Compact crossover models have been becoming even more popular in recent years, and Subaru has been selling more Foresters than ever before, but the new Forester competes in a hotly contested niche.
The Ford Escape is a different kind of vehicle, with a priority placed on styling and design, as well as a sporty driving personality.
It’s powered by an all-new set of turbocharged ‘EcoBoost’ four-cylinder engines that are responsive yet fuel-efficient.
The latest Toyota RAV4 is another rival, but it hasn't done nearly as well in safety, and it's a less engaging drive than the Forester.
The Hyundai Tucson, as well as the closely related Kia Sportage, are a bit smaller, and they don’t ride and handle nearly as well or have the trail ability of the Forester.
The Honda CR-V was redesigned recently, and it stakes no claim on driving enjoyment but does a superb job in maximizing interior space and family-friendly versatility.
Of all new vehicles, we think the Jeep Cherokee is the closest in mission to the Forester; it can be outfitted for more off-road intent and with a powerful uprated engine, but its styling issues and less efficient interior earn it lower overall ratings from our editors.
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 2015 Subaru ForesterBrowse Used Listings |  2015 Ford EscapeBrowse Used Listings |  2015 Honda CR-VBrowse Used Listings |  2015 Hyundai TucsonBrowse Used Listings |  2015 Jeep CherokeeBrowse Used Listings |  2015 Toyota RAV4Browse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | |||||
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The 2015 Subaru Forester remains one of the best cars you can buy, thanks to exceptional safety, versatility, and all-weather capability. |
With athletic looks and the performance to match, plus a roomy interior and loads of available cabin tech and convenience features, the 2015 Ford Escape is bolder and more exciting than most rivals, without much compromise. |
The 2015 Honda CR-V is neither sporty nor particularly quick, but fuel efficiency is excellent and it prioritizes interior space, earnest practicality, and cleverly chosen features in a way that buyers appear to crave. |
The 2015 Hyundai Tucson is a stylish choice in the compact crossover segment, with solid but unexciting powertrains and a strong feature set. |
Although the styling might have some disconnects -- from the past, and within itself -- the 2015 Jeep Cherokee delivers all the Jeep essentials, with impressive features and safety. |
The 2015 Toyota RAV4 is a practical crossover with confident handling. Just know that driving enjoyment is not its strong point. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $22,195 | $23,450 | $23,445 | $21,650 | $23,095 | $23,680 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 22 MPG City / 32 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 32 MPG Hwy | 26 MPG City / 34 MPG Hwy | 20 MPG City / 29 MPG Hwy | 19 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||||
| Regular Unleaded H-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| Small Sport Utility Vehicles 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicles 2WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicles 2WD | Small SUV 2WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicles 2WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicles 2WD |
| Style Name | |||||
| 4-Door Manual 2.5i PZEV | FWD 4-Door S | 2WD 5-Door LX | FWD 4-Door GLS | FWD 4-Door Sport | FWD 4-Door LE (GS) |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| All Wheel | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| Sport Utility | Sport Utility | Sport Utility | Sport Utility | Sport Utility | Sport Utility |
| Transmission | |||||
| Manual w/OD | Automatic w/OD | CVT w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2015 Subaru Forester vs. 2015 Ford Escape | 2015 Subaru Forester vs. 2015 Honda CR-V | 2015 Subaru Forester vs. 2015 Hyundai Tucson | 2015 Subaru Forester vs. 2015 Jeep Cherokee | 2015 Subaru Forester vs. 2015 Toyota RAV4 | |
