2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek successfully captured the growing SUV market interest with its rugged appearance, standard AWD, and elevated driving position. Subaru cleverly adapted its Impreza hatchback for this task, differentiating the Crosstrek with distinct black body cladding, 17-inch wheels, and a taller ride height offering 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

These modifications transformed the Crosstrek into an SUV-like vehicle, imbuing it with more character compared to the Impreza. The availability of vibrant colors, such as the 2021 model’s Plasma Yellow Pearl, further enhanced its eye-catching appeal. The Crosstrek shared Subaru's Global Platform with models like the Legacy/Outback, Ascent, and Forester, delivering notable refinement and polish across the board.

However, the interior reflected its Impreza roots, offering functionality overshadowed by plain aesthetics. The Sport trim added excitement with its water-repellant StarTex upholstery and bright interior accents—though the combination of yellow accents with a blue exterior was debatable. Simulated carbon-fiber trim added a touch of sophistication, but the overall feel remained modest.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Forester continued its established, unpretentious design from the 2019 redesign. Despite not significantly deviating from its predecessor’s styling, the distinctive cross-shaped taillights distinguished this fifth-generation Forester. Its boxy, upright design was highly favored among SUV shoppers seeking a clean and straightforward look.

The Forester Sport trim stood out with orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, adding a dynamic edge especially when paired with complementary paint like Dark Blue Pearl. Built on the same Subaru Global Platform, the Forester shared its architectural unity with other Subaru models, subtly integrating sedan-like underpinnings within its rugged presentation.

Inside, the Forester held sturdy yet attractive materials designed to endure years of regular use, emphasized by the Sport trim’s orange interior highlights. Higher trims offered premium features like leather upholstery and heated front seats, enhancing comfort and practicality.

The 2021 Crosstrek diversified its powertrain options by adding a 2.5-liter boxer-four engine for the Sport and Limited trims, yielding 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The base and Premium trims continued with the 2.0-liter boxer-four engine, producing 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque. Despite the addition of a more powerful engine, acceleration felt merely adequate, accompanied by the CVT’s characteristic droning noise.

The Crosstrek’s boxer engine provided a low center of gravity, improving handling despite the elevated ride height. The vehicle’s dynamics included standard AWD with torque vectoring and X-Mode for improved traction on loose surfaces. The 2021 Sport trim introduced Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes, enhancing its off-road capability, although the Crosstrek was likely to remain a predominantly on-road vehicle. Predictable handling and comfortable ride quality balanced out its high center of gravity.

Conversely, the 2021 Forester offered a single powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT featuring a manual mode and paddle shifters on certain trims. Without a turbocharged option, acceleration felt merely adequate, with underwhelming thrust during highway maneuvers. The Forester also exhibited significant wind noise at higher speeds.

Suspension tuning favored comfort over performance, resulting in a softly sprung ride that soaked up bumps but suffered from excessive body roll in corners and noticeable bouncing on uneven roads. AWD was standard, complete with X-Mode for adjusting vehicle parameters on different surfaces. The Forester’s 8.7 inches of ground clearance, hill-descent control, and dedicated off-road modes in the Sport trim enhanced its capability on challenging terrain, but serious off-road enthusiasts might find better options elsewhere.

The 2021 Crosstrek matched the Impreza hatchback in front and rear legroom, offering ample passenger space. However, cargo capacity stood at 20.8 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 55.3 cubic feet with the seats folded down. This made the Crosstrek competitive among small crossovers, though trailing behind models like the Honda HR-V and Kia Seltos in cargo space.

Despite its compact dimensions, the Crosstrek included a rear-seat reminder for added safety, thoughtful storage solutions such as a cubby hole with ports ahead of the shifter, and decent-sized bottle holders in the doors. The high driving position improved visibility, yet the Crosstrek remained relatively lower compared to traditional SUVs.

The Forester, designed with practicality in mind, offered generous headroom and legroom in both rows. Its tall, flat roof and extensive glass areas ensured excellent visibility and a sense of openness, though sunlight could quickly heat the cabin. Cargo space was commendable, with 35.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded, outshining competitors like the Honda CR-V with seats down.

However, the Forester didn’t feature a sliding second-row bench, limiting rear-seat flexibility. While offering adequate storage options and decently sized cupholders, the Forester’s phone-storage cubby was cramped and wireless charging was absent. Higher trims provided convenient features like a power liftgate and an optional power-adjustable driver’s seat.

The 2021 Crosstrek employed Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, starting with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen. The system packed essential features like Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility and Bluetooth. Premium and Sport trims upgraded to a Multimedia Plus setup, adding WiFi, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 8-inch touchscreen with navigation on higher trims.

Our test car featured the intuitive 8-inch touchscreen, complemented by physical knobs and buttons for essential functions, ensuring ease of use. Subaru’s decision to install a secondary screen above the main touchscreen seemed redundant but provided additional information display options.

Similarly, the 2021 Forester included a Starlink system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, integrating Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims like the Sport added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, with navigation and additional USB ports available on top trims.

The Forester’s system was user-friendly, featuring well-designed graphics and backup analog controls for vital functions. However, startup was sluggish, and the combination of multiple screens displaying redundant information seemed overly complex.

Safety stood out for both vehicles, with the 2021 Crosstrek securing a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and the 2020 model—a nearly identical twin—earning an IIHS “Top Safety Pick” award. Standard EyeSight features on CVT-equipped models included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Limited trims added advanced safety options like blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking.

EyeSight’s stereo cameras provided effective functionality, though their positioning behind the windshield occasionally limited effectiveness.

The 2021 Forester excelled in safety, receiving a “Top Safety Pick+” from IIHS and a five-star overall NHTSA rating. The standard EyeSight suite encompassed adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning, complemented by a unique DriverFocus system that monitored driver distraction.

Optional safety features, including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, added enhanced security, with big mirror-mounted warning lights ensuring high visibility.