CR Says Subaru Forester, Crosstrek Stand Out Among 7 Roomiest Compact SUVs

Are the refreshed 2022 Subaru Forester and new 2022 Crosstrek roomy inside? An updated study from Consumer Reports (by subscription) says the 2022 Subaru Forester and 2022 Subaru Crosstrek now rank as two of the seven best compact SUVs for getting good gas mileage, and they are roomy inside.

According to AAA, with gas prices at $4.07 per gallon, compact SUV shoppers want good fuel economy and a roomy, comfortable cabin. The 2021 World Car Global Automotive Trends reveals that car interiors are number three on the global automotive trends list, the most important for car buyers.

Consumer Reports tests its vehicles, and they "measure exactly how much cargo can fit in the back, exactly how roomy the driver's seat feels, and exactly how easy it is to get in and out of the front and rear seats," says the consumer organization.

All must also score high in reliability, road-test scores, and safety features to make the list.

The seven best compact SUVs for roominess and comfort

CR ranked the compact SUVs in order of roominess, comfort, and ease of access. The 2022 Honda CR-V ranks number one, followed by the 2022 Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 Prime, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, 2022 Subaru Crosstrek, and Mazda CX-5.

Consumer Reports say the number two scoring 2022 Subaru Forester "has the interior space and cargo room of a midsized SUV with compact SUV fuel economy. There is more than 36 cubic feet of space with the rear seat folded. It's easy to get into the comfortable front seats, and rear-seat room is particularly generous and easy to get into as well."

What is Forester's cargo space?

With the second-row rear seats up, the Forester has 31.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, and with the seats folded flat, the Forester offers an ample 74.3 cubic feet of cargo space. The total passenger volume measures 111.9 cubic feet.

Consumer Reports ranks the Forester #1 of 23 Compact sport-utility vehicles overall in all categories.

What is the fuel mileage of the 2022 Subaru Forester?

The 2022 Subaru Forester, with standard all-wheel-drive, gets an estimated 20/38 city/highway mpg and 28 combined mpg. In CR's testing, the Forester yields 28 mpg overall, among the best in the class.

What is the price of the 2022 Subaru Forester?

The 2022 Forester comes in six trim levels; The base Forester starts at $26,320, Premium ($29,320), Sport ($30,890), Limited ($33,000), new Wilderness ($33,945), and Touring ($36,420). Pricing includes destination and delivery fees ($1,125).

The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek also makes CR's roomiest and most comfortable compact SUV list. The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek is ranked the sixth-best, and CR says, "The Crosstrek is an appealing option for buyers who want a versatile compact SUV with generous room and good fuel economy. It's easy to get in and out, and there's plenty of room for four adults to travel in comfort. We measured 27.5 cubic feet of usable cargo room."

How much cargo room does the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek have?

The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek measures 20.8 cubic feet with the seats up and 55.3 cubes with the rear seats folded flat. The Crosstrek also comes standard with all-wheel-drive.

Consumer Reports ranks the Crosstrek #1 of 14 subcompact SUVs overall in all categories.

What is the fuel mileage of the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek?

The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek with the new 2.5-liter Boxer engine comes with 30 more horsepower and gets an EPA estimated fuel mileage of 27/34 city/highway mpg and 29 combined mpg. The 2021 Crosstrek with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine gets an EPA estimated 28/33 mpg and 30 combined mpg.

What is the price of the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek?

The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek comes in five trim levels for U.S. customers. The base trim is priced from $23,570, Premium ($24,720), Sport ($27,920), Limited ($29,420) and Crosstrek Hybrid ($37,895). Prices include destination and delivery fees ($1,125).

With gas prices rising, compact SUV shoppers want good fuel economy in addition to a roomy, comfortable cabin. Consumer Reports says the 2022 Subaru Forester and 2022 Subaru Crosstrek rank in the top seven best small SUVs you can buy in 2022.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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