2023 Subaru Forester vs 2023 Volvo XC90

The 2023 Volvo XC90 represented a significant departure from Volvo's past boxy designs. It showcased a purposeful yet understated front end, with an assertive grille and distinctive "Thor’s Hammer" headlights. The Platinum Gray paint added a touch of richness, while the interior exuded elegance with two-tone leather, metal speaker covers, and luxurious Nappa leather upholstery. The minimalist design, complemented by wood deco inlays, created a clean and beautiful look.

In contrast, the 2023 Subaru Forester maintained a more utilitarian appearance, resembling its predecessors. The Touring trim, with its 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior trim, was the best-looking of the bunch. Inside, the Forester offered Saddle Brown leather, exposed stitching, and metallic accents. The interior was functional, with analog gauges, an 8-inch touchscreen, and an abundance of hard plastic for easy cleaning. The control layout relied on traditional buttons and knobs, making it user-friendly.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 introduced new B5 and B6 engines with mild-hybrid technology, replacing the older T5 and T6 engines. The B5 engine produced 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the B6 engine delivered 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The mild-hybrid system improved fuel efficiency and smoothness, though the gains were minimal. The XC90 offered a reserved yet enjoyable driving experience, with quick acceleration, a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission, and excellent brakes. It handled well in a New Hampshire snowstorm, despite lacking dedicated winter tires.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT had eight programmed ratios and a Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) system with a Sport mode. The Forester's X-Mode off-road traction management system, available on all trims except the Base, offered various driving modes for different conditions. The Forester excelled in adverse weather, handling flooded roads and muddy trails with ease. Its driving dynamics were impressive, with responsive steering, effective brakes, and excellent suspension tuning. However, the engine remained merely adequate, and the Forester fell short of its EPA fuel economy rating.

The 2023 Volvo XC90's interior was elegant but had some space and storage limitations. The front seats were comfortable, but there was limited cubby space for smaller items. The second row was reasonably spacious but challenging to adjust, and accessing the third row was difficult. With the third row in place, the XC90 offered 12.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded and 65.5 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. These figures were below average for its class.

The 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized function over form, offering a practical and user-friendly interior. The Premium trim included features like a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats. Higher trims added more luxurious touches, such as StarTex artificial leather and perforated genuine leather. The Forester's outward visibility was excellent, and entry and exit were effortless. However, the panoramic sunroof's lack of tinting caused solar heating issues, and the rear seats were less comfortable than the front. The Forester provided ample interior storage and a usefully shaped cargo area, with 26.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 69.1 cubic feet with the back seat folded.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display running Google OS, with built-in Google Maps, Spotify, NPR, and Google Assistant. The 12.3-inch driver information display also showed Google Maps. While the system's natural-language recognition was excellent, many key functions were buried within the touchscreen interface, leading to frustration. The minimalist design lacked physical buttons and redundant controls, making some features less intuitive to use.

The 2023 Subaru Forester's technology might have appeared outdated, but it offered a user-friendly experience. The Base trim included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and a Harman Kardon premium audio system was available. The Forester's older Subaru Starlink infotainment system was preferable to newer ones, with separate climate controls, easy-to-use volume and tuning knobs, and main menu buttons. However, the voice-recognition system was nearly useless, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto essential.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 continued Volvo's legacy of safety, earning a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It came standard with advanced driver safety tech, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and Pilot Assist technology, which helped maintain distance and lane position.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured the next-generation EyeSight collection of driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies, with updated software and cameras for improved performance. Higher trims added Automatic Emergency Steering and Rear Automatic Braking (RAB). The Touring trim included DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System and gesture control for climate settings. The Forester earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and five-star crash-test ratings from the NHTSA, though it received lower ratings in new side-impact and small-overlap frontal-impact tests.