Subaru Crosstrek vs. Honda CR-V

2026 Subaru Crosstrek vs. Honda CR-V: Which Compact SUV Belongs in Your Driveway?

Choosing Between Trail-Ready Confidence and Big-Family Utility

If you're cross-shopping a Subaru Crosstrek and a Honda CR-V, you're already on the right track. Both are smart, practical SUVs with strong reputations. The difference comes down to what your Augusta life really looks like: more trailheads and winter backroads, or more highway miles and maximum cargo?

Here's how the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek stacks up against the current Honda CR-V, with a slight lean toward the Crosstrek's all-weather personality.



Performance Comparison

The Subaru Crosstrek is built around confidence in difficult Auburn conditions. Most trims use a 2.5-liter Subaru Boxer four-cylinder making about 182 horsepower and 178 pound feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission and standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. That flat-four engine keeps weight low in the chassis and helps the Crosstrek feel planted on broken pavement and unpaved roads.

  • Up to 182 horsepower and 178 pound feet of torque available
  • Standard all-wheel drive on every Crosstrek
  • Approximate fuel economy near 28 miles per gallon city and 36 miles per gallon highway in the 2.5-liter model
  • 8.7 inches of ground clearance for snow, ruts, and camp roads

The Honda CR-V gives you a broader engine lineup. Gas models use a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder with about 190 horsepower and 179 pound feet of torque, while hybrid trims combine a 2.0-liter engine with electric motors for a total of 204 horsepower. Front-wheel drive is standard on many trims, with all-wheel drive available. Fuel economy for gas models runs around 28 miles per gallon city and 34 miles per gallon highway, while CR-V Hybrid versions can climb into the low 40s in city driving.

If you are chasing outright efficiency, a CR-V Hybrid has an edge. If you want standard all-wheel drive, real ground clearance, and a chassis that feels tuned for dirt roads as much as pavement, the Crosstrek leans into that role with more conviction.

Exterior Comparison

The Crosstrek presents itself as the "ready-anytime" SUV. Short overhangs, rugged cladding, and roof rails broadcast that it is comfortable on a muddy trailhead or a snow-covered side street. Wheel designs and color choices skew outdoorsy, and that 8.7 inches of ground clearance is not just a number; it is the difference between turning around and pushing on when the pavement ends.

  • Compact footprint that fits easily into tight city parking spots
  • Higher stance than many competitors for better visibility
  • Protective body cladding for light off-road scrapes

The Honda CR-V looks more like a scaled-down family SUV. Its longer body, more conservative detailing, and smoother sides prioritize aerodynamics and on-road presence. It is handsome and clean, but there is less of that "let's drive up the fire road" energy. The CR-V's extra length pays off in cargo room, but it also makes it feel a bit bigger in tight urban spaces.

If style for you means "trail-capable and adventurous," the Crosstrek wears that personality on its sleeve. If you want something that blends in at the Bangor office parking lot and neighborhood carpool lane, the CR-V's shape might hit the mark.

Interior Comparison

Inside, the Crosstrek leans into a cozy, upright cabin that feels like a good hiking jacket: durable, thoughtfully stitched, and comfortable all day. Higher trims add soft-touch surfaces, contrast stitching, and StarTex water-repellent upholstery, designed for wet gear and active weekends. Passenger volume can reach just over 120 cubic feet, making the cabin surprisingly roomy for a compact footprint.

  • Supportive front seats with an easy step-in height
  • Plenty of headroom even with a sunroof
  • Rear seat comfortable for adults on longer drives around Rockland

The Honda CR-V, by contrast, plays the "small family room" role. It offers excellent rear legroom, so taller passengers can stretch out. Materials are soft in the right places, and the design is clean and modern. It feels geared toward families who regularly use all five seats and need that extra elbow room.

When it comes to cargo, the CR-V has the upper hand in pure volume: roughly 39 cubic feet behind the rear seats and more than 76 cubic feet with them folded. The Crosstrek counters with about 20 cubic feet behind the second row and up to roughly 55 cubic feet with seats folded, depending on trim and configuration. The Subaru's numbers are smaller, but its low liftover height and wide hatch opening make loading bikes, dogs, and gear simpler than the specs suggest.

Tech and Safety Comparison

Both vehicles bring strong tech to the table, but the details tell you a lot about their priorities for Camden drivers. The Crosstrek offers an available 11.6 inch STARLINK multimedia system, placing navigation, audio, and vehicle settings in a vertical touchscreen that is easy to read at a glance. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are widely available, and higher trims add premium audio for long drives around Waldoboro.

  • Available 11.6 inch touchscreen with simple, tile-based menus
  • Subaru EyeSight driver assist system standard on most trims
  • Available blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking

Honda's CR-V answers with its own modern setup: a seven inch or larger touchscreen (depending on trim), wireless smartphone integration on upper trims, and the Honda Sensing suite of safety features. That suite includes adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, and automatic emergency braking, similar to Subaru's EyeSight system.

The real difference comes in how the systems are tuned. The Crosstrek's driver aids are calibrated for confidence on variable surfaces and changing weather, tying in naturally with standard all-wheel drive. The CR-V feels optimized for lane-to-lane highway work and suburban commuting. Both are excellent; the Crosstrek's tech simply feels like it was imagined for drivers who see every season and every road surface in a typical year.

Schedule a Test Drive at Charlie's Subaru

The best way to decide is to drive them. Schedule a test drive at Charlie's Subaru near Lewiston, spend some time behind the wheel of the Crosstrek, and see how it feels on the roads you use every day, and the ones you've always wanted to explore.

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  1. Charlie's Subaru

    466 Western Ave
    Augusta, ME 04330

    • Sales: (207) 213-2700
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