Head to Head 2024 Subaru Forester Vs. 2024 Toyota RAV4
Which compact SUV is the best, the 2024 Subaru Forester or the 2024 Toyota RAV4? Check the score here before you buy.
we have covered the 2024 Subaru Forester extensively, but what does U.S. News Autos say about the Forester compared with the 2024 Toyota RAV4? Both are good choices for new compact SUV shoppers, but which model is the best?
Here is the U.S. News breakdown, category-by-category, of which of these two SUVs is the best pick now. I will explain why the Forester is the best now but why you may want to wait until spring.
RAV4 vs. Forester: Which Compact SUV Should You Choose?
“The 2024 Subaru Forester and 2024 Toyota RAV4 continue long-standing traditions of excellence for both automakers in the compact SUV market. Both are roomy, competitively priced, and have comfortable on-road family cruisers that can be equipped for some light off-roading.”
“The question remains, though: Which one is the right choice for you when it’s time to buy? U.S. News is here to break down both SUVs, category by category, to compare strengths and weaknesses and help you decide whether Subaru or Toyota makes the compact SUV right for you.”
Price: Winner: 2024 Subaru Forester
“The Subaru Forester starts at $27,095; the RAV4’s base price comes in at $28,475, giving the Subaru the clear edge. The price differences get closer higher up the trim tree, with the RAV4 and Forester coming within a few hundred dollars of each other in certain similarly-equipped packages.”
The 2024 Forester pricing for every trim level.
The Forester comes in six trim levels: The Base Forester starts at $28,190, Premium ($31,390), Sport ($32,960), Limited ($35,070), Wilderness ($36,015), and Touring ($38,490). Pricing includes destination and dealer fees ($1,295).
Reliability: Winner: 2024 Subaru Forester
“J.D. Power’s predicted reliability score for the Forester is 84 out of a possible 100; the Toyota RAV4 gets 76 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.”
Seat Comfort: Winner: 2024 Subaru Forester
“The RAV4 and the Forester are compact SUVs with two rows of seating for up to five occupants. Both are comfortable no matter which seat in the house you have, with roomy rear rows for both headroom and legroom. Both offer standard cloth upholstery and manual adjustment; upgrades to synthetic leather, power-adjustable seats, heated front and rear seats, and heated steering wheels are possible in both.”
Cargo Space: Winner: Tie
“The Toyota RAV4 has much more space behind the rear seats than the Forester (or most compact SUVs in general), with 37.6 cubic feet vs. the Subaru’s 28.9 cubic feet. However, the Forester boasts more total cargo space, with a cavernous 74.2 cubic feet with the second row folded flat to the RAV4’s (still excellent) 69.8 total cubic feet with its back row stowed.”
Interior Quality: Winner: 2024 Subaru Forester
“Both the RAV4 and the Forester feel well-constructed but simple. Neither would be mistaken for a flashy luxury car on the inside, but neither feels overly cheap. Both SUVs offer ample protection from road and wind noise in motion, which helps the cabins feel more placid at speed.”
Interior Technology” Winner: 2024 Toyota RAV4
“The Toyota RAV4 has a freshly-redesigned touch screen and infotainment system, and it’s much better for it. The standard 8-inch touch screen and the larger 10.5-inch optional one are cleanly designed, quick to respond, and work via voice commands. The Toyota also offers a Wi-Fi hotspot and six speakers; the Forester comes standard with four speakers, and Wi-Fi is optional.”
