2021 Subaru Forester vs. 2021 Toyota RAV4

The 2021 Subaru Forester is a crossover with seating for up to five people. It is an excellent choice for those who pursue a more active lifestyle. Standard all-wheel drive, great fuel-efficiency, and a durable interior make it a great option for those with kids and pets.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 is also a crossover with seating for up to five people. It has lots of room for cargo, excellent fuel efficiency with an available hybrid and plug-in powertrain, and a roomy interior. There’s also a choice of either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Let’s take a closer look at these two capable crossovers to see which is the right one for you.

The 2021 Subaru Forester is available in five trims priced from $25,845 to $35,945. Standard features include pre-collision braking, lane departure and sway warning, adaptive cruise control, and a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Top trims get an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, 10-way power driver’s seat, and leather seating surfaces.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 has six trims with a gas powertrain priced from $26,250 to $36,180. Base infotainment includes a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto or an 8.0-inch touchscreen on top trims. Where it comes out ahead is in powertrains, with a hybrid priced from $28,800 to $37,330 and a plug-in hybrid priced from $38,250 to $41,575.

Winner: Toyota RAV4

The 2021 Subaru Forester is powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission. It’s smooth and responsive and has no problem getting the Forester up to highway speeds.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 is also powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, but with 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. This is paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. It’s a slightly more responsive powertrain than what’s found in the Forester, but what makes it stand out is the transmission. It’s smoother and quieter than the CVT found in the Forester.

Winner: Toyota RAV4

The 2021 Subaru Forester gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined. Fuel economy for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 varies. The off-road-focused TRD, which is all-wheel drive only, comes in at the low end with 25 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg combined.

The best all-wheel-drive fuel economy comes from the LE with 27 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined. The XLE and XLE Premium with front-wheel drive get 28 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined. With front-, rear-, or all-wheel drive, the RAV4 comes out ahead.

Winner: Toyota RAV4

The 2021 Subaru Forester is available with a gas powertrain only. There’s no option for a hybrid or plug-in hybrid. If you want that kind of fuel efficiency, then you have to go with the 2021 Toyota RAV4.

It’s offered as a hybrid in four trims or as the plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime in two trims. Both are priced higher than the Forester, especially the RAV4 Prime, but they offer significantly better fuel economy for the price. The RAV4 Prime gets an EPA-estimated 94 MPGe, while the hybrid gets 40 mpg combined. These two available hybrid options give the Toyota RAV4 the edge.

Winner: Toyota RAV4

The 2021 Subaru Forester offers a smooth ride that evens out bumps in the road and soaks up the rattle of uneven pavement. It delivers confident handling that leaves the driver relaxed and in control. Even in high winds and rainy weather, the Forester keeps its composure, so the driver stays relaxed and in control.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 also offers a smooth ride but is less able to hide imperfect road surfaces. If you hit a pothole, you’ll know it, and uneven road surfaces more readily make their presence known. It manages rough weather well, but not with the same confidence and control as the Forester.

Winner: Subaru Forester

While both are roomy crossovers, the Forester offers a bit more room in several key areas. It has up to 41.2 inches of front headroom or 40.2 inches with the moonroof. That’s still more than the 37.7 inches in the RAV4. Taller passengers will appreciate the extra clearance as well as the extra legroom.

The Forester has 43.3 inches of legroom up front and 39.4 inches of legroom in the rear seats. The RAV4 has 41.0 inches up front and 37.8 inches of legroom in the rear. It might not seem like a big difference, but a few inches matter when taller folks are trying to find room to get comfortable.

Winner: Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester has up to 31.1 cubic inches behind the rear seats with 76.1 cubic feet behind the front seats. The Toyota RAV4 offers 37.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats with 69.8 cubic feet behind the front seats. While there is more room behind the rear seats, overall cargo capacity is higher in the Forester.

The Forester can tow up to 1,500 pounds. Most trims of the RAV4 have the same tow rating, but the Adventure Grade and TRD can tow up to 3,500 pounds. While there is an available higher tow rating with the RAV4, we’re giving this category to the Forester for its larger interior cargo capacity.

Winner: Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester features a standard 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4-speaker audio. Upgrades include a 9-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, 8-inch touchscreen, and navigation.

The Toyota RAV4 has a standard 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with 6-speaker audio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. Upgrades include an 8.0-inch touchscreen, navigation, and 11-speaker JBL audio system. The RAV4 has a larger screen on base trims as well as more standard speakers. It also offers Amazon Alexa and a more premium available audio system, which makes it our pick of the two.

Winner: Toyota RAV4

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded both the 2021 Subaru Forester and 2021 Toyota RAV4 its highest crash test rating of five stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety likewise awarded both crossovers its top rating of Good in all crash tests. There was, however, one difference in ratings from the IIHS.

The 2021 Subaru Forester received a Top Safety Pick+ rating. The 2021 Toyota RAV4 received only a Top Safety Pick rating. While crash tests were comparable, the headlights in the RAV4 received varying grades depending on the trim level. This gives the Subaru Forester the lead when it comes to safety.

Winner: Subaru Forester

This was a close contest, but the 2021 Toyota RAV4 comes out on top because of its greater range of trims and better fuel economy. The RAV4 has two hybrid powertrains available, while the Subaru Forester has none. Furthermore, the RAV4's infotainment system boasts more features than the Forester's.

The 2021 Subaru Forester is a strong contender with a slightly better overall safety rating, better interior room for cargo, and more room for passengers to spread out. It also has a more refined ride than the RAV4 but can’t match its range of trims and doesn't offer any hybrid options.

Winner: Toyota RAV4