Did you recently rush to buy a new vehicle before tariff-related price hikes? A reporter is looking to speak with shoppers who felt pressure to act quickly due to expected cost increases; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com for more details by 4/24.
Subaru Forester vs Toyota RAV4
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
I disagree on three of four counts.
MPG: Agreed, equal.
ACCELERATION: Forester 4-cyl beats RAV 4-cyl in acceleration... the Subaru has slightly more horsepower and torque plus it weighs about 250 lbs less. Both are 4-spd autos.
SAFETY: Forester has the best safety ratings in its class. We've seen this info many times, but I can provide links if necessary.
INSURANCE COST: Forester rates are cheaper than RAV's, and I have personal experience and data to back that up. See my earlier post here.
I will say, however, that I think Forester's lead in these three areas is slim.
That leaves the 4-cyl RAV's only clear advantage as roominess.
My insurance made no difference.
The RAV just tested well in the latest crash test. We can get into the side airbag thing..does the Forester have the side bags or was that the OB?
Perhaps the F is better for towing. Again, I think we are looking at 2 different class cars now.
I disagree. They make cars with more features. The B9 may also have more features than the RAV but I am not so sure it would rate as a better vehicle. I plead ignorance since when we were looking and spotted the B9s the rediculous cost acted like a force field that repelled us to the F and OB. At the time it favored very well against the 05 Rav and other competition. We just decided we wanted a vehicle in a larger class and the 06 RAV filled that need. Its not a knock on Subaru, simply a matter of fact; the cars really are in different classes now, at least in size and price. Now if they drop the rebate then the base models would be similar in price. I doubt that will happen though. If it does I think we will see a large new Forester in the future.
You're right on the mark, there. They are so different in size now. Still, I imagine folks do go to Honda dealers and try to decide if an Accord is worth the money over a Civic, for example. Both good cars - first, do you want the bigger size; and second, is it worth the price?
Maybe Toyota thinks the next Matrix will evolve into a Forester competitor. I'd hate to see Honda, Subaru and Toyota all abandon the compact SUV segment. Subaru usually doesn't build its vehicles to be direct competitors with any of the big companies, so perhaps they won't want Forester to grow to 3 rows to try to compete head-on with RAV.
How 'bout something like this?
-juice
RAV received the top mark of "Good" in the IIHS's frontal crash test only. The side impact tests have not been done, and it received only a "Marginal" in the rear crash test. That's below both Good and Acceptable, but above Poor. Forester received the top mark of "Good" in all three categories.
In the NHTSA crash tests, Forester received slightly better frontal ratings than the RAV, and they were equally good performers in the side impact tests. NHTSA does no rear crash testing.
It's not that easy unfortunately. You happen to pick a good example of two very similiar products with a $$$$ difference. There is a thing called value that enters into any decision. Forester vs RAV4 the decision is easy, and it's not a knock on the Rav4. Forester vs Forester STI....
-juice
LOL! That's the first time I've heard anyone refer to the Forester as LESS "wagon-ey looking"! In fact, there are plenty of people who think it looks a little too much like a wagon for comfort. I guess it's really a matter of perspective, compared to traditional SUVs it looks more like a wagon but compared to traditional wagons... it looks more like an SUV (hence the term cross-over) :P
-Frank
Here's a thought...how about a Subaru Mini Van about the size of the last generation Sienna or Oddesy. Now that was a size she felt comfortable in and did not seem rediculously large! Maybe Subaru should corner the market on quality cars/SUVs/Vans that are just a tad smaller than the rest!
All right enough already.....I'm done!
Heh heh, seems like they're already there!
There was a rumor of a Subaru minivan a while back, but SOA denied it was coming here, pretty much squelching any more rumors. Sylvia, "Subaru Minivan in 2007?" #1, 29 Jun 2005 3:45 pm
The Mazda5 is on my short list, but it's missing a few key features, like AWD. It's very close to what I want, though - a small but space-efficient car with plenty of interior space.
Do it Subaru!
-juice
Forester is cheaper by a few bucks, think it has to do with spare on the back. I agree in general, but one is a heck of a lot more fun than the other. What the F lacks is rear passenger air bags. Neither are very cool.
http://autoweb.drive.com.au/cms/A_107018/newsarticle.html
-juice
I'd like to take a peek at the next gen before I decide what to buy, hope I can wait that long...
-juice
Sal
Foresters have had drive by wire for a few years now.
-juice
I'll bet you never drove a Forester XT, did you? The RAV's 6-cyl would slaughter the Subaru's base 4-cyl., sure, but the XT is another story. XT's turbo vs. RAV's 6-cyl would be a very close race, I think. The RAV's got more horsepower, but the Forester's got less weight to push around. The horsepower-to-dollar ratio would probably favor the Subaru.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Forester drive-by-wire (electronic throttle?) also? edit: confirmed by juice
If I were looking for an SUV bigger than a Forester with lots of power, the RAV 6-cyl would definitely be one of the top choices. Sounds like you're having tons o' fun with yours!
The XT makes most use of the torque after 2K to redline and it's a better overall handler. But you choose the trade-offs.
I think the RAV, the CRV and the Forester were the best in the compact SUV class, but now the RAV's gotten bigger so it's really moved up a class in size. We'll see later this year how big the CRV gets, but it'll be a year or two before the Forester goes up in size, if it does.
I think the XC90's a very attractive vehicle, but Subaru & Toyota sure have it beat for reliability. That would be a serious deterrent to me for purchasing a Volvo.
Oh (just to keep the Rav part in) and the RAV 4 is not a real all wheel drive. It is front wheel drive and some kind of positrac stabilitrac, whatever, for the rear axle...upon occasion... Sounds very complicated for something that isn't even going to kick in except for every so often...
>I look forward to the squeals of anger
But the Forester was made for dogs. Almost all others have the windows about 3 feet above the seat bottoms including Rav 4's. In the Forester, the dog sits where he likes and can see everything. The girlfriend still switches off between her old 98 2 door Jimmy and the new Forester. The dog runs to the Forester every time...and you can tell he doesn't like having to climb into the back of the old Jimmy...
-Brian
The Forester XT retains the value/performance standard for those who don't need diminutive size third seats and the slightly extra room the new RAV4 offers. Well have to wait and see what Subaru does with the Forester.
positrac - that's one way to say limited-slip differential. I don't think the RAV4 has that. The Forester does have a viscous limited-slip diff on the rear axle.
stabilitrac - that's Cadillac's stability control system. Toyota has one, Subaru does not.
-juice
Most people just want to get around in the snow and go over speed bumps without bottoming out, like my Miata does! :mad:
-juice
-Frank
Why does Toyota mount its exhausts so low? They do under the rear diff. Very strange.
-juice
Personally I still like the looks of that little truck, I am told they hardly see any though...they do seem pricey.....
OK... I'm officially off-topic here. Time to stop.
/OT - The B9 does not really compete with the RAV4, as the six seater RAV4 does not really compete with the Forester. The space it does compete in is crowded, only time will tell how well it fares.
How is Subaru's VDC different?