2019 Subaru Forester vs 2019 Toyota RAV4

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 presented itself with a bold, chunky design heavily inspired by the Toyota Tacoma pickup. Its sharp edges and aggressive lines contributed to a futuristic appearance that conveyed strength. This design ethos was consistent throughout the vehicle, including the side-profile and the rear, where the taillights seemed to take cues from Toyota’s luxury brand, Lexus. The RAV4 featured a distinct character line on the rear C-pillar, a common design trait in new vehicles, though its aesthetic appeal was debatable. Around half of the RAV4's color options matched the body to the roof, while seven options offered a contrasting color roof, either in gray or black. For two-tone configurations, the black strip across the rear pillar was logical, but it felt like unnecessary clutter for the monotone schemes.

Inside, the RAV4 surprised many with its simplicity and elegance, counterbalancing its busy exterior. A prominent floating touchscreen centralized many of the vehicle's functionalities, while a “pod” stretched from the center dash to the cupholders housing the rest of the controls. Trims available included LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, and Limited. The LE trim offered standard features like 17-inch wheels with plastic covers, LED lighting, power mirrors, low-profile black roof rails, and privacy-tinted windows, while the XLE added amenities like alloy wheels, automatic high beams, integrated fog lights, color-keyed mirrors with turn signals, a moonroof, push-button start, sport bucket seats, and dual-zone climate control.

XLE Premium further upgraded to 19-inch alloy wheels, a powered rear liftgate, an 8-way power driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever, and SofTex leatherette seats. The Adventure trim veered towards ruggedness with features such as exclusive 19-inch wheels, unique grille designs, black fender cladding, enhanced roof rails, and orange-accented interiors. The top-tier Limited trim pursued upscale appeal with chrome-finished wheels, a unique grille, puddle approach lights, chrome door handles, heated front seats, ambient lighting, and comprehensive upgrades like a panoramic moonroof and heated/ventilated seats.

The 2019 Subaru Forester, on the other hand, grew slightly larger and wider than its predecessor, with exterior design mimicking a scaled-down version of the Subaru Ascent. This resemblance was found inside as well, where the cabin design prioritized function over luxury. Available trims included Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring. All trims came standard with LED headlights, Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD), and EyeSight driver-assistance systems. The Base trim covered fundamental needs with features such as 60/40 split-folding rear seats, dual front USB ports, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, and an under-floor storage tray.

Progressing to the Premium trim introduced 17-inch alloy wheels, a roof spoiler, raised roof rails, body-colored mirrors, and a panoramic moonroof, alongside interior improvements such as 10-way power front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, reclining rear seatbacks, and 4G Wi-Fi capability. The Sport trim added unique styling touches like orange and black accents, larger disc brakes, 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, a chrome exhaust outlet, push-button start, heated front seats, dual rear USB ports, and an upgraded display.

The Limited trim, which we examined, featured unique 18-inch wheels, fog lights, LED steering-responsive headlights, leather upholstery, a power rear tailgate, dual-zone climate control, and a larger 8-inch touchscreen. The top-tier Touring trim offered similar fog lights, satin chrome mirrors with integrated turn signals, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated rear seats and steering wheel, navigation, and quick-release folding rear seats.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 came equipped across all trims with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine generating 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This engine powered either the front wheels or an available AWD system. The AWD came in two variants: a base configuration, present in most trims, and a more sophisticated torque-vectoring AWD available in the Adventure and Limited trims. Our tested XLE model had the base AWD setup, featuring drive modes such as Snow, Sand & Mud, and Rock & Dirt to enhance rugged capability.

The torque-vectoring AWD enhanced real-time power distribution to the wheels needing it most, promoting better off-road performance and substituting terrain-selection buttons for a drive-mode dial. The 2.5-liter engine provided satisfactory highway acceleration but felt sluggish in stop-and-go situations due to limited low-end power. It also produced significant noise whether accelerating from a standstill or overtaking on the highway. The ride quality remained generally good, although some body roll and twitchy steering were noticeable, particularly in fast corners, making for an awkward experience compared to more refined competitors like the Honda CR-V or athletic alternatives such as the Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5.

Fuel economy for the front-wheel-drive RAV4 stood at 26 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined, while the AWD achieved 27 mpg city, 34 highway. Our test car recorded a combined 29.3 mpg. The torque-vectoring AWD version delivered 25 mpg city, 33 highway, and 28 combined.

The 2019 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder boxer engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. While this was an improvement over the previous model, the increase in torque was minimal, impacting initial acceleration. Notably, the 2018 Forester offered a turbocharged 2.0XT trim with significantly higher power, but this option was absent in 2019. Subaru's implementation of the boxer engine contributed to a lower center of gravity, favoring smoothness and stability.

Power was routed through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to the Forester's standard symmetrical AWD. Though designed for efficiency, the CVT resulted in lackluster acceleration, though SI-Drive offered across trims helped enhance throttle response. The system provided Intelligent and Sport modes for varying driving conditions. Complementing the AWD was the X-Mode terrain management system, available in dual-mode setups in higher trims, optimizing power delivery through different conditions like snow, dirt, and mud.

The Forester excelled with its smooth ride, light maneuverability, and minimal body roll, making it a comfortable choice for both urban and highway driving. Fuel economy was 26 mpg city, 33 highway, and 29 combined, closely matching the RAV4’s efficiency, with recorded mixed driving conditions yielding 28.9 mpg.

Inside the 2019 Toyota RAV4, the clean and upscale design prioritized practicality with ample cargo space and roomy seating. Its center stack contained all essential controls, minimizing clutter with a short, stocky shifter. The RAV4 offered 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, expanding to 69.8 cubic feet when folded. Though slightly reduced from the previous year, it competed well against rivals like the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee, but lagged behind the Forester and Honda CR-V, which offered around 75 cubic feet. Additional storage solutions included deep center-console trays and bins, and a hidden tray above the glove box.

The 2019 Subaru Forester, larger than its predecessor, offered a class-leading 76.1 cubic feet of cargo space in the base trim, with other trims providing 70.9 cubic feet. The vehicle’s extended wheelbase improved backseat space, and an enhanced tailgate opening facilitated easier loading. The Forester’s 8.7 inches of ground clearance benefited both off-road capability and ease of access, particularly for older drivers. The function-first cabin design featured numerous cubbies and bottle holders, a tall greenhouse ensuring ample legroom and headroom, and exceptional rearward visibility, thanks to its large windows and minimalist C-pillars.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4’s LE trim included a 7-inch touchscreen with Entune 3, supporting Apple CarPlay but not Android Auto. Standard features also included Bluetooth, a USB port, and WiFi hotspot. The XLE trim added multiple USB ports and the Adventure upgraded to a panoramic reversing camera and a larger 8-inch Entune screen. Layout simplicity marked the infotainment system with real dials for key functions, countering the trend of proprietary controller systems seen in other brands. The big update for 2019 was indeed the addition of Apple CarPlay, though Android Auto was still absent.

In contrast, the 2019 Subaru Forester’s Starlink infotainment system was available with either a 6.5-inch or an 8-inch touchscreen, standardizing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across trims. The system's high resolution and intuitive navigation made it user-friendly, and smooth transitions between Starlink and CarPlay enhanced the overall experience. Subaru's EyeSight suite offered technologically advanced safety features, including Lead Vehicle Alert, warning inattentive drivers when traffic ahead moved.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 came with various standard safety features: front and side airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, tire-pressure monitoring, and Toyota Safety Sense 2.0. This suite included forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beams, dynamic radar cruise control, traffic-sign detection, and Lane-Tracing Assist, which kept the vehicle centered in its lane.

The 2019 Subaru Forester also boasted comprehensive safety features via Subaru’s EyeSight system, including forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, adaptive headlights, lane-keeping assist, full front and side airbags, and a reversing camera. The Forester's excellent visibility further augmented these features, ensuring a high level of road awareness.