2017 Honda CR-V
$24,045 | U.S. News Score: 8.8/10
The 2017 Honda CR-V currently holds the top spot in our rankings of compact SUVs. It is also the winner of our 2017 Best Compact SUV for the Money, 2017 Best Compact SUV for Families, and 2017 Best SUV for Teens $25k to $30k awards.
There’s less than a cubic-foot difference in cargo space between the two vehicles when the rear seats are folded forward, though the CR-V has a more comfortable and stylish interior. Those touches come at a cost, with the CR-V having a base price that’s more than $1,200 higher than the Forester. Adding all-wheel drive to the CR-V adds another $1,300 to the price tag.
Both the CR-V and Forester come standard with four-cylinder engines and have identical EPA mileage estimates (though the base CR-V is front-wheel drive and the Forester is all-wheel drive). The CR-V is available with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that gets better fuel economy than its base engine. The Forester's optional four-cylinder turbo gets worse mileage than its base engine but is much more potent than the CR-V's turbo.
2017 Mazda CX-5
$24,045 | U.S. News Score: 8.7/10
There aren’t many vehicles in the compact SUV segment that could be described as nimble performers, but the 2017 Mazda CX-5 offers a great blend of agile handling, excellent fuel economy, and a comfortable, upscale cabin. The CX-5 was completely redesigned for 2017 and is priced from $24,045.
In our rankings of compact SUVs, the CX-5 holds a spot just behind the segment leader.
The CX-5 has about 20 percent less cargo room than the Forester with the rear seats folded flat, however, and all-wheel drive is a $1,300 option. The CX-5 comes standard with a low-speed automatic braking which helps you avoid collisions at speeds up to 18 mph.
Mazda has announced a diesel engine option for the CX-5, but no availability date or pricing information has been released.
2018 GMC Terrain
$24,995 | U.S. News Score: 8.5/10
The 2018 GMC Terrain has been completely redesigned, with an all-new look, an upscale interior, and an optional diesel engine with excellent fuel economy. The turbodiesel engine earns the Terrain EPA-estimated fuel economy of 28 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway.
Prices for the Terrain start at about $2,200 more than the Forester. The new Terrain holds a spot near the top of our rankings of compact SUVs.
The Terrain has about 12 fewer cubic feet of cargo space than the Forester, but the front passenger seat folds forward so that you can load long cargo into the cabin. It also has standard cabin technology like a 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G LTE data connection, and an onboard Wi-Fi hot spot. Those features are not available on the Subaru’s infotainment systems.
2017 Hyundai Tucson
$22,700 | U.S. News Score: 8.5/10
The 2017 Hyundai Tucson has a similar starting price to the 2018 Forester, but it has a higher overall score in our rankings of compact SUVs. It also comes with a basic warranty that lasts two years longer than the Subaru’s and powertrain coverage that lasts five years longer.
It was a finalist for both our 2017 Best Compact SUV for the Money and Best Compact SUV for Families awards. Buyers can expect the Tucson to have above average predicted reliability.
The Tucson features a spacious cabin, but like the Forester, many of its interior surfaces are covered in hard plastics that lack a rich feel. Its 61.9 cubic feet of cargo room space is significantly smaller than the Forester’s 74.7 cubic feet. Support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is optional on the Tucson.
2018 Ford Escape
$23,850 | U.S. News Score: 8.4/10
The 2018 Ford Escape performs well in a number of the areas that buyers of compact SUVs find essential, though it doesn't top the charts in any of them. However, it is a well-rounded option that does a whole lot more right than it does wrong.
It holds a spot just behind the segment leaders in our rankings of compact SUVs.
The Escape isn’t quite as nimble as the Mazda CX-5, but it is sportier than most rivals and has plenty of power, especially when equipped with one of its turbocharged engine options.
Compared to the Forester, the Escape has about five fewer cubic feet of cargo space (about four grocery bags worth), but its cargo area is large enough to swallow small pieces of furniture.
2018 Chevrolet Equinox
$23,580 | U.S. News Score: 8.3/10
The redesigned 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is the sister car to the 2018 GMC Terrain and shares many of its features and powertrain options, including its soon-to-be-available diesel engine. In our rankings of compact SUVs, it holds a spot in the top half of the list, a couple of places above the Forester.
Equinox pricing starts about $800 higher than the Forester, but it comes with a generous amount of standard equipment. A 7-inch touch-screen infotainment comes standard, and it supports Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a 4G LTE data connection, and an onboard Wi-Fi hot spot.
If you plan to tow using an Equinox, you’ll want to opt for the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, which allows the compact crossover to tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped.
2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
$27,135 | U.S. News Score: 8.0/10
If fuel economy is at the top of your wish list, you should consider the 2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid as an alternative to the 2018 Subaru Forester. Though it comes with a starting price tag that is about $5,000 higher than the Forester, it earns much higher city fuel economy estimates.
In its base trim, the Forester is rated at 26 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. The RAV4 hybrid easily bests the Forester’s city fuel economy, earning EPA-estimated mileage of 34 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. (Hybrids typically get better city than highway fuel economy as they recoup energy from frequent braking in the city.) You’ll need to look at your typical driving habits to see if you would save any money by driving the RAV4 hybrid.
Like the Forester, all RAV4 Hybrid models come standard with all-wheel drive. In our rankings of compact SUVs, the RAV4 Hybrid holds a spot just below the midway point and a couple of positions below the Forester. The RAV4 Hybrid is our 2017 Best Hybrid SUV for the Money award winner and was a finalist for our 2017 Best Hybrid SUV for Families honor.
2018 Jeep Cherokee
$24,395 | U.S. News Score: 7.6/10
The 2018 Subaru Forester is a sure-footed vehicle on dirt roads or in the snow. However, if you need a more capable off-road compact SUV, you should look at the 2018 Jeep Cherokee. While all Cherokees equipped with all-wheel drive are solid off-road performers, the Cherokee Trailhawk is downright formidable.
Of course, you pay for that capability. The base Cherokee is priced from $24,395, but the Trailhawk trim level, with its host of off-road components, has a starting price of $30,995. The Trailhawk includes a multi-mode four-wheel drive system that can tune the car’s systems for various terrain, ranging from snow to rock.
The Cherokee has about 20 cubic feet less cargo space than the Forester – which is the equivalent of about 15 bags of groceries. Its base engine feels weaker than the Forester, despite the fact that it has 14 more horsepower than the Subaru.
In our rankings of compact SUVs, the Cherokee is scored about two-thirds of the way down the list, and a few slots below the Forester.
2018 Subaru Outback
$25,895 | U.S. News Score: 8.5/10
You don’t have to leave the Subaru family to address the 2018 Forester’s greatest weakness – its interior. The 2018 Subaru Outback provides a more opulent and car-like environment than the Forester, including more rear-seat legroom for adults. The Outback carries about a $3,000 price premium, however.
The two vehicles carry similar base engines, and much of the standard and available equipment is similar, including the EyeSight suite of advanced safety and driver features. The Forester’s optional engine is a turbocharged four-cylinder, while the Outback offers a slightly more powerful V6.
The Outback is longer than Forester but has nearly the same cargo capacity because the Forester is taller. Buyers can tow much more with the Outback. Its towing capacity is 2,700 pounds when properly equipped, compared to the Forester’s 1,500 pounds.
In our rankings of wagons, the 2018 Outback holds a spot near the top.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek
$21,795 | U.S. News Score: 8.2/10
If you don’t need all of the space that the Forester offers, but want to stay with the Subaru brand, the fully redesigned 2018 Subaru Crosstrek deserves a look. In our rankings of subcompact SUVs, the Crosstrek holds a spot near the top. Its base price is $1,000 lower than the Forester.
Like the Forester, all-wheel drive is standard on the Crosstrek. While its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is weaker than both class rivals and the Forester, its steering response and handling are excellent. It earns EPA mileage estimates that are one mpg higher on city streets and the highway.
There’s plenty of passenger space in the Crosstrek, even for adults in the rear seat. The most significant difference is cargo space, with the Crosstrek having about 20 cubic feet less than the Forester. Both feature 8.7 inches of ground clearance, so getting off paved roads isn’t an issue for either of them.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
The compact and subcompact SUV segments are booming, with many excellent vehicles available. You can see how they all stack up in our new car rankings and you can compare them side-by-side using our vehicle comparison tool. Our affordability calculator shows you how much SUV fits your budget.
Despite their popularity, there are still some great manufacturer incentives available on many models. Look at our new car deals and lease incentives pages to find offers that can save you thousands on your purchase or lease.
You can save even more when you buy or lease using our Best Price Program. Buyers save an average of $3,279 off sticker price when they use the program, which links them to local dealers with guaranteed savings.
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Other Options to Consider When You’re Looking at the Forester
The 2018 Subaru Forester is a good choice if you are looking for a compact SUV. It holds massive amounts of cargo and all-wheel drive comes standard on every model. However, before you lay down your money, you should also think about some other vehicles.
In our rankings of compact SUVs, the Forester holds a spot about midway through the ratings, scoring an 8.2 out of 10 on our scale. Pricing starts at $22,795 and the highest trim level has a starting price of $36,090. It has one of the lowest base prices in the segment, even though it is one of the few vehicles with standard all-wheel drive.
It is available with Subaru’s well-regarded EyeSight suite of advanced driver assistance and electronic safety systems. In addition to adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane keeping assist, EyeSight includes rear automatic braking to help prevent you from backing over a child or other unseen object behind the car. Not many vehicles currently offer rear automatic braking.
The Forester competes in a brutally competitive compact SUV segment. Several vehicles have higher overall scores than the Forester and some rivals excel in key attributes that are at the top of some buyers' wish lists. The segment's overall ratings are led by the top-ranked, though more expensive, 2017 Honda CR-V. Subaru also offers vehicles that are slightly larger and smaller than the Forester so that you can find just the right size SUV for your needs.
Take a look at the following slides to see some of the best alternatives to the 2018 Forester.