2022 Subaru Forester vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors made loading and unloading children a breeze, especially in tight parking spaces. The third-row seat was spacious and comfortable, accommodating additional passengers without hassle. The Odyssey also boasted significant cargo space, rivaling that of larger SUVs when the seats were folded or removed. Despite the minivan stigma, the Odyssey managed to incorporate a sense of style, particularly in the Elite trim with its dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels and kinked sliding doors that added character to its design.

In contrast, the 2022 Subaru Forester, particularly in the Wilderness trim, emphasized rugged functionality over aesthetics. The Forester's design included a suspension lift, higher ride height, and extensive protective cladding, giving it a robust, overlanding appearance. Inside, the Forester focused on practicality with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather and all-weather floor mats. The interior combined hard plastic and soft surfaces, creating a cabin that felt durable and purposeful, even if it appeared somewhat dated. The Forester's design was less about style and more about utility, appealing to those who valued function over form.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This front-wheel-drive minivan offered an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. During a test drive in Southern California, the Odyssey averaged 22.6 mpg. While it lacked the hybrid options of some competitors, the Odyssey stood out for its enjoyable driving dynamics, quick acceleration, and responsive handling. However, its brakes tended to heat up and produce pedal vibration during extended downhill driving, which was a notable drawback.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. All Foresters came with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. The Wilderness model featured a CVT design that increased initial torque supply by 25% and doubled the towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The Forester Wilderness had an EPA fuel economy estimate of 26 mpg in combined driving, and during a test drive in Oregon, it averaged 25.9 mpg. While the Forester's engine was adequate at lower altitudes, it felt sluggish at higher elevations. The CVT's eight programmed ratios and SI-Drive's Sport mode improved the driving experience, but a turbocharger would have been a welcome addition.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy entry and exit, with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather, supportive front seats with power adjustments, heating, and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The minivan excelled in storage space, with numerous compartments and a handy floor tray. The second-row Magic Slide seats provided flexibility for child seat placement and easier access to the third row. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the cargo space behind it measured 32.8 cubic feet. Folding the third-row seat increased cargo space to 88.8 cubic feet, and removing the second-row seats expanded it to 144.9 cubic feet.

The 2022 Subaru Forester prioritized functionality with easy entry and exit, thanks to its tall seating hip points. The Wilderness trim featured water-resistant StarTex upholstery, all-weather floor mats, and a rubber cargo mat. The upgraded roof rails accommodated a dynamic load of 220 pounds and a static load of 800 pounds, making it suitable for roof tents. The Forester's interior offered high comfort levels, with ample storage space, including door panel bottle holders and dual front seatback pockets. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubic feet with it. Folding the rear seat expanded cargo capacity to 74.2 cubic feet (69.1 with the sunroof), making it one of the roomiest compact SUVs.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto starting with the EX trim. The Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services, including WiFi hotspot access. The Odyssey also featured CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, a rear-seat entertainment system with a 10.2-inch display, and an 11-speaker premium audio system in the Elite trim. However, the infotainment system felt outdated, with a small screen and a lack of a tuning knob. The embedded navigation system required specific voice commands and was less user-friendly than smartphone-based navigation.

The 2022 Subaru Forester came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services in the base trim. Premium trim added access to a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting. Higher trims, including Wilderness, Limited, and Touring, featured an 8-inch screen, navigation, and a Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Wilderness trim also included a 180-degree forward-view camera. The Forester's infotainment system was intuitive, but the voice recognition system was hit-and-miss. The PIN Code Access feature allowed for keyless entry, making it convenient for outdoor activities.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Odyssey also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The blind-spot monitoring system's warning light was poorly placed, and the radar's range seemed insufficient. The Odyssey earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2022 Subaru Forester introduced the next-generation EyeSight 4.0 safety system, which offered improved accuracy and smoother operation. EyeSight 4.0 included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Forester also featured a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. The Touring trim added DriverFocus, a facial recognition technology that monitored for drowsiness and distraction. The Forester earned a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and was expected to retain its Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.