2022 Porsche Macan vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite its redesign in 2019, retained a somewhat dated appearance due to its continuation of the previous generation's styling. The most notable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights on the fifth-generation model. Subaru seemed to adhere to the philosophy of not fixing what wasn't broken, maintaining the boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Base trim appeared plain with 17-inch steel wheels, but the overall look was clean and unpretentious compared to other compact crossovers. The Forester Sport model added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which significantly enhanced its visual appeal, especially with a complementary paint color like Dark Blue Pearl. The Forester shared its Subaru Global Platform with other models, emphasizing its rugged SUV marketing, though it had always shared underpinnings with sedans and wagons. Inside, the Forester's no-nonsense interior featured durable materials, with the Sport trim adding orange accents. Cloth upholstery was standard on lower trims, while leather was available on higher trims, and an All-Weather Package added heated features.

The 2022 Porsche Macan, introduced in 2015, remained largely unchanged in appearance over the years, despite regular updates. The 2022 model received a styling refresh, larger standard wheels, and a new center console with haptic touch controls. The Macan lineup included the base model, Macan S, and Macan GTS, with the Macan Turbo's high-output powertrain now in the GTS. The Macan S adopted the previous GTS model's twin-turbo V6. Our test vehicle, a Macan S, featured Volcano Gray paint and 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, showcasing Porsche's tradition of graceful aging. Its design conveyed a taut, athletic look, emphasizing performance on pavement. Inside, the Macan drew inspiration from other Porsches, with a left-side ignition switch, a large tachometer, and a flat dashboard. The test vehicle's red leather, gloss black trim, and silver accents created an upscale, sporty cabin.

The 2021 Subaru Forester was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity, contributing to stability. The Forester had a 1,500-pound towing capacity and standard Trailer Stability Assist. While adequate for most situations, the engine lacked the desired thrust for highway merging and overtaking, and wind noise was noticeable at higher speeds. The suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in poor body control and noticeable body roll in corners. The Forester's standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and X-Mode enhanced its off-road capabilities, with Dual X-Mode available on Sport models. Hill-descent control was standard on higher trims, and the Forester offered 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it suitable for light off-roading.

The 2022 Porsche Macan offered a range of engines, with the base model featuring a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 261 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The Macan GTS inherited the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 from the previous Macan Turbo, delivering 434 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The Macan S, our test vehicle, featured a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 with 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package. All Macans had a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and a fully variable AWD system. The 2022 Macan's steering and suspension were re-tuned for improved ride and handling, with larger standard wheels and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) adaptive damping. The Macan S excelled in performance, offering precise handling and strong braking, though the brake pedal required more effort than expected. The Macan S achieved an as-tested fuel economy of 18.1 mpg, close to the EPA rating of 19 mpg.

The 2021 Subaru Forester provided above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. This design also allowed for ample glass, enhancing visibility but potentially increasing cabin temperature on sunny days. The Forester offered 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing some competitors. However, it lacked a sliding second-row bench and wireless charging. A power liftgate was optional on the Sport trim and standard on higher trims. The Forester's interior featured large knobs for audio and climate control, though the steering wheel had numerous buttons that could be confusing.

The 2022 Porsche Macan prioritized driver and front-seat passenger comfort, with our test vehicle featuring 14-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. The rear seats were cramped, especially for taller passengers, but entry and exit were easy. The Macan's new steering wheel, modeled after the 911, felt thin and uncomfortable during long drives. The redesigned center console with haptic touch controls looked advanced but required drivers to look away from the road. Cargo space measured 17.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and a CD player. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio, while higher trims included navigation and rear USB ports. The system was user-friendly, with physical shortcut buttons, but the screen was slow to boot up. Additional screens displayed secondary information, though the setup seemed overly complex.

The 2022 Porsche Macan featured a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system called Porsche Communication Management (PCM). It included wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, navigation, and connected services. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with optional Bose or Burmester audio systems. The user experience was intuitive, though some icons were perplexing. The voice recognition system was less effective than competitors, but stereo volume and climate controls were separate from the touchscreen, reducing the need for interaction while driving.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with EyeSight, a camera-based driver-assist system, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking. EyeSight's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering functions performed adequately, though the latter's steering inputs were jerky.

The 2022 Porsche Macan included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Blind-spot monitoring was optional, as was lane-keeping assist. The Macan's safety technologies performed as expected, though it lacked advanced driving assistance features. Parking assistance options included a surround-view camera and Park Assist, which could steer the vehicle into parking spaces.