Head-to-head
2026 Subaru Forester vs 2026 Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 wins clearly, 95 to 82.5, on safety, fuel & range, tech & comfort. The Subaru Forester is ahead on price.
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2026 Subaru Forester
The 2026 Subaru Forester is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Forester Hybrid AW…
vs
A2026 Toyota RAV4
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the RAV4, is EPA-rated at 43 mpg c…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Toyota RAV4
Clear winThe Toyota RAV4 wins clearly, 95 to 82.5, on safety, fuel & range, tech & comfort. The Subaru Forester is ahead on price.
Safety 2026 Toyota RAV4 leads by 27
Fuel & range 2026 Toyota RAV4 leads by 18.5
Tech & comfort 2026 Toyota RAV4 leads by 13.8
| Category · weight | 2026 Subaru Foresteroverall 82.5 | 2026 Toyota RAV4overall 95 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 94 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 81.5 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 58.2 | 85.2 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 89.2 | 98.7 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 85.4 | 97.9 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 86.2 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | ||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 82.5 | 95 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Subaru Forester: open park-outside / do-not-drive advisory (−25)
Subaru Forester: base trim Base AWD · Toyota RAV4: base trim LE FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Toyota RAV4 wins
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 94 against 72).
- It is rated 43 combined against 35 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $350 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,550 against $1,900).
Where the 2026 Subaru Forester answers
- It lists 24 standard driver-assist features against 16.
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (34 against 44 filed with NHTSA).
What they share
- 5 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
50 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $29,995 | $31,900 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | Atkinson Cycle |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,498 cc | 2,487 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | DOHC 4-cyl. 2.5-liter horizontally opposed BOXER | 2.5-liter Dynamic Force 4-cylinder, aluminum alloy block with aluminum alloy cylinder head |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | D-4S |
| Valve configuration | DOHC | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 180 hp | 226 hp |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft | 163 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 26 mpg | 47 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 29 mpg | 43 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 33 mpg | 40 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.700 | — |
| Transmission type | cvt | Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) with sequential shift mode |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in | 8.1 in |
| Overall height | 68.1 in | 66.7 in |
| Overall length | 183 in | 181 in |
| Overall width | 72 in | 73 in |
| Wheelbase | 105 in | 106 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 74.4 cu-ft | 70.4 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 29.6 cu-ft | 37.8 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 140 cu-ft | 98.9 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 41.2 in | 37.9 in |
| Second-row headroom | 39.6 in | 39.5 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 43.3 in | 41 in |
| Second-row legroom | 39.4 in | 37.8 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,510 lbs | 3,640 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,510 lbs | 3,640 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 4,920 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson-type struts, lower L-arms, coil springs, stabilizer bar | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar |
| Rear suspension type | Double wishbone, coil springs, stabilizer bar | Multi-link with stabilizer bar |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Assisted rack-and-pinion (dual-pinion) | Electric Power Steering (EPS); rack-mounted parallel-type electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 35.4 ft | 36.9 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 315 mm | 305 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | electronic | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | 300 mm | 282 mm |
| Rear brake type | ventilated disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | 17 in |
| Wheel material | alloy | alloy |
| Wheel width | 7 in | 7.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 225/60R17 99H | 235/65R17 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 16.6 gal | 14.5 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | MySubaru Companion | Toyota Safety Connect / Drive Connect / Remote Connect |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | — | 12 months |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 60 months | 60 months |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.7 in | 57 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 56.7 in | 56.4 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
104 features · differences first, then sharedSafety28 differ · 34 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Safety Sense™ 4.0 (TSS 4.0) — Pre-Collision System w/Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control w/Eco Mode (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert w/Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Road Sign Assist (RSA), Proactive Driving Assist | — | std |
| Rear vision camera | std | — |
| SRS: front seat side pelvis/torso airbags | std | — |
| SRS: side curtain airbags with rollover sensor | std | — |
| SRS: Subaru Advanced Frontal Airbags | std | — |
| Adjustable front shoulder anchors | — | std |
| Auto Vehicle Hold | std | — |
| Backup camera with dynamic gridlines | — | std |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | — | std |
| Child-protector rear door locks and power window lockout control | — | std |
| Eight airbags — includes driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, driver's knee airbag, front passenger seat cushion airbag, and front and rear side curtain airbags | — | std |
| Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Brake Hold | — | std |
| Electronic Parking Brake | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology: Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology: Lane Departure and Sway Warning | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology: Lane Departure Prevention | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology: Lead Vehicle Start Alert | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology: Pre-Collision Braking | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology: Pre-Collision Throttle Management | std | — |
| Front and outboard second-row seatbelts with seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters | — | std |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) includes lower anchors on outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all rear seats | — | std |
| LED headlights with High Beam Assist | std | — |
| Rear Seat Reminder | std | — |
| Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor | std | — |
| SRS: driver's knee airbag | std | — |
| Vehicle Dynamics Control | std | — |
| Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) with electronic traction control (TCS) | std | — |
| Vehicle Proximity Notification System (VPNS) | — | std |
| Trailer-Sway Control (TSC) | std | std |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) | std | std |
| Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Star Safety System™ — includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology® (SST) | std | std |
| Anti-theft system with engine immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) with direct pressure readout and individual tire location alert | std | std |
Infotainment18 differ · 20 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Automatic Collision Notification | std | — |
| MySubaru Companion: SOS emergency assistance | std | — |
| Safety Connect® Stolen Vehicle Locator | — | std |
| Wi-Fi Connect — includes AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot and Integrated Streaming (Spotify® – separate subscription required) compatibility. 30-day trial subscription with Unlimited Hotspot Data | — | std |
| MySubaru Companion: Remote Vehicle Locator | std | — |
| Safety Connect® — includes Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Locator | — | std |
| 10.5-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia, six speakers, with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility, SiriusXM® with 360L with 3-month trial | — | std |
| 2 - 15w front USB-C charging ports and 1 center console media USB-C charging port | — | std |
| Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ wired connectivity | std | — |
| Drive Connect — includes Cloud Navigation with Google Points of Interest (POI) data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey, Toyota, and Destination Assist. Capable, subscription required (LE, XLE Premium, SE, Woodland); 1-year trial (Limited, XSE, GR SPORT) | — | std |
| Drive Recorder Dash Cam- integrated drive recording system that utilizes front and rear (front and Panoramic View Monitor if equipped) camera systems for video recording | — | std |
| HD Radio® | std | — |
| MySubaru Companion (5-year trial included) | std | — |
| MySubaru Companion+ (subscription available) with Remote Lock & Unlock, Remote Engine Start, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert, Boundary Alert | std | — |
| Service Connect — receive personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports. 5-year minimum trial subscription | — | std |
| SiriusXM and SiriusXM Travel Link® (4-months free trial) | std | — |
| Steering wheel audio and Bluetooth® control switches | std | — |
| Subaru dual 7.0-inch Multimedia System with 4-speaker audio system | std | — |
| Remote Connect — 1-year trial subscription | std | std |
| Remote Connect — remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app via your smartwatch | std | std |
Convenience5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| One 12V/120W auxiliary power outlet in front instrument panel storage tray and one 12V/120W auxiliary power outlet [12v] in cargo area | — | std |
| Power windows with auto up/down and jam protection in all positions | — | std |
| Remote keyless entry system with lock, unlock, panic functions, and remote illuminated entry | — | std |
| 12-volt power outlets in center console and cargo area | std | — |
| Power windows with driver's one-touch auto-up/auto-down with pinch protection | std | — |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual-zone automatic climate control system with voice control and air filtration system | std | — |
| Dual zone automatic climate control system with dust and pollen filter and rear-seat vents | — | std |
Seating4 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Rear seatback with 60/40 split fold down | std | — |
| 6-way manual driver seat with height adjuster | std | — |
| 60/40 split reclining fold-flat rear seat with center armrest and cup holders | — | std |
| Fabric-trimmed seats; 8-way manual-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support; 6-way manual front passenger seat with seatback pocket | — | std |
| Fabric-trimmed seats | std | std |
Interior13 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3-in. digital gauge cluster with customizable settings, integrated multimedia information, odometer, tripmeters, clock, outside temperature, rear passenger seatbelt indicators, fuel gauge, hybrid energy monitor, battery charge meter, fuel economy information, trip timer, shift-position and scheduled maintenance indicators, and warning messages | — | std |
| Black carpet flooring with driver-side footrest | — | std |
| Chrome painted dash with urethane dash panels and soft touch leather wrapped armrests | — | std |
| Front-door storage pockets with bottle holders | — | std |
| Passenger-side lockable glove compartment | — | std |
| RAV4 branded center console | — | std |
| Removeable front cupholder divider | — | std |
| Turn signal stalk with headlight controls and one-touch 3-blink lane change turn signals | — | std |
| Sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors | — | std |
| Cargo area LED light with off-delay | std | — |
| Carpeted floor mats | std | — |
| Front seatback pocket | std | — |
| Overhead console with dual LED map lights with off-delay | std | — |
| Day/night rearview mirror | std | std |
| Tilt/telescopic 3-spoke steering wheel | std | std |
| Overhead console with maplights, sunglasses storage and Safety Connect® button | std | std |
Exterior15 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| LED projector low- and high-beam headlights, daytime running lights (DRLs) and front side marker lamp with chrome accent, Automatic High Beams (AHB) | — | std |
| Power exterior mirrors, foldable | std | — |
| 17-in. dark gray metallic wheels | — | std |
| Active Grille Shutters in front bumper | std | — |
| Color-keyed roof-mounted shark-fin antenna | — | std |
| Dual exhaust | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | — | std |
| LED headlights (low and high beams) with automatic height adjustment, Steering Responsive Headlights and High Beam Assist | std | — |
| LED taillights | — | std |
| Low-profile black roof rails | — | std |
| Privacy glass on all rear side, quarter and liftgate windows | — | std |
| Roof rails: raised ladder type with tie-down points | std | — |
| Sound insulation windshield | std | — |
| Rear liftgate window defogger | — | std |
| Temporary spare tire/wheel | — | std |
Powertrain5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive | std | — |
| Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | — | std |
| Active Torque Vectoring | std | — |
| Auto Start-Stop fuel efficiency improvement technology | std | — |
| SI-DRIVE Engine Performance Management | std | — |
Cargo2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo area tonneau cover | — | std |
| Height-adjustable rear cargo area deck board | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPSubaru Forester
Safety Signal 72 C
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 4 · 1 critical · 1 filed unfixed
Owner complaints 34 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Forward Collision Avoidance (10), Visibility/Wiper (8), Electrical System (8)
Do-not-drive advisory — open NHTSA recall with a consumer advisory.
Top recalls
- critical Suspension 26V685000 · 8 vehicles
- high Visibility 26V346000 · 69,663 vehicles
- moderate Structure 25V889000 · 5,603 vehicles
- minor Equipment 26V436000 · 541,237 vehicles · filed unfixed
Toyota RAV4
Safety Signal 94 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 2
Owner complaints 44 · 3 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Forward Collision Avoidance (17), Unspecified (14), Electrical System (8)
Top recalls
- minor Engine And Engine Cooling 26V659000 · 30,978 vehicles
- minor Equipment 26V571000 · 135 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Subaru ForesterBase AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29,995 (base trim) | $31,900 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $29,995 – $41,595 10 trims | $31,900 – $48,500 13 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | HEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Forester Hybrid AWD | RAV4 |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 35 | 43 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,900 | $1,550 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | — | 5 yr / 60,000 mi |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Subaru Forester or the 2026 Toyota RAV4?
The Toyota RAV4 wins clearly, 95 to 82.5, on safety, fuel & range, tech & comfort. The Subaru Forester is ahead on price. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Toyota RAV4 scores 95 and the 2026 Subaru Forester 82.5. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Subaru Forester or the 2026 Toyota RAV4?
The 2026 Subaru Forester starts lower — $29,995 against $31,900, a gap of $1,905 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Subaru Forester or the 2026 Toyota RAV4?
2026 Subaru Forester: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 4 recalls (1 filed with no repair available). 2026 Toyota RAV4: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 2 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Subaru Forester and the 2026 Toyota RAV4?
Where the 2026 Toyota RAV4 wins: it has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 94 against 72), is rated 43 combined against 35 (EPA mpg or MPGe), and costs $350 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,550 against $1,900). Where the 2026 Subaru Forester answers: it lists 24 standard driver-assist features against 16 and has drawn fewer owner complaints (34 against 44 filed with NHTSA). What they share: 5 seats.