The 2022 Subaru Forester vs. the 2022 Toyota RAV4 is a neck and neck race when it comes to which is the better car for the average driver. That said, the RAV4 edges out its competitor in key areas like engine, performance, and trim options.

The Subaru Forester, a compact SUV, and the Toyota RAV4, a crossover SUV, are similar in many ways and make for an intriguing comparison. They both offer nice value, but how do they do when pitted against each other?

Figuring out what makes the Forester better than the RAV4 (or vice versa) will help you determine which is right for you. That’s why

Jerry

, the

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expert and trusted comparison tool, is here with a thorough breakdown of each vehicle.

And once you make your pick, Jerry can also help you lower your

Subaru Forester

Toyota RAV4 car insurance costs

Subaru Forester vs. Toyota RAV4: which is more expensive?

Let’s start by saying MSRP will not be a deciding factor as to which is the better SUV. The starting price of the 2022 Subaru Forester is $25,195. On the other hand, the starting price of the 2022 Toyota RAV4 is $26,525.

A difference of less than $1,500 isn’t a big deal for most new car buyers. But keep in mind that the sticker price is just the start—there are still taxes, fees, trim upgrades, package options, and more to consider.

Here are the MSRPs by trim level:

Subaru Forester Trim level	Starting MSRP	Toyota RAV4	Starting MSRP
Base	$25,195	Base	$26,525
Forester Premium	$30,070	LE	$26,975
Forester Sport	$31,640	XLE	$28,445
Forester Limited	$33,750	XLE Premium	$31,335
Forester Wilderness	$34,695	Adventure	$33,230
Forester Touring	$37,170	Limited	$35,475
		TRD Off-Road	$35,780

The RAV4 offers more trim levels than the Forester, which is a feather in its cap. Its lower trim levels are also cheaper than those of the Subaru Forester. So, starting price isn’t a factor but the cost per trim level is a big win for the RAV4.

Ownership costs

It’s important to dig deeper than MSRP to see if either the Forester or the RAV4 can fit your budget. You should look at the actual ownership costs for each SUV.

The true cost to own a 2022 Forester over five years is $43,667 whereas five-year ownership costs for the 2022 RAV4 are $43,891. Once again, it’s too close to call.

Both are reasonably priced, so neither wins this round. But the RAV4 is still the more cost-efficient option if you’re okay opting for a lower trim level.

Insurance costs

Sure, there are uninsured or underinsured drivers on the road, but most drivers will pay for insurance or be required by their state to have a basic policy.

In terms of these models,

Subaru car insurance costs

and

Toyota car insurance costs

are pretty much equal. The average first-year insurance cost for a 2022 Forester is $1,204. For the RAV4, it’s $1,249. Over five years, the RAV4 is only $200 more for car insurance.

Note that the cost of insurance goes up depending on the value of your vehicle and your location. So if you live in a heavy traffic area and opt for one of the top trim levels, your insurance will likely cost more.

Winner: the Toyota RAV4 (by a hair)

We’ll begrudgingly crown the RAV4 the winner. Ownership and insurance costs are seemingly a wash. But the RAV4 offers more trim options and is priced a bit lower than the Forester.

MORE: The best used Subaru to buy

Subaru Forester vs. Toyota RAV4: in-depth comparison

Since it’s becoming clear that these two SUVs are quite similar, we need to dig deeper into their components to see if one can pull away.

Body style and size

Both the Forester and the RAV4 can fit five passengers. Let’s review the dimensions of each to see which is more spacious.

Here are the dimensions of the 2022 Forester and the 2022 Subaru:

Dimensions	Subaru Forester	Toyota RAV4
Wheelbase	105.1 inches	105.9 inches
Passenger volume	100.9 cubic feet	98.9 cubic feet
Headroom (front/rear)	41.2/39.6 inches	39.5/39.5 inches
Legroom (front/rear)	43.3/36.4 inches	41/37.8 inches
Cargo volume w/ seats up	28.9 cubic feet	37.6 inches
Ground clearance	8.7 inches	8.4 inches

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The Forester offers an edge in front and rear headroom, front legroom, and ground clearance. The RAV4 wins in passenger volume, cargo volume with the seats up, wheelbase, and rear legroom.

The RAV4 gets a small win here. Will its overall performance finally break open this close race?

MORE:

Toyota Rav4 trunk space

Engine and performance

The Forester has a 2.5L four-cylinder gas engine with 16 valves. It generates 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm. It produces 176 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm.

The RAV4 also has a 2.5L four-cylinder engine with 16 valves, but most of the similarities end there. It produces 203 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 184 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm.

This is where the RAV4 starts to prove its value. It offers better performance, acceleration, and speed. It’s a stronger bet if you’re looking for something fun to drive or plan to go on

off-road adventures

Fuel economy

Fuel economy should be a big consideration when car shopping! Let’s see how these two SUVs fare at the pump.

The Forester gets 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. It has a fuel tank capacity of 16.6 gallons.

The RAV4 gets 24 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined. It has a fuel tank capacity of 14.5 gallons.

This is getting frustrating! The Forester gets better gas mileage in the city and has a larger fuel tank, but the RAV4 gets better highway and combined fuel economy.

It’s a toss-up but we’d go with the larger fuel tank and better city miles if you commute to the city for work.

MORE:

Is a Subaru hybrid worth it?

Safety

The 2022 RAV4 was an IIHS Top Safety Pick but the Subaru Forester was an IIHS Top Safety Pick+.

The safety features of the Forester include lane departure warning, stability control, and traction control, plus an accident avoidance system, pre-collision safety system, post-collision safety system, and more. The RAV4 includes many of the same safety features.

But Subaru has a big differentiator with its standard EyeSight suite of driver-assist technology. The suite optimizes the cruise control function, monitors traffic movement, and provides alerts and warnings if you’re drifting outside your lane.

Toyota comes to the plate with its Toyota Safety Sense™, which is packed with active safety features, as well. The package includes dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert, automatic high beams, and more.

These advanced safety features often come standard on most Subarus and Toyotas.

MORE:

A complete guide to Subaru safety ratings

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Tech

Neither automaker is known for its tech features, but they each offer some useful and intuitive tech that enables better performance and comfort.

The 2022 Forester features the following tech:

Distraction Mitigation System

Starlink

6.5-inch multimedia touchscreen

Harman Kardon sound system with six speakers

Dual-zone climate control

Rain sensing wiper blades

The list of tech for the 2022 RAV4 includes:

Front and rear parking assist

Digital rearview mirror with HomeLink

Universal transceiver

Tilt and telescopic steering wheel

Audio and cruise controls on steering wheels

This is a judgment call based on the tech you want, but we’d call this a win for the Forester. Simply put, its tech is more impressive.

Interior and comfort

Both the Forester and the RAV4 are practical vehicles. This doesn’t mean they aren’t comfortable, it just means that comfort is a lower priority.

The interior of the Forester includes:

Front and rear cupholders

Overhead console with storage

Single zone front climate control

Great elbow room

Adjustable lumbar support for driver’s seat

The interior of the RAV4 includes:

Soft-touch surfaces

Synthetic leather interior

Sculpted and padded front seats

Fabric-trimmed seats

Four-way adjustable front passenger seat

Neither SUV hits a home run for interior and comfort, but both offer just enough for their price. Let’s call this one a draw.

MORE:

2022 Toyota Rav4 facelift

Winner: Toyota RAV4

It’s crazy close but the 2022 Toyota RAV4 is the better SUV. It has an engine that provides greater performance and it doesn't really lose out in any category. It offers a nice amount of trim levels to boot.

The Forester is marginally safer and arguably more fuel efficient—but barely. You can’t go wrong with either model, so it comes down to preference. Consider creating a budget to see which offers the most bang for the buck.

How to save on Subaru and Toyota insurance costs

Before you drive one of these practical SUVs off the lot, you need to make sure you have the best and most

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