upper and lower window lines near the taillights, forming a triangular point that also housed the rear door handles. Most trim levels rode on 17-inch alloy wheels—with the EX and EX-L sporting a machined finish—while the Sport trims boasted matte-black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim, alongside standard fog lights on all but the base LX trim.

Inside, the HR-V's styling was plain yet functional. It wasn’t luxurious, but it did feature good material quality and commendable fit and finish. Higher trims, EX and EX-L, added touches like push-button start, automatic climate control, a moonroof, and heated front seats, with the EX-L exclusive to leather upholstery.

In contrast, the 2022 Subaru Forester prioritized functionality but came off as less immediately appealing, particularly in the Wilderness trim. Tested in the rugged environment of the Cascade Mountains, this Forester sported white paint and a dark gray interior with water-repellent StarTex simulated leather. The standout features of the Wilderness model included a suspension lift and higher ride height of 9.2 inches of ground clearance, massive protective cladding, and an anti-glare matte-black hood decal, which gave it a rugged "raccoon on wheels" look. The interior followed Subaru's ethos of function over form, utilizing hard plastic and soft surfaces that emphasized quality construction. Copper-colored stitching and accents spruced up the otherwise utilitarian cabin, which also featured a retained 8-inch Starlink infotainment system.

The 2021 Honda HR-V was powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While available in all-wheel drive (AWD), the standard setup was front-wheel drive (FWD). Unfortunately, the engine and CVT combo left the HR-V feeling somewhat underpowered, especially during highway driving. Competitors like the Kia Seltos and Subaru Crosstrek offered higher horsepower options. Despite this, the HR-V excelled in handling, offering a rewarding drive on twisty roads with decent ride quality, although its minimal ground clearance and modest AWD system limited its off-road capabilities.

On the other hand, the 2022 Subaru Forester continued with its reliable 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. All models included AWD, with the Wilderness model featuring a design that increased initial torque supply by 25% and doubled the towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The Forester delivered a pleasant driving experience but lacked the punch of a turbocharger, especially noticeable at higher altitudes. Nonetheless, its long-travel suspension and terrain management system, X-Mode, ensured superior off-road agility, excelling in various rugged terrains.

The 2021 Honda HR-V impressed with cargo space, largely due to its "Magic Seat" 60/40 split-folding rear bench. This setup allowed for 58.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats down (57.6 cubic feet for AWD models) and 24.3 cubic feet (23.2 cubic feet with AWD) with the seats up. This offered more space compared to competitors like the Chevrolet Trax, Hyundai Kona, and Subaru Crosstrek but was slightly outmatched by the Kia Seltos and the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross. The HR-V led in rear-seat legroom but had average front-seat legroom and headroom. While lacking creative storage solutions, it did provide practical and straightforward controls, including climate control knobs and a sensible center console layout.

The 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness was all about practicality. It offered an accommodating entry and exit experience thanks to its tall seating hip points. The cabin was designed to handle rugged adventures, with features like water-resistant StarTex upholstery, all-weather floor mats, and a rubber cargo mat. Interior comfort was notable, with tall seating that provided an excellent view, rear air conditioning vents, and quick-charge ports. Cargo space was 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubes with it, and it expanded to 74.2 cubic feet or 69.1 with the sunroof when the rear seats were folded. These figures placed the Forester amongst the roomiest compact SUVs, with clever storage solutions like ceiling-mounted cargo hooks and a standard full-size spare in the Wilderness trim.

The 2021 Honda HR-V's base model came with Bluetooth, a 5-inch display, and a four-speaker audio system. Sport trim and higher models featured a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while EX and EX-L trims added SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was user-friendly but lacked the advanced connectivity features found standard in some rivals.

For the 2022 Subaru Forester, even the base trim included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink services. Higher trims featured an 8-inch screen, navigation, a Harman Kardon premium sound system, and a 180-degree forward-view camera in the Wilderness trim. This setup provided clear and rich sound quality, though the voice recognition system had inconsistent performance.

The 2021 Honda HR-V garnered high safety ratings with top scores in all IIHS crash tests and a “Superior” rating for optional front-crash prevention. However, its headlight ratings were less impressive, and it was only rated “Acceptable” for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA awarded it five stars overall, with specific kudos for side impact protection but lower scores for frontal and rollover tests. Advanced safety features in the HR-V were limited to the EX and EX-L trims, which came with Honda Sensing's suite of safety technologies.

The 2022 Subaru Forester introduced the next-generation EyeSight 4.0 safety system with increased accuracy and a new Automatic Emergency Steering system for sub-50 mph speeds. It included a comprehensive suite of ADAS features, a rear-seat reminder, and Subaru's DriverFocus monitoring on the Touring trim. The Forester earned a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was expected to retain its IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” rating, pending re-testing of the Wilderness model due to modified height.