Toyota RAV4 vs Subaru Ascent

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 tried hard to project a tougher, more rugged persona than it inherently possessed. Its design included aggressive lower gray body cladding, dual exhaust outlets suggestive of performance, and fake front and rear skid plates to replicate off-road readiness. Upper trims like the TRD Off-Road model emphasized this facade even further with robust utility-style roof racks and exclusive features such as all-terrain tires and underbody skid plates. Our test vehicle, the TRD Off-Road, had a base price of $38,295 plus a destination charge of $1,350. With its Army Green color and optional technology packages, the total MSRP reached $41,925.

Despite the façade, the RAV4 offered variable trim options, starting from $28,675 for the base LE to $38,295 for the TRD Off-Road, with hybrids adding slightly more cost for increased efficiency and power. Inside, the RAV4's practicality shone through with its utility-centric design, easy-clean surfaces, and rubber-lined storage areas. Higher trims offered a more upscale touch with contrast-color interiors, but the core remained utilitarian, reflecting its intent for recreation and utility.

In contrast, the 2024 Subaru Ascent struggled with its styling. The design included less appealing features like visually offensive tusks and a bold spear running across the grille into the headlights. Unfortunately, the 2024 lineup saw no styling changes, carrying over the same somewhat controversial design.

Testing the Ascent Touring trim, our model had a sticker price of $50,181, including destination. This trim level did, however, boast standard features like a panoramic sunroof, premium Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and a robust 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. The Ascent's interior, though equipped with quality materials, felt more functional than stylish. The design seemed modular and practical, potentially less sophisticated than some might expect in this price range.

Under the hood of the 2024 Toyota RAV4 was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 203 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. The engine required high revs to access maximum power. It came paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, typically powering the front wheels, though an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system was available. Our TRD Off-Road model had AWD and exclusive off-road suspension tuning.

The TRD Off-Road trim included off-road friendly features such as 18-inch matte-black TRD alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, and Multi-Terrain Select driving modes. However, with only 8.6 inches of ground clearance, it didn't significantly improve upon other RAV4 models in terms of off-road capability. Despite this, the off-road suspension enhanced the ride quality during daily commutes, effectively absorbing bumps and uneven surfaces. The steering and braking were well-calibrated for general use, though the vehicle tended to be noisy at freeway speeds.

In terms of fuel economy, the RAV4 TRD Off-Road had an EPA rating of 28 mpg combined, and during testing, it averaged 26.6 mpg. This paled in comparison to the RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition, which managed 37 mpg.

On the other hand, the 2024 Subaru Ascent featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 pound-feet of torque from 2,000 to 4,800 rpm. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) paired with a standard AWD system enhanced its performance versatility. The Ascent could tow up to 5,000 pounds, demonstrating its practical strength.

In various driving conditions, from city to remote trails, the Ascent proved a reliable and agile companion. Its turbocharged engine delivered solid performance, though the CVT could sometimes mimic a conventional automatic well. However, during spirited driving on twisty roads, its substantial curb weight and softly tuned suspension limited its capabilities.

Fuel economy figures for the Ascent with 20-inch wheels were not impressive; it was rated at 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. Our test drive yielded even lower results, with 16.7 mpg in the city and 18.6 mpg overall.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4's interior emphasized practicality and utility over luxury. It featured numerous storage solutions, including shelves, trays, bins, and oversized rubberized control knobs. The TRD Off-Road trim added SofTex artificial leather upholstery and an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. Additional options included heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, and more.

The RAV4 offered ample space for passengers, comfortably seating four adults, and five in a pinch. Rear seat comfort was adequate despite the low seating position. Cargo capacity was a strong point, with 37.6 cubic feet available behind the rear seats, expandable to 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded.

In the 2024 Subaru Ascent, functionality took precedence. Precious dashboard shelf, large cupholders, backpack pegs, and cargo hooks peppered the interior. The Touring trim boasted premium Nappa leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats. However, the lack of a height adjuster for the front passenger seat was a minor drawback.

Accessibility and utility were excellent, thanks to the wide-opening rear doors and high static load capacity roof rails suitable for a rooftop tent. The second-row captain's chairs were comfortable, though the legroom felt a bit snug. The third-row seats were suitable for short trips, providing adequate leg support and air conditioning vents.

Cargo space in the Ascent was practical – up to 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 75.6 cubic feet with both rear rows stowed. However, when equipped with the panoramic sunroof, these measurements were slightly reduced.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 was equipped with the Toyota Audio Multimedia system featuring standard 8-inch or available 10.5-inch touchscreen displays. It incorporated wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and various connected services. Service Connect and Safety Connect were included for ten years, offering important safety features. Remote Connect for one year added remote access functions, and Drive Connect provided a cloud-based navigation system and digital voice assistant.

Complaints about the system included the absence of a multi-panel Home screen, tricky navigation between functions, and a delicate font on the display. Additionally, the digital voice assistant performed well but had some issues regarding volume and parsing data.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Subaru Ascent featured the Starlink infotainment system with an 11.6-inch touchscreen display in portrait orientation. Standard features included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and text-messaging capability. Higher trims added connected services, a navigation system, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system.

However, the display was prone to washing out in direct sunlight, and the native voice-recognition system performed poorly. Subaru did provide physical buttons and knobs for commonly used functions, a beneficial feature. Upper trims offered Cabin Connect, which projected the driver’s voice through the stereo to communicate with passengers and a surround-view camera for enhanced visibility.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 included Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5), a suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). However, blind-spot monitoring was not standard on the base LE trim, even though it might be more crucial than some TSS 2.5 features. During testing, TSS 2.5 performed adequately but showed limitations on winding roads and in heavy traffic. The RAV4 adaptive cruise control was smooth in moderate traffic, but its braking was too conservative in certain situations. The 2024 RAV4, unfortunately, no longer held the IIHS Top Safety Pick award, likely due to the age of its engineering design.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent, synonymous with safety, offered a robust EyeSight package that included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping and centering assist, adaptive cruise control, and evasive steering assist. Additionally, automatic high-beam headlights were standard. However, blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert required a step up from the Base trim to Premium.

Despite a generally strong safety reputation, testing revealed that EyeSight’s lane-centering assist technology was less impressive. It struggled with certain driving conditions, resulting in an unstable driving experience on winding roads.