2020 Subaru Ascent vs 2020 Honda CR-V

Love might be what makes a Subaru a Subaru, as the automaker’s advertising has long claimed, but it's also what has traditionally made people outgrow Subarus.

Subaru tried building a 3-row, 7-passenger SUV once before, but quirky design and a strange name flattened the B9 Tribeca’s tires before they got a decent chance to roll down the road. With the 2020 Ascent, however, Subaru has a family-size SUV for existing and would-be customers who need extra space for people, pets, and cargo. And while the Ascent is loaded with compelling details and thoughtful features, flaws might limit its appeal strictly to the Subaru faithful.

Honda’s compact SUV has been satisfying buyers for more than two decades, with more than five million CR-V’s sold. Such a legacy means the CR-V has long had its wrinkles smoothed out into a comfortable and capable crossover package that’s only downside may be its sheer inoffensiveness. This year’s model gets engine and safety upgrades, which improve fuel economy and help to make Honda’s bestseller an even better value.

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