2021 Subaru Forester vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was anything but boring in its design. It stood out among its midsize SUV peers with a front end that, while not as dramatis as the 2021 Sienna minivan, was still assertive with its wide headlights, long hood, and bold trapezoidal grille. The side profile was accentuated by a character line akin to that seen on the Supra sports car, and the rear showcased taillights reminiscent of a Lexus model, though lacking a vertical element. Overall, it gave the impression of being longer and lower than its predecessor without sacrificing size.

For this model year, Toyota introduced the XSE trim to the Highlander lineup, targeting a sportier aesthetic. The XSE featured more aggressive styling with a unique front end, 20-inch wheels with black accents, a meaner front fascia, and a larger lower air intake. However, the XSE trim, despite some suspension tuning, leaned more towards an appearance package than performance enhancement.

The Highlander Limited trim, which we tested, exuded an upscale look with chrome roof rails and accents. The interior, particularly in this trim, was luxurious with near-flawless fit and finish, tan leather seats accented by dark brown trim, and wood details that, though not real, looked fabulous. Comfort and convenience were prioritized, making it a suitable family car.

Conversely, the 2021 Subaru Forester’s design, though redesigned for the 2019 model year, seemed aged due to its carryover styling from its predecessor. The primary noticeable update was in the taillights, featuring a distinctive cross shape. Subaru stuck to its rugged, boxy, upright design, appealing to SUV shoppers who preferred a no-nonsense aesthetic. The base trim's 17-inch steel wheels gave it a plain look, yet it retained a clean and unpretentious look, particularly in Sport models with orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels.

The Forester’s rugged aesthetic was backed by its shared platform with other Subaru models, offering a reliable performance foundation. The interior stuck to durable materials, and while not the prettiest, suggested longevity. Sport models introduced orange accents, adding some zest to its cabin, though leather upholstery was reserved for Limited and Touring trims.

Performance-wise, the 2021 Toyota Highlander was equipped with a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the engine could power either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations. The Highlander didn't aim for high-speed thrills but offered smooth and predictable performance with a reputation for reliability. It held its own against competitors like the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, and Honda Pilot in terms of horsepower, though it lagged behind the Ford Explorer ST in terms of sheer power.

The Highlander’s driving dynamics were consistent with its family-focused design, with a softer suspension that prioritized comfort over cornering prowess. The XSE trim did offer stiffer springs, retuned shocks, and additional suspension tweaks, but still fell short of delivering a sporty driving experience.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Forester sported a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, mated to a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). This engine had a boxer configuration, lowering the center of gravity for improved stability. While sufficient for most daily driving needs, the engine struggled to deliver strong acceleration, particularly noticeable during highway merges and overtaking.

The Forester’s suspension tuned provided a comfortable ride by soaking up bumps well but introduced significant body roll and bounce on uneven surfaces. The Forester’s unique advantage was in its standard AWD and X-Mode, enhancing off-road capabilities with various settings like "Snow/Dirt" and "Snow/Mud." Hill-descent control and a good ground clearance of 8.7 inches further supported its rugged positioning. However, for more serious off-road adventures, rivals like the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk or Ford Bronco Sport were recommended.

Interior space and configuration were crucial in this segment, and the 2021 Toyota Highlander delivered well with its three-row setup. It featured expansive shelving in the front to house even the largest cell phones, with pass-throughs for charging cords. Trims above LE included a wireless charging pad within the center console. The second-row seats were versatile, sliding forward and backward to maximize legroom or provide access to the third row. However, third-row seating was tight for adults unless the second row moved forward.

Cargo space in the Highlander provided 16 cubic feet behind the third row, which expanded to 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 84.3 cubic feet with both the second and third rows down—a suitable amount but not class-leading.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, on the other hand, offered impressive headroom and legroom thanks to its tall and flat roof, enhancing overall visibility and giving a roomy cabin feel. The cargo space was notable with 35.4 cubic feet with rear seats up and extending to 76.1 cubic feet with the rear seats down. While the Forester lacked a sliding second-row bench, it compensated with options like a power liftgate in higher trims and well-placed cupholders.

Compared with the Highlander, the Forester lacked a bit in overall cargo space but made up for it with excellent headroom and general passenger comfort. The center console and phone storage in the Forester had some downsides, such as a small phone storage cubby and no wireless charging option.

In terms of technology, the 2021 Toyota Highlander offered trim-dependent screen sizes: 8 inches for lower trims, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen optional on the Limited and standard on the Platinum. Both systems were user-friendly, though navigation performance varied. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard across the lineup, enhancing connectivity. Our test Limited trim featured the 12.3-inch screen, bright, fast, and crisp, albeit sometimes limited in functionality to an 8-inch section of the display.

The 2021 Subaru Forester’s standard Starlink system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with upgrades to an 8-inch screen on Sport and higher trims. This system supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM. While user-friendly, the primary screen's slow boot-up time was a downside. The Forester also offered secondary screens for additional info like fuel economy and tire pressure but felt overly complex by duplicating some information across screens.

Technologically, the Highlander appeared more modern with larger screens available, but the Forester provided straightforward and reliable tech with easier physical controls.

Safety features were robust in both vehicles. The 2021 Toyota Highlander came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, including advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and intersection support. These features helped the Highlander secure five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.

Similarly, the 2021 Subaru Forester earned accolades for safety with a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. Subaru’s EyeSight system was standard, offering features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. Additionally, Subaru included a driver monitoring system to ensure attentiveness.

Both vehicles offered superior safety tech and received top safety ratings, reflecting their strong safety orientations.