2022 Toyota Highlander vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Subaru Forester, though redesigned for the 2019 model year, carried forward its older-looking style. This wasn’t necessarily a drawback since Subaru adhered to a formula that worked well for them. The Forester retained its boxy, upright shape, reminiscent of traditional SUVs and appealing to many potential buyers. Notably, the taillights received a distinctive cross shape in this fifth-generation model.

The Forester Base trim sported a clean and unassuming look, featuring 17-inch steel wheels with optional alloy versions. However, the Sport trim model showcased a more pronounced aesthetic with orange striping around the body and roof rails, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels. This trim made a striking impact, especially when paired with a complementary paint color like Dark Blue Pearl.

Under the stylish exterior, the Forester relied on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with several sibling models such as the Impreza, Crosstrek, Legacy, and Outback. Despite Subaru marketing the Forester as a rugged SUV, its shared platform with sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons ensured a well-rounded build.

The interior of the Forester continued with a straightforward approach, emphasizing durable materials over aesthetics. The Sport trim introduced orange accents and cross-stitching to energize the cabin. Different trims offered varying upholstery types, from cloth in the Base, Premium, and Sport trims to leather in the Limited and Touring trims. Extra comforts like heated front seats and a windshield de-icer were available through the All-Weather Package on higher trims.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander, in contrast, featured modern and somewhat aggressive styling, particularly evident in its front-end design, flared fender arches, and a third-row window with an upward kick. This design cleverly masked the Highlander's substantial size, though the interior revealed ample cabin space and thoughtful storage solutions for modern family necessities.

The XSE trim of the Highlander brought a bold flair with its daring red leather interior, a fun contrast to the sedate navy blue exterior. Besides unique exterior styling, the XSE also boasted features like ambient interior lighting and a sport-tuned suspension.

Trim levels for the Highlander started with the base L and moved through LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum, each escalating in features and luxury. Even the base trim included essentials like 18-inch alloy wheels, three-zone climate control, and an 8-inch touchscreen. As trims progressed, extras like LED fog lights, leather-wrapped steering wheels, panoramic sunroofs, and premium audio systems were introduced, culminating in the Platinum trim with adaptive headlights, a 360-degree camera, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen.

The 2021 Subaru Forester was equipped with a single powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. This engine, configured in Subaru’s signature boxer style, was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with a manual mode and paddle shifters available on select trims. This setup granted the Forester a towing capacity of up to 1,500 pounds, a standard Trailer Stability Assist feature, and the reassurance of AWD across all models.

Although the non-turbo engine provided adequate performance for typical driving, it fell short during highway merges and overtakes. The ride quality benefited from the soft suspension tuning, which soaked up bumps but led to noticeable body roll and bouncing over uneven surfaces. The AWD system, enhanced by X-Mode and Dual X-Mode on the Sport trim, offered improved handling on various terrains. However, for serious off-roading, other models like the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk or Ford Bronco Sport were better suited.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came with a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available with front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. The Highlander's gearbox included a tap-shift function and paddle shifters on certain trims. The vehicle's drive modes (Sport, Normal, and Eco) and AWD settings (Mud/Sand, Rock, and Normal) offered considerable flexibility for different driving conditions.

The Highlander’s V6 engine excelled in providing swift acceleration once in motion and delivered a satisfying exhaust note during overtakes. Handling was notably good, thanks to a sport-tuned suspension in the XSE trim, which reduced body roll while maintaining a soft ride over bumps. It remained composed through high-speed turns, with well-weighted steering, whether on city streets or highways.

With a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds and a max payload of 1,685 pounds (in FWD L and LE trims), the Highlander met the average benchmarks for its class.

The Subaru Forester comfortably accommodated five passengers, offering above-average headroom and legroom in both rows due to its tall, flat roofline. This design also allowed for expansive windows, giving the cabin a light and airy feel and providing excellent visibility. However, on sunny days, this could lead to an increase in cabin temperature.

Regarding cargo space, the Forester provided 35.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded down. This capacity exceeded that of competitors like the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson (with seats folded) but fell short with the seats upright. Unlike rivals offering a sliding second-row bench for more flexibility, the Forester's rear bench was fixed, though it did offer optional power liftgate functionality in higher trims.

In terms of storage, the Forester included practical cupholders and a decently sized center console, though it lacked wireless charging and a large phone-storage area. A power-adjustable driver’s seat was only available from the Premium trim onward.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander, while larger, optimized its space effectively. With all seats in use, it had 16 cubic feet of cargo space. Folding the third row increased this to 48.4 cubic feet, and with both second and third rows down, it offered a generous 84.3 cubic feet. The process of lowering and raising seats was simplified by quick-release latches and pull-straps, respectively. Above the base trim, a power liftgate, with the hands-free functionality available on higher trims, added convenience.

The cockpit of the Highlander featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat from the base L trim, with ample storage pockets and ledges for various items. The center console was particularly spacious, and every trim above the base included a power liftgate. Second-row captain’s chairs in the XSE provided a practical center aisle to the third row, although the third row was best reserved for short trips or small children due to limited space.

The 2021 Subaru Forester’s standard Subaru Starlink infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, along with Bluetooth, SiriusXM, front-row USB ports, and a CD player. Higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, and a Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment setup was user-friendly, with clear graphics and physical shortcut buttons, although the screen was slow to boot up.

Subaru also incorporated secondary information screens both in the center of the dashboard and the instrument cluster, showing data such as fuel economy and tire pressure. However, the redundancy of information across these screens seemed excessive and potentially distracting.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came equipped with a more modern infotainment system. Standard features included a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. Although the system lacked wireless smartphone integration, it compensated with an intuitive layout and tactile buttons. Upper trims offered a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and premium audio options, including an 11-speaker JBL stereo system.

Additionally, the Highlander had practical touches like a wireless charging pad and a mix of USB and USB-C ports in the XSE trim. The blend of screen-based and physical controls was appreciated, especially with the trend towards more screen-dependent systems in newer models.

Safety was a key strength of the 2021 Subaru Forester. It received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” award from the IIHS, along with a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included Subaru’s EyeSight system, offering adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. A unique driver-monitoring system called DriverFocus further enhanced safety by detecting signs of driver distraction.

Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering functions worked adequately but lacked the smoothness of human steering corrections, leading to a somewhat jerky experience at times.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came equipped with Toyota’s Safety Sense suite, which included forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams as standard features.

Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view parking monitor, a head-up display, and adaptive headlights. However, some user feedback indicated that the lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were overly sensitive, often feeling intrusive during daily driving.