Today we will compare 2 popular cars: Rav 4 and Forester. Toyota Rav 4 looks nice, but without emotions, as for Forester, there is this very emotion. There is definitely a masculine presence. With the organization of the workplace, the Rav 4 traditionally has everything very well: the steering wheel is adjustable both in height and in reach.
There is a very comfortable armrest that is also adjustable. As for the automatic transmission and stick, it is in the very right place. The Subaru Forester also has a steering wheel that is adjustable both in reach and height.
It looks very good and is multifunctional. Electric seats, at least the driver's seat. As for the passenger, everything needs to be done with the help of muscles. The armrest is not as wide as in the Rav 4, but it is still there, and it is also adjustable.
In Rav 4 you will really like the instrument panel and really dislike the graphics of the on-board computer. In the Subaru Forester, the on-board computer graphics will be better, there is a lot of information and the graphics are very well designed.
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As for the head unit in the Rav 4, despite the award-winning manufacturer, it all looks like a Chinese TV in a Russian taxi. If we talk about graphics, the buttons are small and you can’t get to them right away. By the way, the Forester has a very large hatch and this adds air to the interior of the car. In Rav 4 you can find a convenient niche for a phone, while Forester has a whole house built for it. Everything is fine with the living space for passengers on the Rav 4.
Here the backrests of the rear seats are adjusted. The Forester also offers plenty of space, with an armrest, two cup holders and adjustable seatbacks.
Who is stronger technically, Toyota Rav 4 and Subaru Forester?
When braking at a speed of 60 km/h, both cars invested 10-11 meters and did not bring any unpleasant surprises. The braking distance itself has not increased. The difference in braking between the two cars was 90 centimeters in favor of the Forester only because the tires were from different manufacturers. Rav 4 is quite obedient to drive. And in terms of handling it is similar to a regular passenger car.
Everything happens easily and without stress. However, it seems that it is slow and it seems that the Forester, with its explosive engine and sporty character, will be much more nimble and fast. Both cars passed the snake test quite well: with the same roll and the same speed.
Verdict on Rav 4 and Subaru or which is better, Subaru Forester or Toyota Rav 4?
Both competitors have enough merits to be purchased and loved for the rest of their lives. According to the results of the tests described above, the Forester took the lead; the Rav 4 undoubtedly lacks all-wheel drive, like the Forester. But you shouldn’t immediately run to a car dealership and buy a Forester, because both Rav 4 and Subaru have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Choose a car according to your preferences.
Can two companies, whose annual turnover differs tenfold, offer an equally interesting product with equivalent consumer characteristics? The question is complex and many will probably answer in the negative. But no one will deny that Subaru, a small company by world standards, which produces a little over 500 thousand cars a year, in some market segments competes very successfully with the giant Toyota, which has long been considered the number one automobile manufacturer in the world. Take crossovers and . They are found equally often on our roads. But which one is better?
Exterior and interior
The Toyota RAV4 crossover has always been considered. It just so happened that Toyota designers offered car enthusiasts smooth lines and a calm appearance. Men did not find all this very attractive, but the representatives of the fair half of humanity liked it. However, when working on the appearance of the latest generation Toyota RAV4, Toyota decided on a real revolution. Feminine lines were replaced by sharp angles and pronounced edges. So from now on, the Toyota RAV4 is perfect not only for women, but also for men. It’s no wonder that there have been a lot more of them driving lately.
Crossover Toyota RAV4
But the Subaru Forester was definitely the same in previous generations. And now even more so. And it’s not to say that Forester impresses with some bright or aggressive solutions. Not at all. His appearance is Japanese-style restrained. However, in this restraint, literally from the very first seconds of acquaintance with the Japanese crossover, strength and confidence are felt. And potential Subaru Forester buyers will be pleased to hear that the crossover has been slightly updated this year. It’s just better not to look for external differences from the pre-restyling model. You won't find it.
All the differences are inside. Most Forester buyers complained that the car's interior looked too modest. That is why during the update the Japanese tried to make it more interesting. As a result, the Forester has a new three-spoke steering wheel and silver air duct trims. I can’t say that all this has radically transformed the interior of the “forester”, but it really has become nicer to look at. As for the ease of use of controls and ergonomics in general, the Subaru Forester had no problems with this before.
Subaru Forester interior
The Toyota RAV4 is different inside. If in Forester the center console is a simple vertical plane, then in Toyota RAV4 a much more interesting two-story architecture is used. The stylish three-spoke steering wheel is also good. However, the Subaru Forester is no worse. Both are at approximately the same level in terms of the quality of finishing materials. If desired, hard plastic can be found in each of the cars. So production volumes are volumes, but for now we have to admit that both crossovers are very worthy rivals to each other.
Interior of Toyota Rav4
There is plenty of space in the back of the Toyota RAV4. Even those passengers whose height is close to two meters will find it quite comfortable in the second row of seats in a Japanese crossover. The situation is absolutely the same in the rear seats of the Subaru Forester. And there is nothing surprising in this, since both crossovers differ in size by literally a couple of centimeters. The length of the Toyota RAV4 is 4570 mm, and the Forester is only 25 mm longer. But in terms of trunk volume, the Toyota RAV4 is several tens of liters ahead - 547 liters versus 505 for the Subaru. Toyota RAV4 will be in the lead even if the rear seat backs are folded. Although in this case it is unlikely that you will be able to notice the difference with the naked eye. In the Subaru, the luggage compartment will increase to 1577 liters, and in the RAV4 there will be about 30 liters more for storage.
Spacious interior of Toyota-RAV4
Technical characteristics of Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester
The basic versions of Japanese crossovers will have a two-liter gasoline engine under the hood, which in the case of the Subaru will develop 150 horsepower, and in the case of the Toyota RAV4, 4 “horses” less. But, if the most affordable Toyota will have a manual gearbox and drive only to the front wheels, then the Subaru Forester, after updating, does not offer “mechanics” to its customers in principle. The same goes for front-wheel drive. Only CVT and only all-wheel drive. However, as often happens, there is one small catch. Subaru is more expensive. The base Forester costs the same as a Toyota RAV4 with a CVT and all-wheel drive. And now the comparison between the two crossovers seems quite correct. In addition, these versions are the most popular in our market.
The Toyota RAV4 with 2.0 under the hood, a CVT and four wheel drives accelerates to one hundred kilometers per hour slowly by modern standards - in 11.3 seconds. However, the Subaru Forester is even slower. It takes 11.8 seconds to accelerate to hundreds. In terms of fuel efficiency, the Toyota RAV4 again, albeit slightly, wins - 9.4 l/100 km in urban conditions versus 10.6 l/100 km for the Forester. But on the highway, both crossovers show exactly the same appetite of 6.3 l/100 km.
For those car enthusiasts who are not impressed by the dynamics of a two-liter engine, both Japanese companies offer 2.5-liter power units. On the Subaru Forester, the boxer four develops 171 horsepower, and on the Toyota RAV4, the 2.5 engine is nine more powerful. Only this time there will be no agony of choice between the type of drive and gearbox. Both cars will have all-wheel drive. The only difference is that the RAV4 will have an automatic transmission, and the Forester will have a CVT. Once again, Toyota is a little faster. The Rafik will be ready to exchange the first hundred just 9.4 seconds after the start. Subaru Forester is exactly half a second slower. It is, however, quite easy to forgive this small loss if you do not forget that in the city, for every hundred kilometers, the Forester will consume 10.9 liters of fuel, and the Toyota RAV4 will already burn 11.4 liters.
For Subaru Forester fans, that's it. More powerful, as well as diesel, power units are not offered for crossovers sold on our market. But the Toyota team took the risk of offering another interesting option in our country - the engine, with a volume of 2.2 liters, develops 150 horsepower. Now attention! With a diesel engine, the Japanese crossover reaches the first hundred kilometers per hour in exactly 10 seconds, and with a gasoline engine of the same power, the Toyota RAV4 does the same exercise in 11.3 seconds. That is, the diesel crossover outright outperforms the gasoline version, which is identical in power, in terms of dynamics. Including the maximum speed – 185 versus 180 kilometers per hour. So after this call diesel cars low-speed vehicles.
Video: Subaru Forester 2013 - Big test drive
On the move, both crossovers delight with absolutely predictable behavior in any conditions. The only difference is that the Subaru Forester is more geared toward reckless driving, while Toyota engineers focused on comfort when tuning the RAV4’s suspension and steering. The steering in it has a little less information content and is in no hurry to convey to the driver absolutely all the information about what is happening with the car. And this is quite consistent with the image inherent in the cars of each brand. Toyota means peace of mind behind the wheel and the notorious Japanese reliability, Subaru means cars with “pepper”, covered with the glory of past sporting victories.
Well, which of the pair of Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester can be called the winner in this fight? No one. Draw! In some ways, the RAV4 looks a little more preferable, but in others, the Subaru Forester pulls ahead by half a body. And it is this fact that clearly demonstrates that small automobile companies not only have the right to exist, but in some areas they may well teach the world giants. This is only better for ordinary car enthusiasts. They have a choice. All that remains is to decide what is best for you - to support Toyota and its 350 thousand employees or to contribute to the development of Subaru, which employs only 12 thousand people.
What could be better than a review of two Japanese cars with a noble history? Subaru Forester or Toyota Rav 4? Let's make a detailed comparison and find out which car is worth buying.
Exterior
Both SUVs released new versions of their models in 2013, and in 2016, each manufacturer showed off restyled versions. The appearance of both turned out to be ambiguous and made car owners more than once remember the company's designers with a kind word.
The exterior of the Rav 4, released in 2013, was received extremely critically. Of course, any change in your usual appearance takes time. But with Toyota everything was more complicated. The appearance turned out to be unassembled and even feminine, while clients expected brutality.
The 2016 restyling tried to change this idea by changing certain appearance features. Objectively, the body has not undergone large-scale modernization, but individual elements, such as bumpers, headlights, radiator grille and stamping of certain parts, have changed the design for the better.
There are more sharp aggressive lines. The head optics are now represented by LED headlights with an adaptive light system. The appearance became more balanced, but the new look still took some getting used to.
The opponent seems to have had the opposite situation. The 2013 Forester was more expressive than the updated model. Although there were few changes in 2016, the restyling has lost its former aggression.
The fact is that the Subaru Forester, which has a rally suspension, has enormous potential (we will discuss this later), and many expected that its “rally” qualities would be visible in its appearance. But seeing him on the road, absolutely no emotions arise.
It's fresh. There is not the slightest hint of the title of leader. Moreover, the inflated shape of the cabin does not even allow you to notice that the SUV has the highest ground clearance in the class - 220 mm.
The rounded body visually hides this advantage. However, the new Forester is attractive and friendly. Its design looks complete, although it is not eye-catching.
Interior, options and trunk
Toyota Rav4 is a comfortable and spacious crossover. The seats in both the first and second rows are very comfortable. They do not have a pronounced relief and stylish stitching that gives elegance to the design, but they are comfortable to sit in.
Unlike the Forester, Toyota's ergonomics are not perfect. The buttons seem to be scattered throughout the cabin, and trying to find a tool to control this or that option will resemble a small quest.
The dashboard design cannot be called modern, but it is not primitive either. Although some buttons are reminiscent of the last century. Wood-like plastic inserts look undignified. In more expensive versions, there is an 8-inch display on the center console, which does not have a high response speed. But the car has a fully equipped winter package, where even the back of the rear sofa is heated.
The Subaru Forester's interior is even more conservative. The materials used for finishing are of very high quality and neat. But you won’t find original lines or fresh modern design solutions.
The ergonomics of the car are excellent! All controls are in place and within easy reach. There are 2 displays on the center console. The top one is responsible for information content, and the second one is responsible for the multimedia system and navigation. The speed of work will please you.
Although there is no less space in the second row than in the Rav 4 2017, the car still seems very compact. But this will not deteriorate comfort. At the back you will find climate control buttons, and the almost non-existent central tunnel allows for a third passenger to sit.
The Toyota trunk is definitely larger: 577 liters. versus 505 for Subaru. There is a dock under the floor of both. If you don't have enough room for your hunting or fishing gear, you can always lower the second row of seats.
Now about the options. The undisputed leader at this stage is Rav 4. Compared to Forester 2017, the opponent has a larger number of options and requires less money for them. Think about it: light and rain sensors on Subaru are available only starting with the “S Limited” package, which costs more than 2 million. And the system for monitoring blind spots and lane movement is available only in cars starting from RUB 2,189,000.
Meanwhile, Toyota offers light and rain sensors in trim levels for one and a half million. And the maximum version for 2,058 thousand rubles contains not only object detection systems in blind spots and lane assistance, but also 4 cameras with a 360-degree view, as well as parking sensors, which, by the way, you will not find in Subaru for what money? And this is extremely sad! But if you're already criticizing Forester, wait. Rest assured, people will buy the new Subaru because its main advantage is not its options.
Controllability
Crossovers began to be released at every step. It is no longer so easy to determine where a car can really overcome obstacles with dignity, and where all-wheel drive is just a marketing ploy that has no basis. Therefore, when comparing the Forester and Rav4, it is necessary to find out whether they are worthy of wearing the “AWD” nameplate on their body.
In short, the Forester, unlike the Rav 4, is not a crossover, but a real SUV! Moreover, the CVT transmission does not at all prevent him from conquering peaks of various surfaces. Maximum configurations are equipped with the X MODE system, which puts all vehicle components into off-road mode. You don’t have to worry too much about the clutch, because it has the same cooling circuit as the variator. Therefore, you won’t experience rapid overheating like, for example, on the new CX-5 (see comparison of Mazda CX 5 and Toyota Rav 4).
Subaru's off-road performance was also influenced by the symmetrical all-wheel drive, which distributes traction evenly on both sides, the boxer engine, which shifted the center of gravity, and the light weight of the car. Due to this, he confidently rushes onto any surface and gets out of it without much difficulty. The only problem is the plastic protection under the bottom. Therefore, when throwing yourself under snags or into holes, you should be careful.
The Forester's suspension can confidently be called rally-like. Even at high speeds, it smoothly and quickly overcomes bumps. However, the weak point of the car is acceleration. Due to the variator, the dynamics are almost trolleybus-like. But the gas pedal is too sharp, and to slowly move a short distance (for example, while parking) requires pinpoint precision. However, the car does not have parking sensors.
As for the 2016-2017 Toyota Rav 4, the main achievement of the restyled version was the improvement of the suspension. If we compare it with the previous model, where the chassis was extremely sensitive to irregularities, the new modification managed to increase smoothness and energy consumption, but did not lose the sharpness of control.
Perhaps the Rav 4 is even more convenient for urban conditions, but the Forester is definitely the off-road crawler! Rejoice, “subaristas”!
Prices and options
As of March 2018, the new Forester was offered with 3 types of units:
- 2.0 l. power 150 hp;
- 2.5 l. power 171 hp;
- Turbocharged 2-liter engine with 241 hp.
Moreover, the first two types of engines are equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT to choose from. The turbocharged 2-liter engine comes exclusively with a CVT. The initial cost of the SUV is 1,659 thousand rubles. A modification with a 2.5 liter engine can be purchased for 2,189,900 rubles, and the maximum configuration will cost you 2,599,900 rubles.
Toyota also comes to the market with 3 types of engines:
- Two-liter 146 hp;
- 150 horsepower diesel engine with a volume of 2.2 liters;
- 2.5 liter 180 hp
Models with a 2-liter engine can be equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT. Owners of this modification also had a choice between 4x2 and 4x4 wheelbase types. The other two versions have only 4x4 and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The cost of the initial version starts from 1,499 thousand rubles, and the maximum version starts from 2,209 thousand rubles. However, this is still 400,000 rubles. cheaper than your opponent.
What's better?
Subaru is an excellent off-road vehicle, but its appearance does not allow it to stand out from the crowd, and the range of options does not justify the high cost. If you like to travel, go hunting and fishing, and the path to your dacha runs through impassable mud, you need a Forester.
But if, when deciding what to choose, you are relying on a limited budget and trips in the city, buy Rav 4. And do not detract from the off-road qualities of Toyota. This off-road vehicle will outperform many modern crossovers. But it’s hard for it to compete with the Subaru rally suspension.
Your decision will depend on the type of road surface, priorities and financial capabilities. Therefore, what is better is ultimately up to you to choose.
The 2018 New York Auto Show is in full swing and all the major new products seem to be on display. It is worth noting that once again we have witnessed how one of the main world auto events of the year took place under the constellation of the SUV class, and two major premieres in the near future will have a direct impact on the Russian automobile market. We are talking about the fifth generations and, which are the fiercest competitors for the hearts of buyers in the compact crossover segment.
The outgoing RAV4 was, without a doubt, a very tolerant car. No sharp edges, no strong statements, no controversial decisions - there was nothing like that in him. He simply had to be liked by everyone and no one at the same time. However, this positioning “for everyone,” generously flavored with the necessary modern features, has borne fruit - in 2017, over 400 thousand Rafiks were sold overseas alone, which made the model one of the most popular in the world in principle.
In the opposite corner of the ring is the Subaru Forester - a car for those who firmly know that they want a Subaru and a Forester. A very specific proposal with all the pros and cons, which, however, are always known in advance. The Forester held no surprises, remaining the choice for enthusiasts of practicality and cross-country ability in a compact body. The Japanese company's boxer cars have never been considered a model of reliability, but the traditional symmetrical all-wheel drive has won many adherents.
Revolution Toyota RAV4 2019
With the new generation of the RAV4 crossover 2019 model year, Toyota decided to start a real revolution, shaking up the foundations on which the model’s long-term popularity was based. If earlier the appearance of the car was neutral with a bias towards femininity, now it is a very brutal proposal in the spirit of the American Toyota 4Runner and Tacoma. “Be a man - buy a RAV4”, it seems that this is the slogan that is now best suited for the advertising campaign of the new product.
In this case, it was the message, the excessive aggressiveness in the “look” that gave the crossover the missing charisma, although we cannot unequivocally declare the beauty of such a design. It obviously won't appeal to everyone (and not everyone). And, nevertheless, we applaud the developers for their courage and we hope that this will not turn out to be reckless. The entire body of the new Toyota RAV4 2019 looks as if it had just been carved out of a single piece of granite, and not even with the sharpest tool.
Evolution of Subaru Forester 2019
“The main thing, guys, is not to grow old in your heart!” - Subaru engineers heard and immediately spat on these wise words of the “taiga” song performed by Eduard Khil. The developers decided to leave the heart-motor crossover from the previous generation and, apparently, this completely redid the work of the design department, which rushed to stretch the old 4th generation design onto a completely new and truly modern SGP architecture.
Of course, here and there, if you look closely, you can see that the appearance of the 2019 Subaru Forester differs from its predecessor. But these differences are so insignificant that they will not do any justice to any other restyling. There is no need to hide the fact that we, and many loyal Subaru fans too, were puzzled by such traditionalism, to put it mildly, and downright disappointed others - well, you can’t be so careful!
2.5 liters for two
Both the RAV4 2019 and the Forester 2019 will both be sold with 2.5-liter 4-cylinder naturally aspirated, in-line and boxer engines, respectively. Naturally, this does not mean that they are the same, but it is very indicative in terms of the target audience of crossovers, which is the same - orthodox fans of reliable engines, without any “turbo whistles”. The engine power of the Lesnik is 182 hp, while that of the Rafik is 203 hp. (the last figure has not been officially confirmed, but in the new Camry the output of this engine is the same).
Salon
If I take a look at the interiors of both models, I can note the similarity of their architecture, with the only difference being that the RAV4’s multimedia system display is located above the front panel, while the Forester’s is built into it. Also, if you look at both interiors long enough, it may seem that the Subaru interior design is a little more daring, not shy about playing with shapes, transitions, and a combination of sharp corners and planes. In Toyota everything is much more straightforward, plus that “cushion” on the steering wheel...
Who wins in the end?
Of course, the buyer, that is, you, will have to decide. Which crossover should you spend your hard-earned money on, and which one should you choose? We'd love to see your ideas in the comments section below!
