2025 Subaru Forester VS Toyota RAV4 VS Honda CR-V || Which SUV Is Best?

2025 Subaru Forester VS 2025 Toyota RAV4 VS 2025 Honda CR-V Comparison Review. We review and test drive the 2025 Toyota RAV4, 2025 Subaru Forester and 2025 Honda CR-V to find out which is the best reliable SUV to buy. If you are buying a 2025 Toyota RAV4 or 2025 Honda CR-V or 2025 Subaru Forester, make sure to watch this review.

00:00 Intro
00:35 Engines
03:20 Hybrids
05:50 Driving Feel
07:10 Interiors
09:20 Safety
09:40 Pricing
10:37 Reliability
11:20 Verdict

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With over a decade of experience as a professional car buyer and auto consultant, Shari Prymak has helped thousands of consumers with their car buying needs. Car Help Corner provides honest, objective, consumer advice with all aspects of car buying and car ownership. For more professional advice, check out Car Help Canada, become a member, and subscribe!

[jackbiernacki]

My wife found RAV 4 terribly uncomfortable, which was a deal breaker for us. She is a smaller person and felt getting in and out awkward and the position of the gear shifter too far to the right. We went with Forester which has also way better roof rack system if you are into carrying boats or roof top tent. It also has hooks under the engine to conveniently strap your boat. With a slightly better clearance and all wheel drive, the Forester was a clear winner for us.

[MarkPhilly-tpwq]

❤ Love the forester. build solid and unmatched awd

[M.R.]

My 2010 and my wife's 2012 Foresters still run like Swiss watches, to this day they have never left us anywhere, I am yet to pay a dime for anything other than the usual maintenance and wear and tear stuff, engines are untouched and neither burns nor loose oil, transmissions are untouched as well. Their bodies are rust free and in excellent shape ( I do under spray every year and the cars are waxed once every two months) Their Symmetrical AWD is second to none, RAV4 and Honda CRV do not even come close to the Forrester in this category. According to Honda and Toyota, the Hybrid battery replacement every 10 to 12 years will cost approx. $8, 000 to $10, 000 (Just replaced my eldest daughter's battery pack on her 2011 Prius at $7, 700), so both Hybrid (even in the coming Forester)and Turbo engines are out for us. When the 2027 Forester comes out at the end of 2026, we intend to pass the 2010 and 2012 Foresters to my youngest daughter and son and purchase brand new ones for ourselves. The only Honda and Toyota I am willing to consider are the Honda Pilot and the 2024 Toyota 4Runner (the 2025 4Runner with turbo and hybrid engine coming are out for us). Sadly they are just too large for us.

[randolphwilson]

I have a 2023 and 2024 Subaru Forester. To say the Forester is underpowered is laughable. not to me. Ride is nice and quiet. Plus i paid less for the Forester than either the Rav4 or CRV.

[islanddon]

I've owned several CR-Vs and sold all 3. The Honda is really great, but a bit pricey for me, . While the Subie is a bit rough around the edges, but perfect on the wintry mountain side roads. And the RAV4 is the best all around vehicle...and my personal choice.
But, as you said, you can't go wrong with any of these established, very reliable cars.

[grandmastert]

You can’t beat RAV4 engine/transmission combo. I spoke with a local Toyota service rep who said if you plan on keeping the car more then 10 years then go gas he says they charge $9k-$10k for new battery with installation and nobody should buy a vehicle with turbo but unfortunately every new car has a turbo

[rickslick]

I had a 2017 CRV with turbo and CVT. At 103, 000 miles, I was waiting for either the turbo or CVT to go. I bought a 2024 Rav4 LE a month ago because it has an 8 speed conventional transmission, no turbo and a combo of port and GDI fuel injection which should help keep the intake valves clean. I plan on keeping this car for over 100, 000 miles plus, I change my oil every 5k miles and plan on keeping up with service.

[pillbox]

Visibility in the Forester makes up for the crappy entertainment info screen that I never use anyway.

[davidgilhousen]

I own both a CRV & Forester, and there are advantages to both. CRV is a great commuter car that offers great mileage even without the Hybrid. Long-term costs and engine reliability phenomenal. Forester is best if you need extra ground clearance, drive on poor country roads, and snow. More solidly built with better traction, more sound deadening, a better top-of-the-line stereo, better safety systems (lower insurance) and now a 360 camera.

[tectorama]

We have a RAV4 hybrid here in the UK, and are getting 53.5 mpg (UK Gallon)
All RAV4s here are AWD hybrids with some having the plug in option. As long
as it's serviced by Toyota, they have a 10 yr 100, 000 mile warranty.

[donaldwilson]

I am a proud Honda CR-V owner and I love it. It's a 2WD EX with the 1.5T. It has good MPG's for an SUV, plenty of room, nice to drive, and feels quick despite the small engine displacement. I know not everyone is a fan of CVT's, but Honda has one of the better ones in the business and has proven to be reliable.

[vjmtz]

For me you can't go wrong with either, but I'm not a fan of turbos or hybrids let alone EVs (will be in the future someday). With that said, Subaru has a key factor: price. You can easily get their cars for under MSRP. Can't say that with Toyota or Hondas (which is understandable, they don't have to give you a deal as they will sell no matter what).

[weekender]

The 2024 Forester eBoxer gives so much more for the money, for me that's the most logical choice, but I agree on the driving comfort of the CR-V and the Rav4 reliability.

[gooner]

We're going to test drive a Forester and CR-V AWD this weekend. This really helps us to take note of what kinds of things to look for. Thanks!

[DorrieSchrimpf]

In my opinion his assessment of the Subaru Forester was underrated I have owned a 2016 and now own a 2025 Forester and find both to be excellent rides .

[oiler]

Had a 2017 a Forester. It was nice, about a B. Traded it in for a new Rav4 Hybrid. I am loving everything about it. Rating it a solid A.

[iwejun]

I have a 2018 Honda Accord Touring with the 1.5 turbo. This car is now getting 43.1 mpg which is outstanding but I would not put this engine in a heavier vehicle. Our choice is going to be the Subaru Forester Touring while not as peppy as the other two we drove it and consider it very quiet with little cvt noise and the thermostat issue has been fixed and they are using the WRX steering gear now which is tight. The Subaru AWD is why living in the northern snow belt near the Great Lakes fulltime awd makes sense because the other two react when you slip while the Subaru is always working to keep from slipping.

[seikocitizenwatches]

Can’t go wrong with any of the three. But for longevity and for the lowest cost of maintenance Toyota edges out others as the most desirable vehicle for long term relationship.

[pigg]

Most Toyota dealers warranty hybrid batteries up to 150K or 15 years. This is a strong incentive to purchase hybrid vehicles.

[hoosiergrandma]

I retired in 2014 and was leasing a CRV so before the lease was up, I bought a 2005 CRV. It's getting close to 200, 000 miles now. My son, who poo-pooed me for even considering a Honda, now has 3. 😆