2020 Subaru Outback vs 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid marked a return to a more rugged and adventurous design, reminiscent of Toyota's classic trucks. The front end featured a bold, flat slab of trapezoids and flexing surfaces, while the hood had a milder angle compared to previous models. The fenders and wheel wells had hard creases, and the side glass reclaimed the large greenhouse of the original RAV4. The XSE trim, exclusive to the Hybrid, boasted glossy black trim on the roof, A-pillars, mirrors, fender flares, and 18-inch wheels, giving it a sporty and upscale appearance. Inside, the RAV4 Hybrid impressed with its high-quality materials, including padded dash and door trim with blue stitching, silver trim around the center stack, and snug front seats with blue-striped cloth inserts.

The 2020 Subaru Outback retained its winning formula, focusing on incremental improvements. The sixth-generation Outback was built on Subaru's Global Platform, offering a 70% increase in structural rigidity. The exterior changes were subtle, with noticeable updates to the head- and taillights. Inside, the Outback debuted an 11.6-inch touchscreen for all but the base trim, along with innovative tech like DriverFocus, which used facial recognition to adjust settings between drivers and detect sleepy or distracted drivers. The Outback was available in seven trim levels, with the XT trims featuring a more powerful 2.4-liter turbocharged engine. The interior offered ample space, with 32.5 cubic feet of trunk space and 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with two electric motors and a 1.6-kilowatt battery to produce 219 horsepower. This setup provided a surge of torque missing from the regular model, making the Hybrid faster and better handling. The RAV4 Hybrid used older nickel-metal hydride batteries, which were heavier and larger but more reliable and consistent in cold weather. The hybrid system operated seamlessly, with the engine shutting off while coasting on the highway. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) didn't strain the engine at high revs, but the standard all-wheel drive (AWD) was sometimes slow to counter wheelspin. The RAV4 Hybrid's handling was stable and flat-footed, with sport-tuned dampers and springs in the XSE trim. Fuel efficiency was impressive, averaging 36 mpg over 400 miles, with EPA ratings of 41 mpg city, 38 highway, and 40 combined.

The 2020 Subaru Outback offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter engine with 182 horsepower and a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. The turbo engine allowed the Outback to hit 60 mph in around 7 seconds. Both engines were paired with a CVT, which Subaru tuned to act more like a traditional automatic transmission. The Outback's symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD) system provided consistent power delivery and less wear on components. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the Outback could handle off-road conditions, but it wasn't a Jeep. The upgraded X-Mode on the Onyx XT trim, coupled with hill-descent control, made the Outback more off-road capable.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered excellent sightlines and generous cargo space, with 37.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 70 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The second row had generous legroom and manually reclining seats. The air conditioning was effective, quickly cooling the cabin on hot days. The large knobs and switches improved ergonomics, although the controls for windows, locks, and mirrors weren't illuminated at night. The infotainment screen, climate controls, steering-wheel controls, and digital speedometer were easy to use and read.

The 2020 Subaru Outback provided 32.5 cubic feet of trunk space, expanding to 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The interior was spacious, with ample legroom and headroom, even for taller passengers. The low load height made it easy to load cargo, and the lower center of gravity improved braking and handling. Visibility was excellent in nearly every direction, although the rear quarters had a blind spot. The Outback's design focused on proportion, making it look smaller from the outside while offering a roomy interior.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid featured an infotainment interface that was better than Lexus models, with clear and organized menus, swiping and pinching gestures, and customizable home screens. However, the maps looked dated, and Toyota's Entune 3.0 required a smartphone with the Entune app installed. Apple CarPlay was standard, but Android Auto was not. The JBL stereo was only adequate. The lane-keep assist reacted too late, and the best technology was the seamless hybrid system.

The 2020 Subaru Outback's 11.6-inch touchscreen was large and easy to navigate, but it suffered from lag in nearly every function. The climate-control functions were buried in the menus, and the camera resolution was outdated. Despite these issues, the screen was gorgeous and well laid out. Subaru's EyeSight system, while standard, had drawbacks, such as turning off in obstructed conditions. The DriverFocus system, designed to alert distracted drivers, was overly sensitive and often gave false alerts.

The 2019 RAV4 Hybrid earned a 5-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with 4 stars for the driver's-side frontal crash test and rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the RAV4 its top Good rating in all six crash tests and Superior for its collision-avoidance system. Toyota Safety Sense was standard, including forward emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise, traffic-sign recognition, and auto high beams. Unique safety features included an airbag in the front passenger seat's cushion and a driver's knee airbag.

The 2020 Subaru Outback's safety suite was impressive, with standard AWD and EyeSight system. However, the optical nature of EyeSight meant it could turn off in obstructed conditions. The DriverFocus system, designed to alert distracted drivers, was overly sensitive and often gave false alerts. Despite these issues, the Outback's safety features were strong, especially for the price.