2025 Dodge Durango vs 2025 Subaru Forester

The 2025 Subaru Forester underwent a noticeable visual transformation, focusing on practicality while smoothing out its design. Standard roof rails and 17-inch alloy wheels were added, giving it a more generic appearance. The Forester Sport featured bronze accents and 19-inch wheels, while the Touring trim included a low-profile roof rack and chrome badging. The interior boasted a more intentional design with structural dash elements and various upholstery options, including StarTex material in the Sport trim and genuine leather in higher trims.

In contrast, the 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Premium, with its Silver Bullet special edition package, emphasized a more aggressive look. The satin black hood, unique wheels, and dark badges added visual flair. Inside, the Durango maintained a subdued yet premium feel with dark red Nappa leather seats and a suede headliner. Despite its solid construction, some plastic surfaces detracted from the overall luxury feel expected at its price point.

The 2025 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine, producing 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. It came with a Lineartonic CVT and standard Symmetrical AWD. The Forester's X-Mode system, standard from the Premium trim, enhanced stability on challenging terrain. While not particularly fast, the Forester offered smooth steering and stability on various surfaces. Its fuel economy was rated at 26 mpg city, 33 highway, and 29 combined, with slight variations for Sport and Touring trims.

The 2025 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, with the SRT Hellcat boasting a 710-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 and 645 lb-ft of torque. It accelerated to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and had a top speed of 180 mph. Despite its power, the Durango's fuel economy was poor, rated at 12/17/13 mpg. The SRT Hellcat featured a full-time AWD system, adaptive damping suspension, and Brembo brakes, providing a thrilling driving experience with impressive grip and control.

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduced a hands-free power liftgate and increased cargo space to 29.6 cubic feet with seats up and 74.4 cubic feet with them down. It offered a roomy second row and various power-adjustable seating options, enhancing comfort and convenience.

The 2025 Dodge Durango excelled in interior space, with heated and ventilated front seats and a large center console. The second-row captain’s chairs provided comfort, while the third row offered ample room for adults. Cargo space measured 17.2 cubic feet with all seats up, expanding to 85.1 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2025 Subaru Forester featured an 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims included navigation, a Harman Kardon sound system, and Subaru’s Starlink connected services with new capabilities like Valet Mode and Remote Vehicle Configuration.

The 2025 Dodge Durango came with a Uconnect 5 system, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and wireless smartphone integration. It offered SiriusXM services, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The SRT Hellcat included SRT Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics.

The 2025 Subaru Forester offered advanced safety features, including Emergency Stop Assist and Subaru’s EyeSight suite with enhancements for 2025. While crash-test ratings were pending, the 2024 model had received high marks.

The 2025 Dodge Durango's safety features were less impressive, with basic driver assistance systems and mixed crash-test results. It included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and optional adaptive cruise control.