While the 2022 Subaru Forester is more affordable and fuel-efficient, the 2022 Toyota Highlander is much roomier and more powerful with tons of standard high-tech features.
The Forester and the Highlander actually have a lot in common despite their size differences. They’re both practical, tech-savvy vehicles with plenty of safety features and cargo space for their respective classes. But which family-friendly SUV is the right one for you?
Here to answer that question is Jerry
, the top-rated trustworthy insurance comparison app
that helps drivers save on . We’ve developed an in-depth comparison of the 2022 Forester and Highlander to help you determine which SUV is best for you. And while you’re here, we'll even show you a way to save on your car insurance
! Forester vs. Highlander: Which is more expensive?
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers Here’s the easy verdict: a Toyota Highlander is about $10,000 to $13,000 more expensive than a Subaru Forester.
Ownership costs
But when it comes to ownership costs, there’s more to the story than just the starting MSRP. You should also consider vehicle costs over the long haul, like fuel, financing, and insurance, along with maintenance and repairs.
According to Edmunds, the five-year true cost of owning a 2022 Subaru Forester is approximately $36,830. By contrast, the total cash price is $31,032—that’s an additional $5,795. But on the flip side, the 2022 Toyota Highlander has a higher five-year ownership cost of $45,390, which is $3,429 over the cash price.
Why is this Toyota more expensive to own
than the Forester? First off, the starting price is much higher on a Highlander but you must also consider factors like repair and maintenance. RepairPal gives the Forester an average 3.5/5.0 reliability rating with yearly repair costs of $632 annually, while the Highlander receives an above-average 4.0/5.0 reliability rating with $671 annual repair costs. Insurance costs
On average, a Highlander costs $2,104 per year for insurance, while a Forester costs $2,072 per year. But if you’re looking for a lower insurance premium, comparison shopping has never been easier than with Jerry
. Even with comparison shopping, though, Forester owners can expect to see slightly lower rates due to the compact SUV’s reduced value. Winner: Subaru Forester
All finances considered, the Subaru Forester is the clear winner when it comes to affordability. A lower starting MSRP, feasible long-term ownership expenses, and slightly more affordable insurance costs make the Forester the cheaper option of the two vehicles.
But we’re not done comparing the Forester and Highlander just yet! Let’s take a closer look at both vehicles so we can help you decide if investing in the Highlander is worth the price hike.
Subaru Forester vs. Toyota Highlander: In-depth comparison
Body style and size
When you see a 2022 Subaru Forester and a 2022 Toyota Highlander side-by-side on the street, you can’t help but notice some slight differences. First off, the Forester is classed as a compact crossover SUV, while the Highlander is a slightly heftier midsize SUV.
And for the most part, the Highlander dominates the spaciousness game—especially when it comes to passenger and cargo volume (with seats down).
However, the Forester's ground clearance
steals the show with 8.7 to 9.2 inches of ride height. So if you like traveling through parts unknown, the Subaru Forester is the serious off-roader
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Cargo volume w/seats down | | |
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars 4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers Engine and performance
If you’re looking for a potent engine, the Toyota Highlander has you covered. The midsize SUV is powered by a peppy 3.5-liter V6 engine that cranks out 295 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque with standard eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD) with optional all-wheel drive (AWD).
On the other hand, the Forester comes with a more subdued 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, along with continuously variable transmission (CVT) and Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD)
. So if you’re looking for more performance power on the road, the Highlander might be worth the extra price.
Fuel economy
As might be expected with a compact crossover SUV, the Forester will save you more at the pump compared to the Highlander with 26/33/29 mpg for city/highway/combined driving.
Conversely, an FWD Highlander delivers 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway with 24 mpg combined. But if you opt for the AWD variant, your fuel economy will take a slight hit with 20/27/23 mpg for city/highway/combined driving.
Safety
You’ll be in good hands with both the Forester and the Highlander. Both family-friendly SUVs have received a perfect five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), though the Subaru Forester alone was selected as a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Why does the Forester have an edge on the Highlander concerning safety? If you look at both cars’ NHTSA ratings, you’ll see that the Forester has a perfect five stars for all safety categories except rollover. On the other hand, the Highlander misses the safety mark when it comes to front crash and rollover safety ratings.
But both SUVs have similar IIHS safety ratings receiving all “Good” ratings except for the Highlander’s headlight testing and the Forester’s side crash test rating—both receiving merely “Acceptable” ratings.
Tech
While the Forester has a slight leg up on safety ratings and fuel economy, the Highlander excels with slightly more standard high-tech features.
That’s not to say that the Forester is supremely lacking in technology—quite the contrary! The compact SUV comes standard with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a four-speaker stereo, along with onboard WiFi forevery model except the base trim. You’ll also get Subaru’s EyeSight—a suite of driver-assist technology, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward collision mitigation.
But the Highlander comes equipped with a larger 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa connectivity, and a six-speaker stereo, along with standard onboard WiFi for every Highlander model. All models also come standard with a generous amount of safety features with Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.5+ suite that includes a rearview camera, rear-seat reminder, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and so much more.
Interior and comfort
While both vehicles are well-built with quality materials and modern conveniences, the Highlander offers more comfort in terms of passenger and cargo space.
But the higher you go up the trim ladder with both Forester and Highlander, the more upscale features you’ll see with heated front seats, leather upholstery, and Harman Kardon audio systems for the Forester. Meanwhile, you’ll get heated/ventilated leather front seats, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, and a panoramic moonroof with the Highlander.
But the Highlander’s cabin is much roomier —though the Highlander's third row
might be better suited for children. However, the first two rows are very spacious, and you can also equip your midsize SUV with optional captain’s chairs in the second row. While its cargo space is considered average for its class, the Highlander's trunk space
still beats out the Forester by about 10 cubic feet with the seats down. Oh, and the Highlander also comes standard with tri-zone automatic climate control to help keep you and your passengers comfortable for long road trips and everyday driving alike.
Winner: It’s a toss-up!
This is a tough one! While the Subaru Forester is overall more affordable with excellent fuel economy and safety ratings, the Toyota Highlander provides more passenger and cargo space, performance power, and an abundance of standard driver-assistance technology, along with similar safety ratings as the Forester—but at a higher price tag.
If you’re on a stricter budget and don’t require as much cabin space, then the Forester is the SUV for you. But if money is no object and you’re looking for an upscale interior with ample high-tech features and plenty of space to stretch (except in the third row) then the Highlander might be the perfect midsize SUV that’s big enough to hold the whole family.
How to save on car insurance costs
No matter what model you choose, you can always count on Jerry
to help you find the best Subaru insurance costs
or Toyota insurance costs
(or any other make's insurance costs for that matter!) at the best available price. Here’s how it works: just download the Jerry app and sign-up within 45 seconds to unlock customized quotes from over 55 insurance providers in the country. After you make your decision, our team of expert agents will quickly get to work switching you over to your new policy while helping you cancel your old policy.
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