Best Subie SUV?? 2025 Subaru Forester vs. 2025 Subaru Crosstrek

Subaru has a diverse lineup of rugged SUVs all designed to fit their customers’ love for capability and adventure. Two of the very successful and very popular choices are the Forester and Crosstrek, and both have been recently redesigned. You might not think these two compete, but there’s a lot more overlap than you would imagine, which is why we wanted to place these siblings head-to-head today. So, which option is best for you in a 2025 Subaru Forester vs. 2025 Subaru Crosstrek comparison? Let’s dive in and find out!

Exterior Design

Starting with the exteriors, both share Subaru’s classic rugged design language, though not as much as they used to. The Forester was just redesigned this year, meaning that it is sporting a more elegant design with a gloss black grille as equipped. Meanwhile, the Crosstrek looks extra rugged, with matte black plastic and more defined cladding throughout. 

We won’t be scoring the design for this comparison, but we will score the features and specs throughout each of them. That starts at the lighting, where both have impressive projector LEDs that are adaptive. Both also include the increasingly rare feature of LED fog lamps.

Continuing to the sides, the Forester has the wheel size advantage, coming in at 19-inches vs the 18s on the Crosstrek. And the segment differences obviously mean the Forester comes in longer lengthwise, about 7 inches to be exact. We will discuss how that translates to interior space later.

Length: 176.4-inches (Crosstrek) | 183.3-inches (Forester)

Like the headlights, the taillights are very similar, both having partially LED arrangements.

Surprisingly, despite the size difference, they share the same tow rating, up to 1,500 lbs as tested today.

Towing: 1,500 lbs. (Crosstrek) | 1,500 lbs. (Forester)

Heading to the mirrors, they continue to match each other, with BSM, heating, and integrated turn signals.

And in typical Subie fashion, each offers Subaru’s entire EyeSight suite of safety systems as standard equipment. These top trim levels also go above and beyond by adding Rear Auto Braking to the list. 

The sibling rivalry will only get stronger from here, so let’s hop inside.

Interior Design

Approaching each, they have smart entry systems as equipped with the typical Subaru key fob. Remote start is available via the Subaru app. 

Note: It is included free during the trial period.

Once the doors are open, the family resemblance continues to show, but not without their unique differences.

There’s no better place to start an interior tour than with the seats! Both are surprisingly finished in full real leather, with the Forester adding some additional suede accents. We won’t score visual differences, but keep in mind the Forester also offers a more diverse brown color option, over your typical gray or black. 

For seat adjustability, both come with 10-way power adjustment and 2-way lumbar support. And while they both offer heated seats as equipped, only the Forester adds the extra luxury of both ventilated seats and memory.

Once inside the cabins, you’ll continue to see differences when it comes to cabin materials. Here, the Forester is the nicer of the two, using more leather and soft-touch plastic throughout, including nice touches like a padded knee rest along the center console. This creates a more luxurious cabin experience than the Crosstrek. However, we also evaluate solidity, and both excel here equally with the quality Subaru is known for.

After startup, you’ll see…well…the exact same gauge cluster. As equipped, these two models continue with the traditional gauge cluster design with a 4.2-inch display in the middle. While Subaru has debuted a new fully digital setup, you will have to spring for the Hybrid versions of to get that.

Neither have head-up displays, but they will both have a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Only the Forester adds the extra feature of heating, as well as rain-sensing wipers, though.

Storage and Technology

Now let’s evaluate the storage by looking at the center console space and additional storage cubbies. Starting with the center consoles, it’s surprisingly the smaller Crosstrek with the larger console when tested with our signature Car Confections donut volume test. It swallows up a full dozen donuts, and beyond their consoles, they both have cup holders and a wireless charging pad. Front areas are roughly the same size, so no points will be awarded.

Those who like an old-school feel will appreciate their traditional shifters. When in reverse, only the Forester offers a more useful 360-degree camera, a Forester first, over the Crosstrek’s traditional backup camera.

For climate, both have dual-zone automatic setups with physical buttons for the main temperature adjustment. But if you need to mess with any of the extra controls in these Subies, those adjustments will be done in the sometimes laggy center display. 

And for audio, the Forester has an upgraded 11-speaker Harmon Kardon Sound System, while the Crosstrek has an unbranded 6-speaker System on this tester. Let’s sample them. While the Crosstrek also has an available Harmon Kardon system, the Forester takes a clear victory here. Our value assessment later will keep this in mind.

Forester: 11-speaker Harmon Kardon

Crosstrek: 6-speaker Audio

Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room: in-car technology. Both come with Subaru’s large 11.7-inch display, which has become a brand signature. While they share the same screen, there are some functionality differences. Both have Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but only the Forester includes Navigation built into the system itself.

Wrapping up the front of the cabins, both have auto-dimming mirrors with garage door openers as equipped, but the Forester adds the camera ability for this year.

Additionally, the Forester offers a standard panoramic sunroof on almost every trim, while the Crosstrek only has an optional standard-sized one, which we don’t have.

Rear Seats and Cargo

Now as we head around to the back seats, let’s see if the size difference we discussed earlier will come into play. Sure enough, it will, as the Forester holds an almost 8% legroom advantage over the smaller Crosstrek. The Forester also has more headroom, but the difference is below our 5% threshold required to score a point.

Forester: Legroom: 39.4 inches | Headroom: 39.6 inches

Crosstrek: Legroom: 36.5-inches | Headroom: 38.0 inches

There are also differences when it comes to the back seat features. While both offer comfortable seats with USB ports and a fold-down armrest, only the Forester is equipped with air vents and heated seats for even more passenger comfort.

Now let’s see how much stuff you can bring along with you for the journey. The Forester is the easiest to get into, with a hands-free power tailgate as equipped over the manual setup on our Crosstrek.

Once they open, the Forester continues to dominate in the space game. With the Forester’s length and roofline advantages, it possesses an over 20% advantage in both cargo configurations. While the Crosstrek is not small by any means, the Forester is the space king in this comparison. That’s one of the biggest and most important distinctions to consider when cross shopping.

Forester: Behind 2nd row: 27.5 cu. ft | Maximum: 69.1 cu. ft (w/ pano)

Crosstrek: Behind 2nd Row: 19.9 cu. ft. | Maximum: 54.7 cubic feet

Now, when it comes to other features, the Forester also has more convenient switches in the cargo area to fold the second row down, allowing those of all heights to access the full cargo space.

Both offer peace of mind with spare tires.

Like any sibling rivalry, the fight won’t stop until the very end, so now let’s take them out to the streets!

Powertrains

Not only are Subie’s known for their knack for adventure, but they’re also known for the iconic Boxer Engines, and that’s what these two are sporting today. Both models, as equipped, come with a 2.5L Boxer-4 Cylinders, making almost identical power figures. That means any difference in acceleration is negligible. 

Forester: 2.5L Boxer-4: 180 hp | 178 lb.ft

Crosstrek: 2.5L Boxer-4: 182 hp | 178 lb.ft

With the same engine also comes the same transmission, which in this case is a Continuously Variable Transmission.

Most importantly, these adventurous Subies come equipped with standard Symmetrical AWD and 8.7-inches of ground clearance, meaning these two can handle things well when the asphalt runs out.

Test Drive and Fuel Economy

When it comes to ride quality and dynamics, both do a great job of soaking up big bumps in the road. The Forester does ride better than the Crosstrek making your family extremely comfortable even on longer road trips. Neither offer much when it comes to sporty driving dynamics but instead choose to focus on comfort. Steering is light but accurate.

But how quiet are the cabins? Here at Car Confections, we take sound level readings of every vehicle we test on our channel. Unfortunately, the Forester’s was taken at a press event in Montana, so it can’t be scored officially, but here are our readings for your reference until we get one back home in Kentucky for an official test.

Forester: 57.6 dB @ 55 MPH

Crosstrek: 59.9 dB @ 55 MPH

Finally, for fuel economy, you won’t be surprised to see that since these siblings share the same engine, they have almost identical fuel economy at 29 MPG combined. For those wanting even better efficiency, do keep in mind the Forester now has a hybrid variant, and the Crosstrek is getting soon for the 2026 model year.

Forester AWD: 26/33/29 MPG

Crosstrek AWD: 27/33/29 MPG

Price Assessment

Following the Forester’s redesign and some mid-year price increases on the Crosstrek, with all of the bells and whistles, the Forester comes in at just over $40,000, while our top end Crosstrek is right around the $35,000 price tag. 

Forester (Touring AWD): $41,595 | Options: +$533 | Destination: $1,420 | Total: $43,548

Crosstrek (Limited AWD): $32,260 | Options: +$829 | Destination: $1,420 | Total: $34,509

When all is said and done, there is a $9,039 price difference between these two models.

2025 Subaru Forester vs. 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Pick!

So, there you have it! These siblings have a lot of unique characteristics, but which one is the best for you?? Here are some things to consider:

Forester: 

• More premium interior finishes
• Added luxury features
• More spacious overall

Crosstrek: 

• More affordable
• Same engine as the Forester
• Same tech as the Forester

Now we want to know your opinions, so make sure to head to the comment section and let us know which one you would pick!

Thanks for joining us for another Car Confections Comparison! We’ll catch you next time as we sample the latest automotive delicacies!