Which is better in the head-to-head battle between the 2025 Subaru Outback and the 2025 Honda CR-V? U.S. News says one wins five out of the eight categories. Check out the results here and why I disagree.
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So, which wins the 2025 Subaru Outback vs. the 2025 Honda CR-V battle?
According to U.S. News, in the head-to-head battle between the 2025 Subaru Outback and the 2025 Honda CR-V, the CR-V wins by a convincing score of 5 to 3. In this report, I will give the U.S. News tally and explain why I disagree with the final score.
U.S. News says, "The 2025 Subaru Outback and 2025 Honda CR-V rise above many of their competitors, with the Outback taking the top spot in our wagon rankings and the CR-V sitting near the top of the compact SUV class. These two vehicles have impressive fuel economy estimates, easy-going driving dynamics, and lovely interiors, but which of them is better?"
U.S. News says the CR-V wins five out of the eight categories. Check out the results.
Price: U.S. News says the Subaru Outback wins this category.
"These are two of the more affordable options on the market right now, though the 2025 Outback comes in just under the 2025 CR-V. The base Outback has an MSRP of $28,895, making it the most affordable wagon in our rankings. In fact, even its most expensive Touring trim sits about $5,000 below the next cheapest option."
"The Honda CR-V starts at $30,100. The CR-V's MSRP is on the higher end of the price spectrum among compact SUVs."
Reliability: U.S. News says it's a tie.
"Both the 2025 Honda CR-V and 2025 Subaru Outback earned J.D. Power reliability ratings of 80/100, which is considered Average. On top of that, both vehicles also offer the same warranty terms: a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty."
Seat Comfort: U.S. News says the Honda CR-V takes this category.
"The 2025 Subaru Outback and 2025 Honda CR-V each have two rows of comfortable seating that can seat five people. Cloth upholstery adorns manually adjusted seats in both vehicles, and you can upgrade to leather and power seats if you're so inclined."
"Adults will fit comfortably in the back seat of both vehicles, with plenty of head- and legroom for taller passengers. The rear seats of the CR-V can recline, which gives it the edge over the Outback in this category."
Cargo Space: U.S. News says the Honda CR-V wins again.
"The 2025 Honda CR-V has 39.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. When those seats are folded down, the cargo area opens up to provide 76.5 cubic feet. Those are some of the best numbers in the class."
"When the second row is used, the Outback has 32.6 cubic feet of cargo space. Drop that row down, and you get a maximum of 75.6 cubic feet of cargo room."
Interior Quality: U.S. News picks the Honda CR-V.
"Neither the 2025 Honda CR-V nor the 2025 Subaru Outback has an excessively luxurious interior, but that doesn't mean they feel cheap either. The Outback has a utilitarian cabin that feels comfortable and well-built, and several soft-touch materials are placed around the cabin."
"The Honda CR-V has a slightly more luxurious cabin than the Outback, though it won't be confused with a Mercedes. The CR-V has a few hard plastics in the cabin, but they tend to be masked with softer materials at key touchpoints."
Interior Features: U.S. News likes the Honda CR-V again.
"Standard features in the 2025 Subaru Outback include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two 7-inch touch screens, a four-speaker radio, and automatic climate control. While not an extensive list, the Outback does have the traditional standard features you'll find in most cars."
"The 2025 Honda CR-V has a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, a 7-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a four-speaker stereo, automatic climate control, push-button start, and remote keyless entry. There is also a seemingly never-ending list of optional features."
Acceleration: U.S. News says the Subaru Outback is the best in this category.
"Neither of these vehicles will be confused for a sports car, but that's not what they're going for. While both vehicles feature bland base engines, they have enough power for most driving situations.
"The outlier here is the Outback's optional turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It does have a bit of turbo lag, but it's otherwise sprightly and gives the Subaru the win here."
Fuel Economy: 2025 Honda CR-V
"With its base engine, the 2025 Outback gets 26 mpg in city driving and 32 mpg on the highway. The Outback's optional turbo-four engine comes in at 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Those are good numbers for the wagon class."
"The 2025 Honda CR-V earns an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in city driving and 34 mpg on the highway. Those estimates are some of the best in the compact SUV class. Adding all-wheel drive to the CR-V drops fuel economy to 26 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway."
Ride and Handling: The Subaru Outback is the best U.S. News pick in this category.
"The 2025 Honda CR-V and 2025 Subaru Outback have confident handling with only slight body roll through turns. The CR-V comes standard with front-wheel drive, though all-wheel drive is available."
"The Outback, like almost every other Subaru, comes with all-wheel drive. The biggest complaint about the Outback's handling is its lack of road feedback, though the wagon provides a smooth ride in most driving situations."
"What gives the Outback the win here is its ability to handle light off-roading due to its standard all-wheel drive. The CR-V can't match that unless you add the AWD option. Even then, the Subaru has a slight advantage in ground clearance over the Honda — 8.7 inches to 8.2 inches."
Safety: U.S. News says it is to be determined.
"Neither of these two vehicles has been given a safety score as of this writing, so we can't declare a winner here."
"Standard safety features in the 2025 Outback include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. Standard safety features in the 2025 CR-V include adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and more."
"Both vehicles provide easily accessible LATCH connectors for child seats, though the Outback's is among the easiest to use."
Overall winner: U.S. News picks the 2025 Honda CR-V.
"The 2025 Subaru Outback and 2025 Honda CR-V are great options for you and your family. Even if you're looking to spend some time off the grid in between runs to the grocery store and the school pickup line, either vehicle is a good choice."
"However, the 2025 Honda CR-V comes out on top in this head-to-head matchup behind wins in the fuel economy category and a sweep of the interior categories. That's not to say that the Outback is a bad car. Our top-ranked wagon walked away with the price, acceleration, and ride and handling categories."
Why I disagree with the U.S. News evaluation.
I have driven both the Outback and CR-V and would pick the 2025 Subaru Outback. Here are my reasons for choosing the Outback.
All Subaru Outback trim levels come standard with Subaru's excellent Symmetrical all-wheel-drive technology. You won't pay extra for it. The Outback has superior all-weather and severe weather capability. If you are going off-road, the CR-V is left in the dust behind the Outback. When you factor in the rugged Outback Wilderness trim level, there is no comparison.
Customers who purchase the Outback are looking for something other than a luxury interior, which is reflected in the price. The Outback is a value pick for families who will use the family hauler for commuting and weekend adventures, and the family dog will be riding along on every trip.
Let's compare apples with apples in the fuel mileage comparison. The CR-V with all-wheel-drive gets less mpg than the Outback with the 2.5-liter Boxer engine. The Outback wins this category.
The 2025 Subaru Outback is a carry-over model, while the 2024 model earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The 2025 Outback offers the same safety score. All 2025 Outback trim levels come with Subaru's EyeSight driver assist safety technology. You won't find a safer vehicle for your family.
Other areas where the Outback excels are because it rides like a car, has excellent outward visibility, is easier to get into and out of than the CR-V, and has the utility of an SUV.
If you have a more active lifestyle, will use it for more than a commuter during the week and hauling groceries on the weekend, the 2025 Subaru Outback is the better choice over the 2025 Honda CR-V.
I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.
Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Subaru USA
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