Because consumers lead active lifestyles, they need as much cargo space as possible to carry camping gear, sports equipment, the family dog, and even mountain bikes. Consumer Reports (by subscription) checked all compact SUVs and came up with the roomiest and most comfortable models. They also put fuel mileage in the mix.
CR ranked the Honda CR-V number one overall and just above the 2021 Subaru Forester. CR-V gets the nod for its rear seat comfort, and it offers a hybrid trim that gets 35 mpg overall. The 2021 Forester does not have a hybrid model in the U.S. but offers a 2.5-liter Boxer engine that gets an EPA estimated 29 mpg combined city/highway. The Forester achieves it with standard all-wheel-drive on all trims.
How much cargo room does the 2021 Subaru Forester have?
When it comes to cargo capacity, no compact SUV can match the 2021 Subaru Forester. With the second-row rear seats up, the Forester has 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space, less than the CR-V’s 39.2 cubic feet. Going with the Honda CR-V Touring trim lowers that figure to 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space.
With the seats folded flat, however, the Forester offers a cavernous 76.1 cubic feet of cargo space, beating every other compact SUV in the class. CR-V is next with a maximum cargo space of 75.8 cubic feet. Consumer Reports ranks the Toyota RAV4 third-best in comfort, roominess, and cargo space with 37.6 cubic feet behind the seats and 69.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.
Another Subaru makes CR’s roomiest and most comfortable compact SUV list. The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is rated number four because of its “generous room” and fuel economy (30 mpg overall.) CR adds, “And there’s plenty of room for four adults to travel in comfort.”
How much cargo room does the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek have?
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 rates the Lexus NX number five, followed by the Mazda CX-5, Lexus UX, BMW X1, Nissan Rogue Sport, and Hyundai Kona. All compact SUVs on its list rank in order of their roominess and CR’s scores for comfort and ease of access.
The 2021 Subaru Forester is the brand’s number one selling model in its all-wheel-drive lineup. Subaru hit a home run with the compact SUVs overall comfort, interior space, cargo capacity, and fuel mileage. Look for Subaru to offer a Forester Hybrid in the next two years.
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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 and the founder of 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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