2012 Honda CR-V vs 2012 Jeep Liberty vs 2012 Subaru Forester

2012 Honda CR-V

2012 Jeep Liberty

2012 Subaru Forester

Select style

2WD 5-Door EX

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
CR-V 2WD 5-Door EX	23	31	$23,098	$24,595
CR-V 2WD 5-Door EX-L	23	31	$25,579	$27,245
CR-V 2WD 5-Door EX-L w/Navi	23	31	$26,983	$28,745
CR-V 2WD 5-Door EX-L w/RES	23	31	$26,234	$27,945
CR-V 2WD 5-Door LX	23	31	$21,132	$22,495
CR-V AWD 5-Door EX	22	30	$24,268	$25,845
CR-V AWD 5-Door EX-L	22	30	$26,749	$28,495
CR-V AWD 5-Door EX-L w/Navi	22	30	$28,153	$29,995
CR-V AWD 5-Door EX-L w/RES	22	30	$27,404	$29,195
CR-V AWD 5-Door LX	22	30	$22,302	$23,745

Select style

4WD 4-Door Arctic

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Liberty 4WD 4-Door Arctic	15	21	$24,222	$24,975
Liberty 4WD 4-Door Limited	15	21	$27,370	$28,360
Liberty 4WD 4-Door Limited Jet	15	21	$27,960	$28,995
Liberty 4WD 4-Door Sport	15	21	$24,612	$25,395
Liberty 4WD 4-Door Sport Latitude	15	21	$24,612	$25,395
Liberty RWD 4-Door Limited	16	22	$25,852	$26,760
Liberty RWD 4-Door Limited Jet	16	22	$26,070	$26,995
Liberty RWD 4-Door Sport	16	22	$22,722	$23,395
Liberty RWD 4-Door Sport Latitude	16	22	$22,722	$23,395

Select style

4-Door Automatic 2.5X

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Forester 4-Door Automatic 2.5X	21	27	$20,580	$21,795
Forester 4-Door Automatic 2.5X Limited	21	27	$24,905	$26,595
Forester 4-Door Automatic 2.5X Limited PZEV	21	27	$25,214	$26,895
Forester 4-Door Automatic 2.5X PZEV	21	27	$20,888	$22,095
Forester 4-Door Automatic 2.5X Premium	21	27	$22,869	$24,295
Forester 4-Door Automatic 2.5X Premium PZEV	21	27	$23,178	$24,595
Forester 4-Door Automatic 2.5X Touring	21	27	$26,094	$27,895
Forester 4-Door Automatic 2.5X Touring PZEV	21	27	$26,403	$28,195
Forester 4-Door Automatic 2.5XT Premium	19	24	$25,407	$27,095
Forester 4-Door Automatic 2.5XT Touring	19	24	$27,992	$29,895
Forester 4-Door Manual 2.5X	21	27	$19,489	$20,595
Forester 4-Door Manual 2.5X PZEV	21	27	$19,798	$20,895
Forester 4-Door Manual 2.5X Premium	21	27	$21,960	$23,295
Forester 4-Door Manual 2.5X Premium PZEV	21	27	$22,269	$23,595

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$23,098

$24,222

$20,580

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$24,595

$24,975

$21,795

Monthly Payment Estimate

$410 / month

$416 / month

$363 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

7.8

Read Our Full Review

5.8

Read Our Full Review

7.4

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2012 Honda CR-V is a great family vehicle, with a thoughtfully designed and comfortable interior, and improved refinement, but it lacks the confident, sprightly feel present in past CR-Vs.

With the off-road-focused Renegade model now gone, it's hard to see much value in the 2012 Jeep Liberty, as there were already plenty of better choices for those looking to spend most of the time on-road, commuting or shuttling kids..

The 2012 Subaru Forester is tough, all-weather-capable, and one of the best-handling compact crossovers--plus, a blast to drive in XT turbo form--but an old-tech automatic transmission and econo-caliber interior remain letdowns.

TCC Likes

Very comfortable seating
Excellent one-pull folding backseat
Simple, tasteful dash layout

True off-road abiliy
Plenty of headroom and big sunroof
Replaceable fender flares

Utilitarian exterior
Excellent handling
All-weather surefootedness

TCC Dislikes

Steering feel
Bland, slightly evolved exterior
Unimpressive interior materials

Rides and handles like a truck
Coarse powertrains
Poor gas mileage

Widely spaced gears (4-sp auto)
Chintzy cabin materials
Small, flat front seats

Fuel Economy

City

23 mpg

15 mpg

21 mpg

Highway

31 mpg

21 mpg

27 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

2WD Sport Utility

4WD Sport Utility Vehicle

Sport Utility Vehicle - AWD

Interior Dimensions

Front Hip Room (in)

54.5

52.7

52.9

Second Leg Room (in)

38.3

38.2

38.0

Front Head Room (in)

38.0

40.4

41.6

Passenger Volume (ft³)

101.5

105.6

107.6

Second Hip Room (in)

53.1

52.6

52.7

Front Shoulder Room (in)

58.6

57.1

56.1

Second Head Room (in)

38.6

40.8

40.4

Passenger Capacity

Second Shoulder Room (in)

56.4

56.6

55.6

Front Leg Room (in)

41.3

40.8

43.1

Exterior Dimensions

Liftover Height (in)

- TBD -

34.1

27.4

Track Width, Rear (in)

61.6

61.0

60.2

Wheelbase (in)

103.1

106.1

103.0

Rear Door Opening Height (in)

- TBD -

29.6

- TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

71.6

73.1

70.1

Track Width, Front (in)

61.6

61.0

60.2

Min Ground Clearance (in)

6.8

7.8

8.9

Length, Overall (in)

178.3

176.1

179.5

Rear Door Opening Width (in)

- TBD -

44.2

- TBD -

Height, Overall (in)

65.1

71.3

65.9

Cargo Area Dimensions

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 2 (in)

- TBD -

37.5

Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³)

37.2

25.2

68.3

Cargo Area Width @ Beltline (in)

54.0

- TBD -

Cargo Box (Area) Height (in)

- TBD -

33.9

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 1 (in)

51.0

- TBD -

61.8

Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³)

70.9

60.9

33.5

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 3 (in)

Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³)

Cargo Box Width @ Wheelhousings (in)

39.0

41.4

42.2

Brakes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

12.0 x - TBD -

12.4 x 0.5

11.3 x - TBD -

Brake Type

Pwr

Power

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.8 x - TBD -

11.9 x 1.1

11.7 x - TBD -

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

15.3

19.5

16.9

Steering

Steering Type

Pwr Rack & Pinion

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)

3.2

3.4

3.2

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)

- TBD -

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall

16.7

17.36

16.5

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

37.3

35.5

34.4

Tires

Spare Tire Order Code

TBC

Rear Tire Size

P225/65TR17

P225/75R16

P215/65HR16

Rear Tire Order Code

TRY

Front Tire Size

P225/65TR17

P225/75R16

P215/65HR16

Spare Tire Size

- TBD -

Compact

Front Tire Order Code

TRY

Trailering

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

1500

2000

2400

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

150

200

240

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

225

300

360

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

1500

2000

2400

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3365

4290

3300

Wheels

Rear Wheel Size (in)

17 x - TBD -

16 x 7.0

16 x 6.5

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Steel

Spare Wheel Material

- TBD -

Steel

Compact

Front Wheel Size (in)

17 x - TBD -

16 x 7.0

16 x 6.5

Spare Wheel Size (in)

- TBD -

Full Size

Compact

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Steel

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)

7.0

14.0

- TBD -

Electrical

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

- TBD -

140

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

410

600

- TBD -

Engine

Fuel System

Electronic Fuel Injection

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

163 @ 4400

235 @ 4000

174 @ 4100

Engine Order Code

EKG

Displacement

2.4L/144

3.7L/226

2.5L/152

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

185 @ 7000

210 @ 5200

170 @ 5800

Engine Type

Gas I4

Gas V6

Gas Flat 4

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Transmission

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

4.44

3.73

4.44

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.73

0.69

Trans Description Cont.

Automatic

Automatic w/Manual Shift

Transfer Case Gear Ratio (:1), Low

- TBD -

2.72

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

First Gear Ratio (:1)

2.65

2.84

2.79

Clutch Size (in)

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.03

1.00

Trans Type

Drivetrain

Front Wheel Drive

Four Wheel Drive

All Wheel Drive

Transfer Case Gear Ratio (:1), High

1.00

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.53

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

2.00

2.21

2.27

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

1.51

1.57

1.55

Trans Order Code

DGV

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

Summary

Body Style

Sport Utility Vehicle

4 Door

Sport Utility Vehicle

Vehicle Name

Honda CR-V

Jeep Liberty

Subaru Forester

Suspension

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front

MacPherson Strut

A-Arms

MacPherson Strut

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)

0.75

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

w/Coil Springs

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)

- TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)

0.79

- TBD -

Suspension Type - Rear

Multi-Link

Live Axle

Double Wishbone

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

w/Coil Springs

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

7.1

8.1

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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