Subaru Ascent vs Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

The 2024 Subaru Ascent continued to struggle with its styling, as Subaru's designers had a history of creating appealing vehicles only to alter them unfavorably during refreshes. The latest Ascent, unchanged from the previous year, retained its visually offensive tusks and a boldly obnoxious spear running across the grille into the headlights. The lineup included Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Limited, Onyx Edition Limited, and Touring trim levels, with prices ranging from $34,395 to $48,695, excluding a $1,345 destination charge. The Touring trim, which was tested, featured optional all-weather floor liners, bringing the MSRP to $50,181, including destination. This trim offered a panoramic sunroof, premium Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a navigation system, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, a camera-based rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera. The interior materials looked good, but the design felt modular and lacked sophistication.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid was available in the Rugged trim, the Woodland, and three Sport grades: SE, XSE, and the new GR Sport, exclusive to the PHEV. The sixth-generation RAV4 maintained the same footprint as its predecessor, with the Woodland and GR Sport trims slightly longer due to buffer bumpers. The RAV4 adopted a boxy, truck-like presence, consistent with Toyota's new SUVs, featuring boxy wheel arches and bulges over the fenders. The Woodland trim emphasized its ruggedness with a wide front fascia, solid panels replacing fog lights, and chunky all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels. The Sport trims showcased gloss black accents, with the GR Sport inspired by Toyota's Gazoo Racing division, featuring red brake calipers, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and a wide mesh grille. The charge port location varied by trim, and the interior offered mild differentiation with accents like red stitching on the GR Sport. All grades had a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.5-inch or available 12.9-inch touchscreen, with a streamlined design and improved integration.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 pound-feet of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. It featured a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive with active torque vectoring. The Ascent could tow up to 5,000 pounds, except for the Base trim, which had a 2,000-pound towing capacity. The SUV excelled in various driving conditions, from city streets to off-road trails, handling speed humps and rutted terrain with ease. Its turbocharged engine provided good power, and the CVT mimicked a conventional automatic transmission effectively. However, the Ascent struggled on twisty mountain roads due to its weight, suspension tuning, and all-season tires. Fuel economy was another downside, with EPA ratings of 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, but real-world testing showed lower figures. The 19.3-gallon fuel tank allowed for a range of 325 miles before refueling.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured an updated 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 186 horsepower, paired with a larger 22.7-kwh battery pack and efficient silicon carbide semiconductors. This resulted in a power increase to 324 horsepower, making it the most powerful RAV4 to date. The PHEV offered an estimated electric range of 52 miles in the SE and XSE models. All-wheel drive was standard, with a front motor rated at 203 horsepower and 201 lb-ft of torque, and a smaller rear motor for assistance and traction. In EV mode, the RAV4 PHEV excelled in quiet cruising but plateaued at 30 mph. Auto mode delivered a 0-60 mph time in the low five seconds, with seamless power transitions. The RAV4 PHEV weighed around 4,500 pounds, affecting cornering, but the GR Sport trim offered improved handling with a lower ride height, 20-inch wheels, and summer performance tires. The GR Sport handled desert terrain better than the heavier XSE model, thanks to suspension enhancements.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent prioritized function over form, with features like a dashboard shelf, large cupholders, backpack pegs, and cargo hooks. The Touring trim offered comfortable front seats with premium Nappa leather, heating, and ventilation, though the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. The rear doors opened nearly 90 degrees, facilitating loading and access to the roof rails, which supported up to 700 pounds. The second-row captain's chairs were comfortable but offered limited legroom. The third-row seats were suitable for short trips, with air conditioning vents and storage space. Cargo space measured 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 75.6 cubic feet with the second row folded, slightly reduced with the panoramic sunroof.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid's base SE trim included a power driver's seat, heated front seats, five USB ports, and push-button start. The XSE grade extended power adjustments to the passenger seat. SofTex synthetic leather upholstery was standard on all but the base SE, with ventilated seats on the GR Sport and XSE trims. The interior retained clever storage features, including a dashboard shelf, a storage shelf between the stack and console, and a wireless device charger. The center console storage was versatile, and the deep door pockets accommodated large water bottles. The RAV4 seated four passengers comfortably, with 37.8 inches of rear legroom, though the panoramic sunroof reduced headroom. Cargo space was 33.6 cubic feet, expanding to 63.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, with a flat floor and a temporary spare tire.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent featured the Starlink infotainment system with an 11.6-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and text-messaging capability. Higher trims offered Starlink connected services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. The Safety & Security plan included automatic collision notification and SOS emergency assistance. The display struggled in direct sunlight, and the native voice-recognition system was subpar. Physical buttons and knobs controlled common functions, and Cabin Connect projected the driver's voice through the speakers. A surround-view camera and camera-based rearview mirror were available on upper trims.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.5-inch touchscreen system, with a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen on top trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the touchscreen featured customizable tiles and a quick menu. The digital displays were improved, with three display options and customizable info. Toyota's new operating system, Arene, enhanced responsiveness and voice assistant capabilities. The system allowed for locating chargers and managing the plug-in hybrid system. A built-in dash cam recorded clips from exterior cameras, with adjustable sensitivity settings.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent was synonymous with safety, featuring a high-strength steel platform and the EyeSight collection of safety features. It received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rating in rollover resistance, and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The EyeSight package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, and evasive steering assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on higher trims. However, the lane-centering assist technology was criticized for its uncertainty and resistance to driver inputs.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 4.0, featuring a wider camera view and broader radar detection range. The suite included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alerts, a safe-exit alert, and an enhanced rearview camera. A surround-view camera system was available on higher trims. The RAV4's safety record was strong, with a five-star rating from the NHTSA for the 2025 model, and improvements were expected in the 2026 model's crash protection.