When it comes to interior furnishings, the Honda CR-V takes the cake thanks to these available features:

• Dual-zone automatic climate control system
• Heated front seats
• Driver’s seat with 10-way power adjustment and 2-way power lumbar support
• One-touch power moonroof

All these features are likewise available on the Forester; however, the power-adjustable seats are only available on its highest trim. Plus, only the CR-V provides standard ambient lighting, a feature that’s unavailable on the Forester.

Both SUVs offer seating for five riders, but the CR-V gives the folks in the back row more room to stretch out. It boasts 41 inches of rear legroom, while its competition maxes out at just 39.4 inches.

Regardless of which model you choose, you’ll be treated to standard cloth or available leather upholstery.

Both the CR-V and the Forester have 60/40 split fold-down rear seats, which help optimize the cabin to fit your cargo.

To make loading and unloading your gear easier, a power tailgate is standard on the Honda CR-V. This amenity also has a programmable height feature to make sure people of all statures can fit underneath the tailgate without hunching over or bumping their head. A similar feature is available as an option on the Forester.

Now that we’ve discussed how convenient these SUVs are, let’s discuss their cargo capacities. Which model has more space available?

With its rear seats folded, the CR-V can store up to 76.5 cubic feet of gear, while the Forester can hold up to 74.2 cubic feet. In the trunk, the Honda makes room for 39.3 cubic feet of your equipment, while the Subaru falls short with 28.9 cubic feet—a difference of over 10 cubic feet!

If you have road trips planned for the future, you’ll need an SUV with endurance. Both the Honda and the Subaru can drive for miles without stopping at the pump, but which one can go farther?

• Honda CR-V: EPA-estimated 28 city/34 highway MPG on all 2WD gas models.^*
• Subaru Forester: EPA-estimated 26 city/33 highway MPG.

With city and highway mileage wins in the CR-V, you’ll be able to leave the pump in your rearview for more miles than the Forester. Plus, only the Honda model is available as a hybrid that further increases your fuel efficiency in its 2WD models to 43 city/36 highway MPG.* The Subaru does not offer a hybrid variant.

The Honda CR-V comes standard with a 190-horsepower turbo 4-cylinder engine. It’s paired with a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). All the models are also available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

The Subaru Forester comes standard with a 182-horsepower, 2.5L SUBARU BOXER® engine. It just doesn't match up to the power produced by the base CR-V trim. If you're looking for more thrills, the winner is clearly the CR-V.