Well, I'm sending my old pickup to the graveyard and now I'm trying to decide between a Subaru Forester or Honda CRV. Which would you all pick?
Forester or CRV?
- Thread starter integrare
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Although I don't own either one, I have driven both of them on many occations,(friends/family vehicles). Both are very nice and each does what they are supposed to do by their design. The Subaru can be had with a 4 or 6 cyl. and the honda only a 4, but a very nice 4 at that! I beleive that the Subaru is Consumer Reports top rated vehicle in that particular class. Both should be very reliable. Hondas are known for better MPG and better interior space. I also beleive the the Honda is a bit cheaper, but that all depends on which trim level that you are comparing. The Subaru only comes in AWD and the Honda can be had with FWD or AWD. Do you need AWD in Scottsdale? Either one will climb Camel Back Mountain but I wouldn't take either one off road in Sedona. AWD really kills MPG. Also, have you checked out all of the other small SUV's in this class? Or is this where you have narrowed down your choices? The small SUV class is loaded with good vehicles. Don't overlook any of them, and double check all of them for comfort an utility. Good luck! The choices would be hard for me to decide.
I have the 06 CRV AWD. Plenty of power from the 4cyl, very smooth auto transmission. Big cargo area when you flip the 2nd row of seats forward.
Frankly between these two great vehicles it's a matter of style and/or price more than anything else. The CR-V might be higher off the ground. Go with the one you like driving better.
Frankly between these two great vehicles it's a matter of style and/or price more than anything else. The CR-V might be higher off the ground. Go with the one you like driving better.
I had an '01 Forester. Other than the seats being more unconfortable than I would prefer, it was a decent vehicle. Handled well and good acceleration. Although it required more trips to the shop in 5 years than my wife's Lexus did in 13 years.
I'd go with the CRV or consider the new Toyota RAV
I'd go with the CRV or consider the new Toyota RAV
I've had both the CR-V and the Forester. The CR-V is more refined. But, I like the Forester better. I've not been in the new Rav-4...but, from what I've read, that may be better than either the CR-V or the Forester. ANY of these three should be very good vehicles. THAT is the benefit of competition!
Actually, there is no 6-cylinder engine available of the Forester. The engine choices are either a 173-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder or a 230-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder turbo.
The Legacy and Outback models are available with a 6-cylinder engine...but those are entirely different models.
We did a lot of research on the two and went with the 04 Forester over the CR-V. It really came down to little things because either one is fine.
We liked the Forester's interior setup better and found the Honda shifter on the dash kinda weird. We liked the tailgate opening better on the Forester, and even though the spare is inside taking up some potential storage space, rearward visibility is better from the Forester.
Forester had better 5MPH bumper bash results over the CR-V, IIRC it was a couple hundred in damage comapred to $1000+ with the CR-V. Forester also had the active headrests which is supposed to help in a rear-end collision which, at the time, the CR-V didn't have. The Forester also has a lower center-of-gravity due to the horizontal engine which make it more stable in comparison. There is no "rollover warning" sticker on the sunvisor like the CR-V has.
OTOH, the Forester is typically more expensive and not as big inside as the CR-V, and Honda has a good reputation although Subaru has posted some very good ratings over the past few years. This was our first Subaru, and in 2 years of ownership 0 problems. I did a UOA on it and posted the results here. Reading many Subaru UOAs seem to indicate they build pretty good engines.
Good luck!
We liked the Forester's interior setup better and found the Honda shifter on the dash kinda weird. We liked the tailgate opening better on the Forester, and even though the spare is inside taking up some potential storage space, rearward visibility is better from the Forester.
Forester had better 5MPH bumper bash results over the CR-V, IIRC it was a couple hundred in damage comapred to $1000+ with the CR-V. Forester also had the active headrests which is supposed to help in a rear-end collision which, at the time, the CR-V didn't have. The Forester also has a lower center-of-gravity due to the horizontal engine which make it more stable in comparison. There is no "rollover warning" sticker on the sunvisor like the CR-V has.
OTOH, the Forester is typically more expensive and not as big inside as the CR-V, and Honda has a good reputation although Subaru has posted some very good ratings over the past few years. This was our first Subaru, and in 2 years of ownership 0 problems. I did a UOA on it and posted the results here. Reading many Subaru UOAs seem to indicate they build pretty good engines.
Good luck!
I can't speak for the Honda.I do own a 2005 forester X with 18,300 miles.As for quality it's a great car.Decent power,I tow a bass boat,and a pop up camper.The things that bug me about it is,I'm very dissapointed with it's traction in snow,the heater control when set to blow air out the bottom vent,blows more air out it's dash vents.I have a Hyundai Accent with better brakes.The rear windsheild wiper has to have factory replacement blade,or arm.The cabin air filter has to be purchased from a dealer.I did manage to get one online still $40 with shipping.Going to fabricate the next one.Mabey the more expensive XS,or XT models are more refined.Here is a link for a Forester forum: http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/forums/
Both are great. Forester has been the choice for Car & Driver's Small SUV category for several years. If you want fun, go with the Turbo XT. You'll surprise many vehicles at stoplights. However, you cannot beat the resale value of the CRVs. CRV might be due for a new makeover. I'd pick the new RAV4 V6 over the CRV.
The Forester handling is more carlike in my opinion over the CRV which feels like an SUV to me.
I think both are great just personal choice. In my family (grandmother, mother, two sister in laws) there are 5 foresters and all have had good luck.
Also the AWD system on the CRV up until around 2003 or 2004 was not great. Basically it engaged the rear wheels after the fact of slipping and you could feel it and it was past due. However this was corrected with the more current models. Subaru is always essentially engaged and transparent to you.
I think both are great just personal choice. In my family (grandmother, mother, two sister in laws) there are 5 foresters and all have had good luck.
Also the AWD system on the CRV up until around 2003 or 2004 was not great. Basically it engaged the rear wheels after the fact of slipping and you could feel it and it was past due. However this was corrected with the more current models. Subaru is always essentially engaged and transparent to you.
For the person with slipping issues on the Forester, it would have to be the tires on it, because the AWD system is top-notch. Or, the expectations of what an AWD system can do were unrealistic. My CR-V certainly wasn't as good as the Forester in handling...wet, dry, or snow. Still, I'd be very interested in looking at the RAV-4 if I were in the market for this general size vehicle.
Right you are rjundi, no 6-cylinder on the Legacy...only available on the Outback.
Before buying my wife an 03 Forester as her daily driver I did at least 20-30 hours of internet research on the Forester, CRV, Escape, and a couple other vehicles in the same class. The reviews and road tests that I read convinced me that the Forester was the best overall vehicle. Its AWD drive train is superb. It has the lowest center of gravity of the bunch and is thus highly maneuverable. It comes stock loaded with goodies. It has antilock brakes on all four wheels. The engine has been around a long time and is a proven, bulletproof, very high mileage engine. Its quite zippy in the current 173 hp version, especially with a manual transmission. Its won numerous awards and has the highest crash test rating in its class. I could go on and on, but do Google searches and read the reviews and road tests for yourself.
The person who slipped in snow either had poor traction tires or does not know how to drive in snow. In Montana where we live we run studded snow tires on it and it does NOT slip on
hard-packed or soft snow if you know how to drive on that stuff. In fact, it doesn't slip on ice either if you know how to drive on ice and take it easy. The snow traction beats any 4WD I've ever driven, and I've driven a lot of them. Its the best vehicle I've ever owned, and I've owned over a dozen of them.
The person who slipped in snow either had poor traction tires or does not know how to drive in snow. In Montana where we live we run studded snow tires on it and it does NOT slip on
hard-packed or soft snow if you know how to drive on that stuff. In fact, it doesn't slip on ice either if you know how to drive on ice and take it easy. The snow traction beats any 4WD I've ever driven, and I've driven a lot of them. Its the best vehicle I've ever owned, and I've owned over a dozen of them.
forester and crv are great vehicles. flip a coin and pick one. you wont be disappointed by either choice.
i own a crv.
i own a crv.
Another thought on the Forester slippage...Many people agree (as mentioned several times above) that the stock tires are simply awful. I'm not crazy about them either, and I will not replace them with another set of Yokohama Geolanders when the time comes.
Many people also hate the stock Potenza RE92 tires Subaru puts on the Legacys and WRX . Maybe Subaru is just good at picking crappy stock rubber!
Still a great choice!
Many people also hate the stock Potenza RE92 tires Subaru puts on the Legacys and WRX . Maybe Subaru is just good at picking crappy stock rubber!
Still a great choice!
Forester made Car And Driver's Best 5 Trucks list.
Forester turbo with a manual. That thing is a rocket.
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