Honda CR-V vs Subaru Forester: Which Used Buy Wins?

As used buys (July 2026), the Honda CR-V typically lists for $32,347 against $32,386 for the Subaru Forester (same model years — 2024–2026 — national medians from live listings). The Honda CR-V takes fuel economy (28 MPG combined vs 23 MPG); the Honda CR-V leads on NCAP safety (4.9★ vs 4.8★ average). Overall medians mix very different trims — at the cheapest common trims it's the LX at $28,764 vs the BASE PLUS at $29,116; see the trim-by-trim tables for a fair match. Every figure below is live market data, not book values.

Head to head

Trim-by-trim prices (last 4 model years)

A fair comparison matches equivalent trims, not overall medians. Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, the Honda CR-V LX ($28,764) faces the Subaru Forester BASE PLUS ($29,116); the most common trims on the market are the EX-L (27.8% of Honda CR-V listings) and the PREMIUM (29.8% of Subaru Forester listings); at the top of the market, the SPORT TOURING ($36,800) faces the TOURING ($37,998). Share = portion of the model's trim-labeled used listings (a supply-side popularity signal: what the market actually stocks and sells most). “Cheapest”/“Priciest” mark the ends of the quotable trim range — trim ladders don't map one-to-one across brands, so this is not a factory base-model claim.

Rows are aligned by price position (both sides sorted cheapest-first), not by equivalent equipment — trim names never map one-to-one across brands. Full per-trim detail (price ranges, mileage) is on each model's price page: Honda CR-V prices · Subaru Forester prices.

Used price by model year

Typical price = national median asking price of live listings for that model year (July 2026); MPG = EPA combined range across rated versions.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper to buy used — Honda CR-V or Subaru Forester?

Comparing the same model years (2024–2026), the Honda CR-V is cheaper: it typically lists for $32,347 versus $32,386 for the Subaru Forester (national medians, July 2026).

Which gets better fuel economy — Honda CR-V or Subaru Forester?

The Honda CR-V: its typical rated version returns 28 MPG combined versus 23 MPG for the Subaru Forester (median across EPA-rated versions of the compared years).

Which is safer — Honda CR-V or Subaru Forester?

By NCAP overall crash-test rating the Honda CR-V averages 4.9 of 5 stars across rated years versus 4.8 for the Subaru Forester. Always check the specific model year's rating in the table above.

Which is more reliable — Honda CR-V or Subaru Forester?

NHTSA lists an average of 7.2 recalls per model year for the Honda CR-V and 4.9 for the Subaru Forester — an edge for the Subaru Forester. Recall and complaint counts scale with sales volume, so treat them as context and check any specific car's VIN history.

Which trims should I actually compare?

Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, a Honda CR-V LX typically lists for $28,764 vs $29,116 for a Subaru Forester BASE PLUS; the most common trims on the market are the EX-L ($32,802, 27.8% of Honda CR-V listings) and the PREMIUM ($31,593, 29.8% of Subaru Forester listings); at the top of the market, the SPORT TOURING ($36,800) faces the TOURING ($37,998). Overall medians hide this trim mix — use the trim tables above for a fair match. Trim names never map one-to-one across brands, so "cheapest" means the least expensive trim with a real market share, not the factory base.

Dig deeper

Honda CR-V — live listings & specs Subaru Forester — live listings & specs Honda CR-V prices by year Subaru Forester prices by year Honda CR-V MPG by year Subaru Forester MPG by year

See also: All model comparisons · Best used cars by budget · Used car prices by model.