Subaru has finally introduced the new sixth-generation Forester in the Philippines, and it’s now exclusively offered as a full hybrid. The good news is that this high-riding Subie retains its Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.
For this comparo, we’ll be pitting the new Forester e-Boxer against Honda’s popular CR-V RS e:HEV, one of the newer Japanese hybrid compact SUVs currently available in the Philippines. Let’s see how this new electrified Subie stacks up against its hybrid Honda rival.
The Forester e-Boxer measures 4,655mm long, 1,830mm wide, and 1,730mm tall, making it 56mm shorter, 36mm narrower, and 49mm taller than the CR-V e:HEV. The Subaru rides on a 2,670mm wheelbase, so it’s 31mm shorter between the axles than the Honda. The Forester e-Boxer has an impressive 220mm of ground clearance—22mm greater than its CR-V e:HEV rival. The Subaru also rolls on 28.3-inch-diameter 235/50 R19 tires, 0.8 inches smaller than the Honda’s 29.1-inch-diameter 235/60 R18 rubber.
The bonus comparison: The Forester e-Boxer is 40mm longer, 25mm narrower, and 30mm taller than the upcoming new-gen RAV4. In the tire department, the top-trim Toyota rocks some 1-inch taller 29.3-inch-diameter 235/50 R20 rollers.
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The Forester e-Boxer can make you fall in love with Subaru again
Here’s a refresher for the main featured vehicles: The Forester is Subaru’s compact SUV, and as expected, it comes with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive as standard. Aside from the boxier styling, the biggest change is that it’s now a full hybrid or ‘Strong Hybrid’ as Subaru calls it. The 2.5-liter boxer puts out 162hp, while its electric motors make 118hp—the full system output is 192hp.
The Forester’s Honda counterpart is the CR-V, but unlike the Forester, the hybrid CR-V e:HEV is front-wheel-drive only. If you want an all-wheel-drive CR-V, you have to get the non-hybrid turbo variant. The CR-V e:HEV is powered by a 146hp 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle mill mated to electric motors that pump out 181hp, the full system output is 204hp.
The Subaru Forester 2.5 i-S Eyesight e-Boxer Strong Hybrid is priced at P2,498,000, while the Honda CR-V RS e:HEV carries a sticker price of P2,605,000. The new gen RAV4 HEV hasn’t been launched locally, but the outgoing top spec LTD HEV carries a price tag of P2,377,000 – its successor will most likely get a price bump.
What do you think about the new gen hybrid Subaru Forester e-Boxer with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive? Would you choose it over the front-wheel drive CR-V RS e:HEV? Let us know in the comments.
