Looking for the 2025 Subaru Forester? Experts Recommend These Alternatives

A perfectly sensible vehicle

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduces itself as conservative and pragmatic, prioritizing logic over haste. Despite undergoing a comprehensive overhaul for the current model year, the vehicle retains its core character, merely adopting a fresh exterior appearance. The interior now boasts enhanced refinement and reduced noise levels during high-speed travel. Passengers enjoy ample rooming with 111 cubic feet of passenger space and up to 74 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down from the initial 27 cubic feet capacity. At the heart of the cabin sits a standard 7-inch touch screen interface; however, you can opt for an upgraded version measuring 11.6 inches instead. Notably, both versions feature built-in support for wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto functionalities without requiring physical connections. While these controls prove user-friendly due to their sizable icons displayed prominently onscreen, they lack aesthetic appeal in terms of overall design sophistication.

An all-wheel-drive system comes equipped with a 2.5-liter flat-four engine delivering 180 horsepower and paired with a continuously variable transmission. The power delivery is silky-smooth; nonetheless, the vehicle lacks robust acceleration, and the drivetrain shows some lag when more thrust is demanded. Although the steering feels disconnected, the car offers a pleasant and stable ride quality. Additionally, fuel efficiency stands out at an impressive 29 miles per gallon, and the maximum tow capacity is set at 1,500 pounds.

The 2025 Subaru Forester meets the common needs of daily transportation with minimal hassle. It’s not flashy, but perhaps you require something beyond what this model provides. Consider these attractive options instead.

Ford Bronco Sport

In 2025, the Ford Bronco Sport—the lesser model among Ford’s Broncos—can tackle most terrains due to its impressive 8.8-inch ground clearance along with optional settings like Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl modes. Although it doesn’t feature an electronically disconnectable sway bar or a low-range crawler gear, the vehicle compensates with increased performance via a new 250-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo motor. Its base engine consists of a less powerful 181-hp 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo paired with an eight-speed auto tranny and AWD as default features. According to EPA estimates, this car gets around 27 miles per gallon when equipped with the small engine and about 23 mpg with the bigger unit running on regular gas. When pulling loads goes into consideration, expect towing capacity up to 2,200 lbs for the smaller engine variant versus 2,700 lbs for those opting for the higher-output version. For serious trail enthusiasts looking for enhanced capability, consider getting the Sasquatch pack; it comes loaded with goodies such as torque vectoring diff, rugged tires designed for tough terrain, rescue hooks, extra armor undercarriage protection panels, Bilstein shocks specifically tuned for the back end, plus even greater height above road level than stock configurations offer.

The vehicle comes equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel along with a 13.2-inch touch screen for infotainment that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It features an impressively spacious interior offering 106 cubic feet of passenger volume alongside 29 cubic feet of storage space, which increases up to 65 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down. Additionally, the Bronco Sport caters to outdoor enthusiasts with conveniences like a built-in bottle opener, a 400-watt power inverter, and an available pullout table perfect for tailgating activities.

Honda CR-V

In contrast to the Ford Bronco Sport, which emphasizes rugged styling for an enhanced off-roading image, the Honda CR-V stands out with its more traditional and understated appearance within this competitive segment. The interior offers generous accommodations, providing up to 104 cubic feet of passenger volume and approximately 39 cubic feet of cargo capacity, which can be extended to around 75 cubic feet when needed. The dashboard mirrors the layout found in the Honda Civic, equipped with either a standard 7-inch display supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on base trims, or upgraded to a larger 9-inch screen offering both wired and wireless connectivity options alongside wireless phone charging on premium versions.

Even though you have the option for a hybrid setup in the CR-V, reviewed separately, the EX and EX-L versions feature a 190-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) available as either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive. The vehicle gets an EPA rating of 30 miles per gallon with front-wheel drive and 28 mpg with all-wheel drive when fueled with regular gasoline. Its towing capacity stands at a reasonable 1,500 pounds. On the road, the CR-V avoids the typical laggy throttle response often associated with CVTs. Instead, it offers a fairly engaging driving experience characterized by precise handling and moderate cornering stability thanks to well-calibrated steering. All things considered, this makes for quite enjoyable motoring.

Jeep Compass

Resembling the younger sibling of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the 2025 Jeep Compass has an architecture shared with both the Alfa Romeo Tonale and the Dodge Hornet. Inside, its interior is one of the more compact spaces available, providing passengers with approximately 99 cubic feet of roominess and about 27 cubic feet for storage luggage, which can be extended up to around 60 cubic feet when needed. At the dashboard center sits a base model equipped with a conventional 8.4-inch touch screen display supporting Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto functionalities. For higher trims, this system upgrades to include a larger 10.1-inch interface alongside wireless connectivity options for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with a convenient spot designated for wirelessly charging smartphones.

The Compass boasts a powerful 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that drives the wheels via standard all-wheel drive. With a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds and a ground clearance of 8.1 inches, choosing the off-road-oriented Trailhawk model boosts the clearance to 8.6 inches and equips it with Active Drive Low 4x4, the “Rocks” terrain mode, and a crawl ratio of 20:1. Despite having a somewhat jittery motor, the vehicle achieves an impressive fuel economy rating of 27 miles per gallon according to EPA standards when driven on regular gas under combined urban and highway conditions. While cornering can induce noticeable body roll, the car’s quick yet well-balanced steering offers adequate feedback, though there is only average levels of road noise present.

Toyota RAV4

The 2025 Toyota RAV4 stands out as America’s best-selling compact SUV due to several appealing factors. Though it appears tough, its driving experience leans more towards being comfortable rather than adventurous. Despite lacking sportiness, its balanced nature ensures ease of use. Under the hood lies a 203-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which can be configured for either front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this setup achieves fuel efficiency between 28 to 30 miles per gallon when using regular gas, varying slightly based on the specific configuration and trim level. Additionally, the RAV4 offers a hybrid variant, though our focus here is primarily on the conventional model. Its towing capacity maxes out at 1,500 pounds, supported by 8.4 inches of ground clearance beneath.

The RAV4 offers 99 cubic feet of interior space for passengers, making it somewhat smaller compared to competitors. However, it features an ample 38-cubic-foot cargo area that expands to accommodate up to 70 cubic feet when needed. The vehicle comes with a standard 8-inch infotainment screen, but higher-end models include a larger 10.5-inch display instead. It also includes standard amenities such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a wireless smartphone charging station, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Known for crafting contemporary, dependable vehicles that rarely cause controversy, Toyota has managed to position the RAV4 as the top-selling SUV in the U.S. market.

Final thoughts

Although the 2025 Subaru Forester leads with its standard all-wheel-drive system, superior interior roominess, and top-notch fuel efficiency within this lineup, both the Toyota and Honda present viable options as well. The Toyota RAV4 stands out for offering greater horsepower, whereas the Honda CR-V excels in providing an engaging ride quality. However, should your adventures involve serious off-roading, consider looking into the rugged variants of the Ford and Jeep models, which come equipped with additional features designed specifically for tackling rough terrain beyond paved roads.