Head-to-head
2026 Subaru Outback vs 2026 Toyota RAV4
The Subaru Outback edges it, 89.6 to 85.9, on tech & comfort, safety. The Toyota RAV4 is ahead on fuel & range and price. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.9 and it flips.
A
2026 Subaru Outback
The 2026 Subaru Outback is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Outback AWD, is EPA-rated at 2…
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 Subaru Outback
Slight edgeThe Subaru Outback edges it, 89.6 to 85.9, on tech & comfort, safety. The Toyota RAV4 is ahead on fuel & range and price. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.9 and it flips.
Tech & comfort2026 Subaru Outback leads by 53.3
Fuel & range2026 Toyota RAV4 leads by 37.1
Safety2026 Subaru Outback leads by 21.1
| Category · weight | 2026 Subaru Outbackoverall 89.6 | 2026 Toyota RAV4overall 85.9 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 91.2 | 100 |
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 62.9 | 100 |
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 78.9 |
| Space & cargow 2 | 95.8 | 96.9 |
| Performancew 2 | 84.2 | 97.9 |
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 46.7 |
| Warrantyw 2 | no data | no data |
| Overall | 89.6 | 85.9 |
Subaru Outback: base trim Premium AWD · Toyota RAV4: base trim LE FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.9 and the answer flips.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Advertisement
Specifications side by side
51 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $34,995 | $31,900 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,498 cc | 2,487 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | DOHC 4-cyl. horizontally opposed (BOXER); aluminum cylinder block and cylinder heads | 2.5-liter Dynamic Force 4-cylinder, aluminum alloy block with aluminum alloy cylinder head (Atkinson Cycle) |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | D-4S |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 180 hp | 226 hp |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft | 163 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 47 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 43 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 40 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 4.111 | — |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | — |
| 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 | 67.5 in | 66.7 in |
| Overall length | 192 in | 181 in |
| Overall width | 74 in | 73 in |
| Wheelbase | 108 in | 106 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 80.5 cu-ft | 70.4 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 34.6 cu-ft | 37.8 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 147 cu-ft | 98.9 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.2 in | 37.9 in |
| Second-row headroom | 40.5 in | 39.5 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 43 in | 41 in |
| Second-row legroom | 39.5 in | 37.8 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,741 lbs | 3,640 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,741 lbs | 3,640 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 4,920 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson-type struts, lower L-arms, coil springs, dampers, stabilizer bar | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar |
| Rear suspension type | Double wishbone, coil springs, dampers, 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) | 18.2 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 | 18 in | 17 in |
| Wheel material | alloy | alloy |
| Wheel width | 7 in | 7.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 225/60R18 100H | 235/65R17 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 18 gal | 14.5 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | MySubaru Connected Services | Toyota Connected Services |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | — | 12 months |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 60 months | 60 months |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.9 in | 57 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 57.4 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
106 features · differences first, then sharedSafety20 differ · 32 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Panoramic View Monitor with 3D 360-degree Overhead View, and Curb View | opt | — |
| Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) System | std | — |
| Front Passenger Seat Cushion Airbag | std | — |
| Auto Vehicle Hold (AVH) | std | — |
| Brake Override System | std | — |
| DriverFocus® Distraction Mitigation System (Driver Monitoring System) | std | — |
| Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Brake Hold | — | std |
| Electronic Brake-force Distribution System (EBD) | std | — |
| Electronic Controlled Power Assisted Brake System | std | — |
| Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) | std | — |
| Electronic Traction Control (TCS) | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology: Emergency Stop Assist with Safe Lane Selection, Highway Hands-Free Assist, Highway Hands-Free Pre-Curve Speed Control, Highway Hands-Free Active Lane Change Assist, Highway Hands-Free Automatic Resume Assist | std | — |
| EyeSight® System Gen 4 with Wide Angle Mono Camera, Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control w/ Lane Centering, Emergency Lane Keep Assist, Automatic Emergency Steering, Emergency Stop Assist, Front and Side Alert Assist, Front Cross Traffic Braking, Acceleration Override Assist | std | — |
| Haptic Steering Wheel Alerts | std | — |
| Headlights: High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | — |
| Rear Seat Reminder | std | — |
| Side Curtain Airbags w/ Roll Over Sensor | std | — |
| Steering Responsive Headlights (SRH) | std | — |
| 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 |
| Vehicle Proximity Notification System (VPNS) | — | std |
| Backup camera with dynamic gridlines | std | 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 | 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 | 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 | std |
| Trailer-Sway Control (TSC) | std | std |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) | std | std |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | std | 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 | 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 |
Infotainment17 differ · 17 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Connect — includes AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot and Integrated Streaming (Spotify® – separate subscription required) compatibility. 1-month trial subscription for music services. Subscription required after trial. 5G network dependent. | — | std |
| Steering Wheel: Hands-Free Phone Switches / Voice Command Talk Switch | 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 |
| Drive Connect — includes Cloud Navigation with Google Points of Interest (POI) data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey, Toyota, and Destination Assist. Capable, subscription required (1-year trial on Limited AWD) | — | 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 |
| Harman Kardon® speaker system | std | — |
| MySubaru Connected Services Companion (5-year trial included) with SOS Emergency Assistance, Advanced Automatic Collision Notification, Vehicle Condition Check, and more | std | — |
| MySubaru Connected Services Companion+ (subscription required) with Remote Engine Start with Climate Control, Remote Lock & Unlock, Remote Horn & Lights, and more | std | — |
| Remote Connect — remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app. 1-year trial subscription | — | std |
| Safety Connect® — includes Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Locator. 5-year minimum trial subscription | — | std |
| Service Connect — receive personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports. 5-year minimum trial subscription | — | std |
| Single Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging with charge indicator light | opt | — |
| Steering Wheel Paddle-Shift Controls | std | — |
| Steering Wheel: Audio Control Switches | std | — |
| Subaru 12.1-inch Multimedia Navigation System | opt | — |
| Subaru 12.1-inch Multimedia System (with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, SiriusXM® with 360L, HD Radio®, Bluetooth®) | std | — |
Convenience4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Key System on front doors and liftgate with Push Button Start, remote keyless entry system with lock, unlock, and panic functions, power liftgate and remote illuminated entry | std | — |
| Auto-Up / Auto-Down All Windows w/ Anti-Pinch Protection | std | — |
| PIN Code Access | std | — |
| Power Rear Gate w/ Automatic Close & Height Memory | std | — |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual zone automatic climate control system with dust and pollen filter and rear-seat vents | — | std |
| HVAC: Dual Zone Automatic Climate Control System with Physical Switch Controls | std | — |
Seating11 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support | opt | — |
| Heated front seats | std | — |
| SofTex®-trimmed seats, heated and ventilated front seats (high-mid-low), heated rear seats (on-off); 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with memory function and lumbar support; 8-way power front passenger seat with seatback pocket | std | — |
| 10-Way Power Driver's Seat (includes 2-way Power Lumbar Support) | std | — |
| 10-Way Power Driver's Seat (includes 2-way Power Lumbar Support) | std | — |
| 12-Way Power Driver's Seat with lumbar support and adjustable thigh support | std | — |
| 8-way Power Front Passenger Seat | std | — |
| Fabric-trimmed seats; 8-way manual-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support; 6-way manual front passenger seat with seatback pocket | — | std |
| Upholstery: Perforated Leather-Trimmed w/ Khaki Stitching | std | — |
| Upholstery: StarTex® water-repellent (black with black stitching or copper stitching on Wilderness) | std | — |
| Rear Seat Armrest w/ Dual Cup Holders | std | — |
| 60/40 split reclining fold-flat rear seat with center armrest and cup holders | std | std |
Interior8 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated Leather-trimmed tilt/telescopic 3-spoke steering wheel with silver accent and controls for audio, Multi-Information Display (MID), Bluetooth® hands-free phone, voice-command, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), and Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) | opt | — |
| 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 |
| 12.3-inch High Grade Digital Gauge Meter w/ Color LCD Display | std | — |
| Steering Wheel: Leather-Wrapped | std | — |
| Visor Vanity Mirror: Dual-Illuminated | std | — |
| Sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors | — | std |
| Tilt / Telescopic Steering Column | std | — |
| Floor Mats: Carpeted w/ Outback Logo on Front Mats | std | — |
| Day/night rearview mirror | std | std |
Exterior20 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power tilt/slide moonroof with one-touch open/close | opt | — |
| Automatic Power-Folding Exterior Mirrors | std | — |
| Color-keyed roof-mounted shark-fin antenna | — | std |
| Dark Tint Privacy Glass | std | — |
| Dual exhaust | — | std |
| Exterior Power Mirrors with Integrated Turn Signals | std | — |
| Heated Power Exterior Mirrors | std | — |
| LED Fog Lights | std | — |
| LED projector low- and high-beam headlights, daytime running lights (DRLs) and front side marker lamp with chrome accent, Automatic High Beams (AHB) | — | std |
| LED taillights | — | std |
| Low-profile black roof rails | — | std |
| Privacy glass on all rear side, quarter and liftgate windows | — | std |
| Rain-sensing variable intermittent windshield wipers with de-icer function and intermittent rear window wiper | opt | — |
| Rear Bumper Trailer Hitch Cover (removable) | std | — |
| Rear Window Wiper w/ Fixed Intermittent Feature & Washer | std | — |
| Roof Rails: Raised Ladder Type with Crossbar Placement Measurement Markers | std | — |
| Sound Insulation Windshield | std | — |
| Tailpipe: Single Outlet | std | — |
| Rear Roof Spoiler: Body Color w/ Black Edge & End Panels | std | — |
| Spare Tire/Wheel Temporary | — | std |
| LED projector low- and high-beam headlights, daytime running lights (DRLs), front side marker lamp, parking lamp and front turn signal lamp with chrome accent, Automatic High Beams (AHB) auto on/off | std | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | std | std |
Powertrain7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive | std | — |
| FWD | — | std |
| Active Torque Vectoring | std | — |
| Auto Start-Stop | std | — |
| Dual Active Valve Control System (DAVCS) / Variable Valve Timing | std | — |
| Lineartronic® CVT with 8-speed Manual Shift Mode | std | — |
| X-MODE® (Snow/Dirt) with Hill Descent Control (HDC) | std | — |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Use Cargo Cover / Tonneau Cover | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Advertisement
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPSubaru Outback
Safety Signal100 A
NHTSA overall—
Frontal / side / rollover— / — / —
Recalls0
Owner complaints14 · 1 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained aboutUnspecified (6), Electrical System (4), Seats (2)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Toyota RAV4
Safety Signal97 A
NHTSA overall—
Frontal / side / rollover— / — / —
Recalls1
Owner complaints28 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained aboutForward Collision Avoidance (9), Unspecified (8), Electrical System (6)
Top recalls
- minorEquipment26V571000 · 135 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $34,995 (base trim) | $31,900 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $34,995 – $47,995 6 trims | $31,900 – $43,300 9 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Outback AWD | RAV4 |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 27 | 43 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,300 | $1,450 |
| 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 Outback or the 2026 Toyota RAV4?
The Subaru Outback edges it, 89.6 to 85.9, on tech & comfort, safety. The Toyota RAV4 is ahead on fuel & range and price. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.9 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Subaru Outback scores 89.6 and the 2026 Toyota RAV4 85.9. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Subaru Outback or the 2026 Toyota RAV4?
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 starts lower — $31,900 against $34,995, a gap of $3,095 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Subaru Outback or the 2026 Toyota RAV4?
2026 Subaru Outback: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 Toyota RAV4: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 1 recall. 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 differences between the 2026 Subaru Outback and the 2026 Toyota RAV4?
This page puts 51 specifications and 106 equipment items side by side, with the better value marked on every row where the direction is unambiguous and the differences listed before the things both cars share.