Head-to-head
2026 Subaru Outback vs 2026 Toyota RAV4
Too close to call: Subaru Outback 89.5 vs Toyota RAV4 88.7 with these weights. The Toyota RAV4 is ahead on fuel & range and price. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.5 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
Toss-upToo close to call: Subaru Outback 89.5 vs Toyota RAV4 88.7 with these weights. The Toyota RAV4 is ahead on fuel & range and price. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.5 and it flips.
Fuel & range 2026 Toyota RAV4 leads by 37.7
Safety 2026 Subaru Outback leads by 24.4
Tech & comfort 2026 Subaru Outback leads by 31.8
| Category · weight | 2026 Subaru Outbackoverall 89.5 | 2026 Toyota RAV4overall 88.7 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 91.2 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 62.3 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 75.6 | ||||||||||||
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 | 95.8 | 96.9 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 84.2 | 97.9 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 68.2 | ||||||||||||
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 | 89.5 | 88.7 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
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 3.5 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.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Subaru Outback wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (21 against 44 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists 33 standard driver-assist features against 16.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (42.5 points against 29 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2026 Toyota RAV4 answers
- It costs $950 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,550 against $2,500).
- It is rated 43 combined against 27 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
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
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 | Atkinson Cycle |
| 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 |
| 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) | — | 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) | 36.5 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 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 | 57.9 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
143 features · differences first, then sharedSafety35 differ · 43 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| EyeSight® System: Front Pre-Collision Braking / Front Cross Traffic Braking | std | — |
| Panoramic View Monitor with 3D 360-degree Overhead View, and Curb View | opt | — |
| Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) System | std | — |
| EyeSight® System: Emergency Lane Keep Assist | std | — |
| EyeSight® System: Emergency Lane Keep Assist / Lane Departure Warning | std | — |
| Front Passenger Seat Cushion Airbag | std | — |
| Front Seat Side Pelvis / Torso Airbags | std | — |
| Rear-Vision Camera w/ Washer | std | — |
| Side Curtain Airbags w/ Roll Over Sensor | std | — |
| Subaru Advanced Frontal Airbags | std | — |
| Active Torque Vectoring | std | — |
| Adjustable front shoulder anchors | — | std |
| Auto Vehicle Hold (AVH) | std | — |
| Backup camera with dynamic gridlines | — | std |
| Brake Override System | std | — |
| Child-protector rear door locks and power window lockout control | — | std |
| Driver's Side Knee Airbag | std | — |
| DriverFocus® Distraction Mitigation System (Driver Monitoring System) | 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 Brake-force Distribution System (EBD) | std | — |
| Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) | std | — |
| Electronic Traction Control (TCS) | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology Gen 4 (Wide Angle Mono Camera, EyeSight Assist Monitor, Automatic Emergency Steering, Emergency Stop Assist, Front and Side Alert Assist, Acceleration Override Assist) | std | — |
| EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology: Emergency Stop Assist with Safe Lane Selection, Highway Hands-Free Assist, Highway Pre-Curve Speed Control, Highway Active Lane Change Assist, Highway Automatic Resume Assist | opt | — |
| EyeSight® System: Haptic Steering Wheel Alerts | std | — |
| Front and outboard second-row seatbelts with seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters | — | std |
| Headlights: High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | — |
| Impact Sensing Fuel Cut Off | std | — |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) includes lower anchors on outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all rear seats | — | std |
| Rear Seat Reminder | std | — |
| Safety Pedal System | std | — |
| Security System | std | — |
| Side Curtain Airbags w/ Roll Over Sensor | std | — |
| Vehicle Proximity Notification System (VPNS) | — | 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 | 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 |
| 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 |
Infotainment16 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| MySubaru Connected Services: Advanced Automatic Collision Notification | std | — |
| MySubaru Connected Services: SOS Emergency Assistance | std | — |
| Subaru 12.1-inch Multimedia System with Navigation | opt | — |
| 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 Connected Services: 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 |
| 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 |
| MySubaru Connected Services Companion (5-year trial) with SOS Emergency Assistance, Advanced Automatic Collision Notification, Maintenance Notifications, Vehicle Condition Check, Vehicle Health Report, Service Appointment Scheduler, Remote Vehicle Locator, Stolen Vehicle Recovery, Stolen Vehicle Immobilization | 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 System (wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, HD Radio®, SiriusXM® with 360L, Bluetooth®) | 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 |
| Safety Connect® Stolen Vehicle Locator | std | std |
Convenience7 differ · 8 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 | — |
| One 12V/120W auxiliary power outlet in front instrument panel storage tray and one 12V/120W auxiliary power outlet [12v] in cargo area | — | std |
| PIN Code Access | std | — |
| Power Rear Gate w/ Automatic Close & Height Memory | std | — |
| Remote Keyless Entry System | std | — |
| Remote keyless entry system with lock, unlock, panic functions, and remote illuminated entry | — | std |
| Turn Signals: One-Touch Lane Changer | std | — |
| Power windows with auto up/down and jam protection in all positions | std | 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 | — |
Seating16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Way Power Driver's Seat (includes 2-way Power Lumbar Support) | std | — |
| Heated front seats | std | — |
| Rear Seatback: 60/40 Split Fold-Down | std | — |
| Heated Rear Seat: Outboard Seat Positions | 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 | — |
| 4-Way Manual Passenger Seat (Premium base) | std | — |
| 60/40 split reclining fold-flat rear seat with center armrest and cup holders | — | std |
| 8-way power front passenger seat with seatback pocket | std | — |
| Fabric-trimmed seats | — | std |
| Fabric-trimmed seats; 8-way manual-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support; 6-way manual front passenger seat with seatback pocket | — | std |
| Rear Seatback: Reclining | std | — |
| SofTex®-trimmed seats | std | — |
| Upholstery: StarTex® w/ Black Stitching (water-repellent) | std | — |
| Whiplash Reducing Front Seats | std | — |
| Rear Seat Armrest w/ Dual Cup Holders | std | — |
Interior18 differ · 21 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated Leather-trimmed tilt/telescopic 3-spoke steering wheel | opt | — |
| 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 |
| Steering Wheel: Leather-Wrapped w/ Black Stitching | std | — |
| Telescopic and Tilt Steering Column | std | — |
| Turn signal stalk with headlight controls and one-touch 3-blink lane change turn signals | — | std |
| Visor Vanity Mirror: Dual-Illuminated | std | — |
| Welcome Lighting | std | — |
| Sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors | — | std |
| Tilt/telescopic 3-spoke steering wheel | — | std |
| Cargo Area Light: LED w/ Off-Delay Operation | std | — |
| Floor Mats: Carpeted w/ Outback Logo on Front Mats | std | — |
| Front Seatback Pocket (Driver's & Passenger) | std | — |
| Overhead Console: Dual Map Lights: LED w/ Off-Delay Operation | std | — |
| 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 | std |
| Day/night rearview mirror | std | std |
| Overhead console with maplights, sunglasses storage and Safety Connect® button | std | std |
Exterior23 differ · 24 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power tilt/slide moonroof with one-touch open/close | opt | — |
| LED projector low- and high-beam headlights, daytime running lights (DRLs) and front side marker lamp with chrome accent, Automatic High Beams (AHB) | — | std |
| 17-in. dark gray metallic wheels | — | std |
| Color-keyed roof-mounted shark-fin antenna | — | std |
| Dark Tint Privacy Glass | std | — |
| Dual exhaust | — | std |
| Exterior Power Mirrors: Driver's Seat Two Position Memory, Passenger-Side Auto Tilt-Down (Limited and above) | std | — |
| Exterior Power Mirrors: Passenger-Side Auto Tilt-Down | std | — |
| Fog Lights: LED | std | — |
| Front Active Grille Shutter | std | — |
| Headlights: LED Low Beam / LED High Beam with Auto Height Adjustment Control | std | — |
| Heated power outside mirrors | std | — |
| LED taillights | — | std |
| Low-profile black roof rails | — | std |
| Outside mirrors with BSW/RCTW Indicator and Integrated Turn Signals | 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 Window Wiper w/ Fixed Intermittent Feature & Washer | std | — |
| Sound Insulation Windshield | std | — |
| Steering Responsive Headlights (SRH) | std | — |
| Windshield Wiper De-Icer | std | — |
| Rear liftgate window defogger | — | std |
| Temporary spare tire/wheel | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | std | std |
Powertrain6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive | std | — |
| Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | — | 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 | — |
Cargo4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Subaru OutbackPremium AWD | Toyota RAV4LE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo area tonneau cover | — | std |
| Height-adjustable rear cargo area deck board | — | std |
| Multi-Use Cargo Cover / Multi-Use Cargo Tonneau Cover | std | — |
| Roof Rails: Raised Ladder Type with Crossbar Placement Measurement Markers | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPSubaru Outback
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 21 · 1 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (7), Electrical System (6), Forward Collision Avoidance (5)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
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 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 – $48,500 13 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Outback AWD | RAV4 |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 27 | 43 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,500 | $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 Outback or the 2026 Toyota RAV4?
Too close to call: Subaru Outback 89.5 vs Toyota RAV4 88.7 with these weights. The Toyota RAV4 is ahead on fuel & range and price. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.5 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Subaru Outback scores 89.5 and the 2026 Toyota RAV4 88.7. 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, 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 Outback and the 2026 Toyota RAV4?
Where the 2026 Subaru Outback wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (21 against 44 filed with NHTSA), lists 33 standard driver-assist features against 16, and lists more comfort and tech equipment (42.5 points against 29 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2026 Toyota RAV4 answers: it costs $950 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,550 against $2,500) and is rated 43 combined against 27 (EPA mpg or MPGe). What they share: 5 seats.