2019 Honda CR-V vs. 2019 Subaru Forester ― Small-SUV Comparison & Review

Both the Subaru Forester and the Honda CR-V are competent family haulers with plenty of cargo space, high-tech safety features and available AWD for mild off-road driving. What makes them different, and which is the right one for you?

Why did we choose these two small SUVs? We recently did a three small SUV comparison, and the comments were all, "Hey, where's the Subaru Forester?" So we decided to take the winner of our compact SUV comparison and match it up against the Subaru.

There were no losers in this comparison, no obstacles that one crossover could handle while the other struggled. In the end, it came down more to the personality of each. We liked the Honda's responsive engine and well-tuned transmission. But the Subaru was a little less sterile and more adventure-ready with off-road features and a great infotainment system. Either way you go, you'll have lots of room and a safe machine to take you on your journey.

About the 2019 Honda CR-V

The 2019 CR-V checks virtually every box on car shoppers' lists in this increasingly popular vehicle segment. It makes family life easier with a cavernous cargo area, abundant backseat room, easily accessed car-seat anchors, and more clever storage solutions than an Ikea. It will also keep you safe. Crash test ratings are flawless, and accident avoidance technologies are standard on all but the base trim.

Behind the wheel, the Honda CR-V responds smartly to inputs and handles well, yet its comfortable ride and quiet cabin won't wake the kids. Under the hood, the turbocharged engine found in most trim levels provides best-in-class acceleration and fuel economy. Wrapping everything up is the CR-V's excellent reputation for resale value and reliability.

The 2019 Honda CR-V is offered in four trim levels with virtually no options. The base LX is decently equipped, but the EX comes with a substantial bump in desirability. It provides a better engine and an abundance of equipment, including more advanced driver safety aids. The EX-L really just adds leather and a few choice niceties, while the more luxury-oriented Touring piles on the features.

Infotainment features include a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Audio phone integration, satellite radio, an upgraded rearview camera, and second-row USB charging ports. Numerous advanced safety features are also standard on the EX, including automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

The top-of-the-line 2019 Honda CR-V Touring boasts LED headlights, dual chrome exhaust tips, roof rails, automatic wipers, hands-free functionality for the power liftgate, ambient interior lighting, the navigation system, and a subwoofer for the audio system.

More about the Honda CR-V: https://www.edmunds.com/honda/cr-v/2019/

2019 Subaru Forester Review

Thanks to its high stance, standard all-wheel drive and available turbocharged power, the Forester has long been a hit with buyers who live in snowy climes or drive off-the-beaten path. Now Subaru fans who enjoyed the previous model, as well as just about any other consumer shopping for a small crossover SUV, will find even more to love with the redesigned 2019 Subaru Forester.

The Forester has grown marginally since last year, giving its already inviting cabin an even greater sense of space. Subaru also reworked the dashboard, giving it a new touchscreen infotainment interface and, for the first time in a Forester, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

Safety has long been a Subaru staple, and that association is further solidified for 2019. The EyeSight suite of driving aids — lane departure and forward collision warning — is standard on every trim. And features such as blind-spot monitoring and automatic reverse braking are available on most versions. The DriverFocus system debuts on the Touring trim; it incorporates a head-tracking feature and sounds an alert if it senses the driver isn't paying attention to the road. It also uses facial recognition software to store memory settings for up to five drivers.

The 2019 Subaru Forester Sport trim includes automatic high-beam control, LED foglights, keyless entry, an upgraded driver information display, an additional driving mode, an additional traction setting for the X-Mode system and the All-Weather package.

The top-trim 2019 Subaru Forester Touring model includes all of the previously mentioned optional features, along with the LED foglights, a heated steering wheel with wheel-mounted shift paddles, driver-seat memory settings, an eight-way power passenger seat, heated rear seats with remote-folding levers, and the DriverFocus system.

More about the Subaru Forester: https://www.edmunds.com/subaru/forester/2019/

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