Subaru Forester vs The Competition
Subaru Forester VS The Competition
Compare the 2027 Forester with the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V
View Forester InventoryForester vs. RAV4 & CR-V: What You Get for Your Money
Cross-shopping compact SUVs in Hudson County? Odds are you've typed one of these into a search bar:
- Which is better, the Subaru Forester or the Toyota RAV4?
- Forester or CR-V: which one gives me more for the money?
- What is the least expensive compact SUV with standard all-wheel drive?
The short answer: of the three, only the 2027 Forester builds all-wheel drive into its $29,995 starting price, and EyeSight driver assist comes along on every trim, from the Base to the Touring.
The team at Hudson Subaru lined the three up side by side, so you can arrive at our Jersey City showroom with real numbers and real questions.
Starting MSRP Comparison [1]
Subaru Forester Base (AWD included):
$29,995
Toyota RAV4 LE (FWD):
Honda CR-V LX (FWD):
$31,900
$31,520
Starting MSRP With All-Wheel Drive [1]
Subaru Forester Base:
$29,995
Toyota RAV4 LE AWD:
Honda CR-V LX AWD:
$33,300
$33,020
Why it matters: Add all-wheel drive to a RAV4 LE or a CR-V LX and the Forester Base still comes in roughly $3,000 lower, with no option box to check first.
Value That Lasts Past the Window Sticker
Choosing a compact SUV is a multi-year commitment, so details beyond the base price count. Here is where the Forester lineup helps your budget: hybrids with AWD built in, a lower top-trim price, and recognition from Consumer Reports.
Hybrid All-Wheel Drive
Subaru Forester Hybrid (every trim):
Standard
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (LE / SE / XLE Premium):
Honda CR-V Hybrid (Sport / Sport-L):
Optional (+$1,400)
Optional (+$1,500)
Top Trim MSRP [1]
Subaru Forester Touring Hybrid:
$41,545
Toyota RAV4 Limited:
Honda CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid:
$43,300
$42,950
Consumer Reports Recognition
Subaru Forester:
2026 Top Pick [2]
Forester Hybrids start at $34,730 and every one pairs a 194-horsepower hybrid system with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and standard EyeSight.[1]
Built for Jersey City Streets and the Weekend Escape
Standard All-Wheel Drive
Subaru Forester:
Standard, Every Trim
Toyota RAV4 LE / SE / XLE Premium:
Honda CR-V LX through Sport-L:
Optional (+$1,400)
Optional (+$1,500)
Ground Clearance [3]
Forester Wilderness:
9.3 Inches
Forester (Other Trims):
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid:
Honda CR-V:
At Least 8.7 Inches
8.1 Inches (Woodland 8.5)
Up to 8.2 Inches
Towing Capacity [3]
Forester Wilderness (Gas):
3,500 lbs.
Toyota RAV4 (Select AWD Trims):
Honda CR-V Hybrid:
Up to 3,500 lbs.
1,000 lbs.
Standard Touchscreen [3]
Subaru Forester (Most Trims):
11.6 Inches
Toyota RAV4 LE:
Honda CR-V (All Trims):
10.5 Inches
9 Inches
Why it matters: Potholes, curbs, snow piles, and the occasional run up to the mountains all favor a vehicle that rides high. Every Forester trim clears more ground than the RAV4 or CR-V, and the Wilderness matches the best tow rating in this group.[3]
Room to Spare, Tech Within Reach
Subaru lists up to 110.8 cubic feet of interior passenger space and up to 74.4 cubic feet of total cargo space for the Forester, an upright cabin that handles strollers, luggage, and a Costco run with equal ease. On most trims an 11.6-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ anchors the dash, and the Wilderness and Hybrid trims add a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster.[3]
Safety Tech That Earns Its Keep in City Traffic
Standard EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology
Every 2027 Forester includes EyeSight, with Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Centering, and Pre-Collision Braking, a welcome set of extra eyes in stop-and-go traffic near the Holland Tunnel or on the Turnpike Extension.
Automatic Emergency Steering
Available Automatic Emergency Steering is designed to help steer around a hazard when a collision is imminent. Blind-Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert is also available, including in a $1,200 package for the Premium trim.
360-Degree Surround-View Monitor
The available Surround-View Monitor shows a top-down view around the Forester, handy when you are squeezing into a space on a crowded Jersey City block.
Your Forester Questions, Answered
The 2027 Forester Base starts at $29,995 with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive already included. A Toyota RAV4 LE with AWD is $33,300, and a Honda CR-V LX with AWD works out to about $33,020, before destination charges.[1]
The 2027 Forester Hybrid lineup includes the Premium Hybrid at $34,730, Limited Hybrid at $38,995, Wilderness Hybrid at $40,495, Touring Hybrid at $41,545, and Sport Hybrid at $37,930. Every Forester Hybrid includes standard AWD.[1]
Every Forester trim offers at least 8.7 inches of ground clearance, and the Wilderness models reach 9.3 inches. The RAV4 Hybrid is listed at 8.1 inches (8.5 inches on the Woodland), and the CR-V is listed at up to 8.2 inches.[3]
The gas Forester Wilderness has an uprated towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. Select AWD RAV4 trims share that rating, while the CR-V Hybrid is rated at 1,000 pounds. Always confirm the capacity for the exact trim you are considering.[3]
Yes. EyeSight is standard on every 2027 Forester trim, including the Base, and includes Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering and Pre-Collision Braking.
Take the Forester for a Spin in Jersey City
Still weighing:
- Subaru Forester vs Toyota RAV4
- Subaru Forester vs Honda CR-V
- Compact SUVs with standard all-wheel drive
- The best compact SUV for Hudson County winters
[1] Prices shown are MSRP and exclude destination and delivery (Forester $1,475, which can vary in New Jersey; RAV4 $1,450; CR-V $1,550), taxes, title, and registration. Forester pricing is the 2027 model year pricing announced by Subaru of America, and vehicles on the lot may be 2026 models with different pricing and equipment. RAV4 figures reflect the 2026 model year and CR-V figures reflect the 2027 model year. Starting prices are the lowest published prices for the RAV4 LE Hybrid and CR-V LX with front-wheel drive, and the CR-V LX all-wheel drive price is calculated by adding the $1,500 AWD option. Top trim figures compare non-plug-in models: Forester Touring Hybrid, RAV4 Limited, and CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid. Subaru may change prices, options, features, and models at any time, and Toyota and Honda set their own pricing and specifications.
[2] Consumer Reports 2026 Top Pick recognition is listed on subaru.com for the 2026 Subaru Forester and may not apply to other model years.
[3] Ground clearance, towing, touchscreen, and gauge cluster figures are from manufacturer-published information for the 2027 Subaru Forester, 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, and 2026 and 2027 Honda CR-V. Subaru's website is the source for the passenger and cargo volume numbers. Towing ratings vary by trim and equipment, and the RAV4 3,500-pound rating applies to select all-wheel drive trims. Always confirm specifications for the exact vehicle you are considering.
* Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this site, absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This site, and all information and materials appearing on it, are presented to the user "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title or non-infringement. All vehicles are subject to prior sale. Price does not include applicable tax, title, and license. Not responsible for typographical errors. Documentation Fee of $949. **The arrival timeline is an estimate. It may vary due to circumstances beyond Subaru’s or the retailer’s control.
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