Compare the2023 Subaru ForesterVS 2022 Toyota C-HR

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Forester are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The C-HR doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Forester has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The C-HR doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Forester (except Base/Premium) offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The C-HR doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Forester has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The C-HR doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Forester and the C-HR have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Forester is safer than the Toyota C-HR:

	Forester	C-HR
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	23%	27%
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	24 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	248/368 lbs.	383/344 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	31%	41%
Neck Stress	213 lbs.	238 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	105/93 lbs.	155/276 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Forester is safer than the Toyota C-HR:

	Forester	C-HR
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	66	80
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	122 lbs.	126 lbs.
Hip Force	389 lbs.	419 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	246	333
Spine Acceleration	56 G’s	58 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	121	243
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	673 lbs.	714 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Forester the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The C-HR last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Forester has a standard 620-amp battery. The C-HR’s 520-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Forester’s reliability 25 points higher than the C-HR.

Engine

The Forester’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 38 more horsepower (182 vs. 144) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (176 vs. 139) than the C-HR’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Subaru Forester is faster than the Toyota C-HR:

	Forester	C-HR
Zero to 60 MPH	8 sec	11 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	24.1 sec	33.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.7 sec	11.8 sec
Quarter Mile	16.3 sec	18.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	86 MPH	79 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Forester lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The C-HR doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Forester gets better fuel mileage than the C-HR (26 city/33 hwy vs. 27 city/31 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Forester’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The C-HR doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Forester uses regular unleaded gasoline. The C-HR requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Forester has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the C-HR (16.6 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Forester higher (7 out of 10) than the Toyota C-HR (3). This means the Forester produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the C-HR every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Forester’s brake rotors are larger than those on the C-HR:

	Forester	C-HR
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	11.1 inches

The Forester stops much shorter than the C-HR:

	Forester	C-HR
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	137 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	147 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Forester Wilderness has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the C-HR; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Forester’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the C-HR (105.1 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Forester is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the C-HR.

The Forester Touring handles at .83 G’s, while the C-HR Limited pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Forester Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the C-HR XLE (27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the Forester uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The C-HR doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Forester has 25.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the C-HR (111.6 vs. 86).

The Forester has 3.1 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, 9.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 7.7 inches more rear legroom, 5.6 inches more rear hip room and 4.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the C-HR.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Forester Premium/Sport/Wilderness/Limited/Touring’s rear seats recline. The C-HR’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Forester has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the C-HR with its rear seat up (28.9 vs. 19.1 cubic feet). The Forester has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the C-HR with its rear seat folded (74.2 vs. 37 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Forester easier. The Forester’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.4 inches, while the C-HR’s liftover is 31 inches.

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the Forester Wilderness/Limited/Touring’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The C-HR doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Forester. The C-HR doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Forester (except Base) offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The C-HR doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Forester has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The C-HR has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Forester uses the Vehicle Dynamics Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The C-HR doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Forester is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the C-HR. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Forester to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and tire rotation, vehicle inspection based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Toyota doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the C-HR.

Ergonomics

The Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The C-HR doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When five different drivers share the Forester Touring, the memory system makes it convenient for each of them. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle and climate settings. The C-HR doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Forester Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The C-HR doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Forester Premium/Sport/Wilderness/Limited/Touring’s exterior PIN entry system. The C-HR doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The C-HR’s standard power locks don’t automatically lock the doors. The Forester’s standard doors lock when a certain speed is reached. This is an important feature for occupant safety. Locked doors are proven to open less often in collisions, and they are also effective in preventing crime at traffic lights.

The Forester’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The C-HR’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

When the Forester Touring is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The C-HR’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Forester’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The C-HR has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Forester and the C-HR offer available heated front seats. The Forester Touring also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the C-HR.

On extremely cold winter days, the Forester’s optional (except Base/Premium/Sport/Wilderness) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The C-HR doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Forester Premium/Sport/Wilderness/Limited/Touring has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The C-HR doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

Both the Forester and the C-HR offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Forester has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The C-HR doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Forester owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Forester will cost $1305 to $2215 less than the C-HR over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Forester will be $9683 to $17931 less than for the Toyota C-HR.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Forester as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Forester outsold the Toyota C-HR by over 9 to one during 2022.