Japanese Heavyweights! 2026 Toyota RAV4 vs. Subaru Forester: Comparison

What's going on YouTube so compact crossovers are an extremely important segment here in the US and brands like Toyota and Subaru are well aware of that. That's why they've invested heavily into their new products in this segment the Forester and RAV4. Both models are sporting new designs new tech and new engines this year but when it comes to picking between the models which one is best for you that's what we're here to find out today. To show off these models with all they have to offer we are showcasing the fully loaded trims in today's comparison Limited and Touring and if you're looking to buy either of them make sure to check out carconfections.com slash new car quotes to get the best price and access to invoice pricing information. Starting with the exterior section both models are sporting new looks with the fully loaded RAV4 Limited and Forester Touring leaning more towards luxurious than their rugged predecessors. While there are some tougher variants available in this guise the new RAV4 takes a clean and boxy look with body colored elements throughout. Meanwhile the Forester has less cladding than the previous generation with a more subdued gloss black grille and less boxy overall shape. Looks are subjective so we don't score the exteriors but be sure to let us know which one you prefer in the comments. What we do score are the various features and differences starting with headlights. Both are rocking full LED headlamps with fog lamps as well. However it's only the Forester that has the premium feature of bending adaptive lights for advanced visibility. Both have contrast alloy wheels though with the RAV4 being one inch larger at 20 versus 19. When we head to the sides the Forester is slightly longer with a two inch advantage over the RAV4. Rest assured we will be talking about interior packaging ride quality and more later on in this comparison. Both also offer black contrast roof options but this will depend on which trim you select. Moving out back they're quite similar overall with exposed wipers and spoilers up top. The Forester has an exposed exhaust outlet though. For the taillights the RAV4 is more premium with completely LED units instead of an incandescent turn signal like on the Subaru. For towing capacity both handle a maximum of 3,500 pounds but the majority of the RAV4's trims can actually achieve that including this limited. Only the Wilderness Forester can achieve that much so this touring is rated at 1,500 pounds. At the mirrors each of them has heating and blind spot monitor. They also match each other for safety with all major safety systems as standard equipment. The RAV4 goes above and beyond with a standard drive recorder which uses the existing cameras on the car to act like a dash cam. That concludes the exteriors so now let's check out the insides but first if you're new here we're brothers and we've been reviewing cars since we were 12 and 16. We started young and since then we have reviewed over 2,000 vehicles at every price point. No matter what you're looking for from humble to high-end we'd love for you to subscribe to be a part of our car confections family. Let's learn a lot and have some fun with all the latest cars. Starting with the keys both feature smart entry systems and support for remote start. Opening up the doors you'll see very practical and tech-filled cabins on both but let's start with the seats. The RAV4 seats are wrapped in Softex faux leather but the Forester has the real deal for its seats Nappa leather one of the industry's best quality leathers. Both have 10 ways of adjustment heating ventilation and memory. Once inside we can discuss the broad category of material quality which will divide into solidity and material selections. The Forester leads the way in both categories where it uses softer solid feeling and more visually diverse materials that fit together better than the RAV4's new cabin. It will receive both points here. Firing them up you'll be greeted by digital gauge clusters on both at an equivalent 12.3 inch size with customization options such as putting google maps in there. As equipped neither has a head-up display so the digital clusters will have to suffice. Pulling back to the steering wheels we have heated leatherette wrapped manually adjusting wheels with plenty of buttons. Both also feature rain sensing wipers. Next up is storage where both models are bigger than ever. We will evaluate both the console and the multi-use cubbies in the dash. The consoles are quite large and equivalent to each other but the RAV4's console lid can flip upside down and turn into a table for something like eating. Beyond the console the RAV4 continues its advantage with more cubbies than the Subie and even a passenger storage shelf. Additionally the RAV4 adds a second wireless phone charging pad on the Limited for 2026, a nice luxury touch. Only the RAV4 has an electronic shifter but in reverse both feature 360 degree cameras. Due to the Forester's screen orientation the RAV4's camera resolution is much clearer with both angles at the same time. At the climate controls we have two zone automatic systems with semi-physical controls in the form of buttons. Many functions are in the screen for both of them so keep that in mind if you're looking for something with lots of knobs. However each has a physical volume knob for the audio systems. In the RAV4 you max out with a JBL nine speaker system but the Forester's Harman Kardon bumps you to 12 speakers. Let's take a sample of them. The Forester system is one of the segment's finest and it will get the point here. Now let's look at the in-car technology starting with the screens. When it comes to size the RAV4 has a 10% advantage with a maximum 12.9 inches over the Forester's 11.6 inches. For functionality the Toyota continues with its advantages and its latest version of Toyota Multimedia. This means the software is much smoother faster and more customizable than the older Subaru system. Both feature wireless CarPlay and Android Auto with built-in navigation. Wrapping up things in the front of the cabins they both have auto dimming mirrors with HomeLink and the rear camera ability. They also have panoramic sunroofs on these top trims. Things continue to heat up in the back of these two so let's dive right in. Starting with the backseat space the numbers say there is not enough of difference on paper in the advantage of either competitor. But when we measure the practical knee room with our ruler it reveals that the Forester is realistically roomier with almost three inches for extra space behind my five foot eight driving position. As far as the features go they are each equivalent and luxurious. Both seats offer room to recline vents USBs and heated seats. Out back both models have hands-free tailgates to access the cargo areas. Earlier we discussed that the Forester had a three inch length advantage but the RAV4's packaging actually has the advantage. Behind the second row it has a whopping 30% advantage though the maximum spaces are almost identical. Keep this in mind if you often road trip with the back seats occupied. While Subaru has handy cargo handles to fold the seats easily it's only the RAV4 with a spare tire as equipped. That wraps up the interiors so now let's take this fight to the streets. For many years the Forester trailed behind the RAV4 without offering a hybrid powertrain but those days are no longer. However these hybrid systems have different heartbeats as the Subie uses its signature boxer four-cylinder engine and the RAV4 has the traditional inline four-cylinder. Power and lean heavily in favor of the RAV4 with 42 more horsepower and a 0 to 60 that is almost two seconds quicker. All right and that was 60 miles per hour. So let's kind of recap a little bit about what we discussed in terms of the powertrain situation in part one of the video. So this of course is a hybrid system but what's important about it you have 14 more horsepower so that's a big thing right from the start. This is a hybrid system that was kind of co-developed with Toyota that being said unlike Mazda's situation where they really just borrowed the RAV4 hybrid system this is really a completely different thing. They've just used a slight few components but it is a Subaru through and through. Okay that was 60 miles per hour with this 2026 RAV4. So of course the big news with this next generation RAV4 is the fact that they're moving to a full hybrid powertrain arrangement. So you have a traditional hybrid and you also have a plug-in hybrid option. We're in the traditional hybrid right now this is going to be the what the vast majority of customers will walk away from the dealership with because it is standard on almost every single trim level a six out of seven trim levels. Transmission wise both use an e-CVT which is plenty responsive on both but in typical Subaru fashion the Forester is more suited to go off road. While both trims tested have standard all-wheel drive the Subie has a more capable full-time symmetrical all-wheel drive system with variable torque distribution ability compared to an independent rear electric motor providing the power to the back wheels in the RAV4. Furthermore the Forester's additional 0.6 inches of ground clearance would be helpful when going off the beaten path. If off-road performance matters even more to you you can shop the woodland or wilderness trims of the RAV4 and Forester respectively. As you probably noticed as I accelerate this has an e-CVT so a little bit different than the traditional CVT but the overall performance will be you know pretty much the same. Yeah and as far as how power is routed to the ground as expected like Drew said we have a symmetrical all-wheel drive system so that's really the the huge thing with this Forester hybrid is that they have not compromised its off-road credibility with this hybrid system. Now for those of you that are not familiar um you know some of the rivals like the Toyota RAV4 have an electronic all-wheel drive system so basically what it is is the engine powers the front wheels there's an electric motor in the back that gives you all-wheel drive however it's not a mechanical all-wheel drive system like this symmetrical setup on the Forester. Now of course in terms of the transmission situation this is an e-CVT which is typical for Toyota's hybrid system. Now let's discuss ride quality and handling. While neither of these crossovers are backroad champs ride quality is where they truly shine. Both soak up road imperfections with ease even on the rough roads that both were driven on. We would give the slightest edge to the Subie with the extra cush in its suspension and smaller wheels. So how is the ride quality? Well overall we've been driving it around for several hours at this point and we have been nothing but impressed with what Subaru is down with the ride quality. It feels very similar to the gasoline model that we've tested out multiple times at this point. They've done a great job of balancing ride as well as handling feel as well. Now also good news is the ride quality. So we've been driving around here all morning long and like I just said this is a pretty rough road surface and even if we hit big bumps in the road I think it does a great job in terms of ride quality. Sound insulation is also important which is why we take sound level readings of every vehicle we test here at Car Confections. Scientifically speaking most adults cannot discern a difference of less than one decibel between sounds. Based on our initial testing in different states the Forester has the potential to be quieter but for now we cannot officially score this matter. 56.2 or 55.9 was our lowest reading 58.7 decibels is the number that we have settled in at. Finally let's talk about the all-important aspect of fuel economy. While the Forester is much more efficient with its new hybrid the RAV4 still holds a seven mile per gallon combined advantage. That is of course very significant but both models will save you more than the average crossover at the fuel pumps. Something worth noting for those not yet ready to adopt a hybrid yet, the RAV4 is hybrid only while the Forester offers the choice of a gas only engine. In our reviews and comparisons we're also adding in reliability and resale information to give you a better picture of the overall value beyond just the original MSRP. Beginning with reliability we developed the combined reliability index which takes into account several studies from trustworthy sources and combines them in a way that gives you a more realistic picture. In this respect these are some of the strongest brands money can buy. Subaru is rated 11 slots above the industry average giving it plus 2.2 points and Toyota is 15 slots above average giving it three points. Related to that we have the same general warranty coverage but Toyota offers the perk of complementary maintenance for two years. We also put Mason's economics degree to work to develop a detailed predicted resale value tool. After five years and 60,000 miles Toyota has one of the highest resale values in the entire auto industry. It's 64 and a half percent of expected retained value. Subaru is not far behind with 63.03 percent after five years and 60,000 miles. This will give the Toyota a slight boost in score of 0.2 points. Now let's talk about pricing. Both models will push the budget when it comes to the equipment we have today. The RAV4 has one of the highest MSRPs in the segment and the upgrade to the Forester Hybrid is quite costly as well. This means they'll be neck and neck at over 45 grand. With only $780 between these two today there will not be a notable value difference between them. We want to emphasize that if reliability, resale value, or money matters less to you personally feel free to disregard these points. So there you have it the objective winner. Do you agree? Let's go through some strong areas of each product so you can figure out which one might be your personal winner. So the Forester should probably be your personal winner if you're looking for the nicer interior quality as well as the nicer seat material and also if you really need the most capability from your all-wheel drive system. Now the RAV4 on the flip side should be your choice if you want the best fuel economy. It is better than the Forester. Also it has more cargo space and second row space and it has a couple feature advantages as well such as the screen size, the dual wireless phone chargers, and things like that. Now speaking of these areas where one is excelling over the other we would encourage you to go to carconfections.com vehicle rankings. We've looked at all the compact SUVs in this very competitive space and ranked them in individual categories that matter most to you and you can see the best options in each of those categories to really make an informed buying decision. But which one of these will we put in our driveways? So I'm going to pick the RAV4 and that's based on a few things mostly the efficiency, the technology, and that overall packaging. I would probably lean the other way and pick the Forester just because it has a more quality interior with nicer materials. The RAV4 is a little bit on the cheaper side. And guys that's going to be where we wrap up this video. Hopefully you enjoyed if you did we'd really appreciate you subscribing down below and if you're looking to buy either the Forester, the RAV4, or any new vehicle we'd also like to encourage you to go to carconfections.com slash new car quotes. The reason you should do that is because we have a website that will connect you with local car dealers in your area to get you the best price. It's also going to give you access to invoice pricing information which is a great tool to use while dealership negotiating. If you'd like to take advantage of that as well as things like our monthly payment tool you can find a link to that down below in our video description as well as a pinned comment at the top of this video. And guys thanks so much for tuning in if you're not already a part of our family we'd love to welcome you in and if you're already a part thank you so much for your continued support. We'll catch you next time as we sample more of the latest automotive delicacies.