Honda CR-V vs Subaru Forester
$49,800 drive-away vs $45,990 plus on-roads. Near-level once registered. Two very different approaches to the same job.
Data checked: specs 29 Aug 2026, price 10 Sep 2026
Comparison snapshot
Prices, scores and edges below update from our car data.
From about $45,250 est. RRP
Estimated RRP: this brand lists drive-away prices only.
Lighter on fuel by 0.5 L/100km, 93L more boot
Tows 300kg more, higher ANCAP rating
Written 5 April 2026. The snapshot, tables, scores and verdict on this page update from our car data; figures quoted in the text are as at that date.
Price
Check the basis before you compare these. The CR-V VTi L AWD is $49,800 drive-away, with rego, stamp duty and CTP included. The Forester AWD is $45,990 recommended retail before on-road costs, so add roughly $4,000 to get it on the road in VIC. Level those up and they land within a few hundred dollars of each other, effectively level registered. They share a five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty.
At 15,000km a year and $1.90 a litre: the CR-V costs about $41 a week in fuel ($2,109 a year), the Forester about $43 ($2,252). The Honda saves $143 a year, or $715 over five years. Small, but it points the same way as the purchase price.
5-Year Cost Estimate
| Cost | CR-V VTi L AWD | Forester AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-away (VIC) | $49,800 (quoted) | ~$50,000 (est. from $45,990 RRP) |
| 5yr Fuel (est.) | $10,545 | $11,258 |
| 5yr Insurance (est.) | $7,800 | $7,500 |
| 5yr Servicing (est.) | $2,800 | $3,000 |
| Resale (est. 5yr, 48%/50%) | -$23,904 | -$22,995 |
| True 5yr Cost | ~$47,041 | ~$48,763 |
That is roughly a $1,700 advantage to the CR-V over five years, inside the error bars of estimates like these. After a spell where the Honda's campaign pricing made it the clear value pick, this is a coin flip again. Use our depreciation calculator to check against your own circumstances.
Estimates based on CarSorted calculations. Actual costs vary.
Safety
They are not level on published ratings, and it is the Subaru that comes out ahead. Both were assessed in 2024 under the same protocols: the Forester scored five stars, the CR-V four. If you have read that both are five-star cars, including in an earlier version of this page, that was wrong. On equipment both list AEB, blind-spot monitoring, lane keep and adaptive cruise; Honda adds a LaneWatch camera on some trims and Subaru uses its EyeSight dual-camera system. The Forester's large glass area is a visibility advantage ANCAP does not score. Compare them on CarSorted.
Features
The CR-V VTi L gets a 9-inch screen, wireless Apple CarPlay, heated front seats and Honda's clean dash layout. The Forester AWD gets an 8-inch screen, wired Apple CarPlay at this grade, and Subaru's EyeSight dual-camera system. On paper the CR-V has more tech; the Forester has the larger glass area and the better view out.
CarSorted Data Insight
Based on CarSorted's database of Australian vehicles: the CR-V and Forester are two of a small group of non-luxury AWD SUVs available around $45,000. The CR-V's 589-litre boot is one of the largest of any AWD SUV at this money in our database. The Forester's 220mm ground clearance and 1,800kg tow rating are among the highest in the group.
Both brands offer a hybrid step up. The Forester AWD Hybrid at $46,490 RRP drops consumption from 7.9L to 6.2L/100km, saving about $485 a year, so at $3,000 over the base petrol it pays for itself in roughly six years. Honda's CR-V e:HEV RS is $51,400 drive-away and drops to 5.5L/100km, but it is a much bigger step up in price and is front-drive only.
The Verdict
Buy the CR-V if: you want the bigger boot (589L), more power (140kW), quicker acceleration (8.2s against 11.2s) and better fuel economy. With the prices now effectively level on the road, it is the practical pick rather than the cheap one.
Buy the Forester if: you want the five-star ANCAP rating rather than four, permanent symmetrical AWD, 1,800kg of braked towing, 220mm of ground clearance and the better view out. The outdoor-lifestyle choice, and the safer one on paper.
Compare both on CarSorted. See also: Forester vs RAV4 and best AWD cars ranked.
Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices excluding on-road costs. Correct at time of publishing. Verify with your dealer.
Key details
A tick marks the better figure only where both cars have one and the gap is meaningful (3% or more; a whole star or year).
| Detail | Honda CR-V | Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From about $45,250 est. RRP | From $45,990 RRP |
| Drive-away estimate | $49,800 drive away (VIC, advertised) | Calculating... |
| Body | SUV | SUV |
| Powertrain | Petrol, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | Petrol, 2.5L 4-cyl |
| Power / torque | 140kW / 240Nm | 136kW / 247Nm |
| Fuel use | 7.4 L/100km | 7.9 L/100km |
| Boot | 589L seats up | 496L seats up · 1,174L seats folded |
| Towing (braked) | 1,500kg | 1,800kg |
| ANCAP | 4 stars (2024) | 5 stars (2024) |
| Warranty | 5yr / unlimited km | 5yr / unlimited km |
At a glance
- Seats
- 5
- Boot
- 589L seats up
- Length x width x height
- 4,704 x 1,866 x 1,691mm
- Wheelbase
- 2,700mm
- Engine
- 1.5L 4-cyl turbo
- Power
- 140kW
- Torque
- 240Nm
- Drive
- AWD
- Transmission
- CVT
- Power-to-weight
- 84 kW/tonne
- Kerb weight
- 1,669kg
- Spare wheel
- Space saver
- Payload
- 589kg
- Towing braked / unbraked
- 1,500kg / 600kg
- Turning circle
- 12m
- Seats
- 5
- Boot
- 496L seats up · 1,174L seats folded
- Length x width x height
- 4,655 x 1,830 x 1,730mm
- Wheelbase
- 2,670mm
- Engine
- 2.5L 4-cyl
- Power
- 136kW
- Torque
- 247Nm
- Drive
- AWD
- Transmission
- CVT
- Power-to-weight
- 84 kW/tonne
- Kerb weight
- 1,622kg
- Spare wheel
- Full-size
- Payload
- No data
- Towing braked / unbraked
- 1,800kg / 750kg
- Turning circle
- 10.8m
CarSorted Score breakdown
The CarSorted Score is algorithmic: it is calculated from each car's data, not from a road test. How it works.
Safety
Fuel Economy
Value
Practicality
Technology
Performance
Reliability
The verdict
Honda CR-V comes out ahead on the CarSorted Score (70 vs 65)
The deciding gaps
- Safety:Honda CR-V 89, Subaru Forester 76, Honda CR-V ahead by 13
- Technology:Honda CR-V 45, Subaru Forester 37, Honda CR-V ahead by 8
- Value:Honda CR-V 78, Subaru Forester 73, Honda CR-V ahead by 5
Same scorer as the live comparison of these two exact cars.
Our take (written 5 April 2026)
Fresh pricing on both sides has pulled this back to a genuine coin flip. Honda now quotes the CR-V VTi L AWD at $49,800 drive-away; Subaru's Forester AWD moved to $45,990 before on-road costs, which lands right around $50,000 registered. Call it level on the road. The Honda's case: 93 litres more boot (589L vs 496L), 4kW more power, better fuel economy and the quicker 0-100. The Forester's: a five-star ANCAP rating from 2024 where the CR-V holds four, 1,800kg of braked towing against 1,500, 7Nm more torque, 12mm more ground clearance and permanently engaged symmetrical AWD rather than Honda's on-demand system. With price out of the argument, buy on use: cargo and pace, the CR-V; towing, dirt roads and the stronger crash rating, the Forester.
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Questions buyers ask
Which has better AWD, CR-V or Forester?
The Forester. Subaru's symmetrical AWD is permanently engaged, sending power to all four wheels all the time. Honda's system is on-demand, only activating the rear wheels when the fronts slip. On dirt roads and wet grass, the Forester is more predictable.
How much does the CR-V cost to run per year?
On the official combined cycle, the Honda CR-V uses 7.4 L/100km and the Subaru Forester uses 7.9 L/100km.
Which SUV has better ground clearance?
Ground clearance: the Subaru Forester at 220mm, against 208mm for the Honda CR-V.
Which has the better safety rating?
The Honda CR-V holds 4 stars (rated 2024), and the Subaru Forester holds 5 stars (rated 2024).
Which is cheaper, the Honda CR-V or the Subaru Forester?
The Honda CR-V VTi L AWD is from about $45,250 est. RRP; the Subaru Forester AWD is from $45,990 RRP. That makes the Honda CR-V $740 cheaper.
Which has the bigger boot?
Boot space with the seats up: the Honda CR-V at 589L, against 496L for the Subaru Forester.
Which tows more?
Braked towing capacity: the Subaru Forester at 1,800kg, against 1,500kg for the Honda CR-V.
Which has the better warranty?
The Honda CR-V comes with a 5yr / unlimited km warranty; the Subaru Forester with a 5yr / unlimited km warranty.
Which comes out ahead overall?
On the CarSorted Score the Honda CR-V comes out ahead (Honda CR-V 70/100, Subaru Forester 65/100), mainly on safety, technology, value. The score is algorithmic; the editorial above says who each car suits.
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How to read this page. Prices, specs, ANCAP ratings, warranty, scores and the computed verdict come from our records for the two variants shown, sourced from manufacturer Australian documents, and update when those records change. RRP excludes on-road costs. Drive-away figures are estimates for the state you have selected unless marked as advertised. The editorial text was written on 5 April 2026. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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