Balise Subaru of Warwick

The Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 are perennial favorites in the compact SUV game. Both offer an incredible balance of practicality, efficiency and all weather driving that smaller station wagons and larger SUVs can?t deliver. However, the way they go about delivering these capabilities is uniquely different in both design and drivetrain. So which one performs better?

 

The highlight of the 2011 Subaru Forester is an all-new, four-cylinder, horizontally-opposed four-cylinder BOXER engine pumping out a respectable 170 hp and 174 lb/ft of torque. More fully equipped XT models get a turbocharged version, which bumps output to 224 hp and 226 lb/ft of torque.

 

The 2011 Toyota RAV4 doesn?t offer any new engines to its lineup, but does feature two powerplants; base models receive a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 179 hp and 172 lb/ft of torque, and a 3.5-liter 269-hp V6.

 

However, with this additional power comes additional weight. The V6 RAV4 tips the scales at 3,700 pounds, whereas the Forester XT comes in as a comparative lightweight at under 3,500 pounds. 

 

This additional weight is really noticeable when trying to maneuver through city streets and winding back roads. Not only is the Forester lighter, but its flat four-cylinder engine means the entire drivetrain has a lower center of gravity, which gives the Forester a planted and poised feeling in corners. The handling experience is positively car-like, especially in wet conditions where Subaru?s Asymmetric All-Wheel Drive system comes into play. When it comes to all-conditions driving, the Subaru?s AWD system is simply unbeatable by the RAV4 or any other compact SUV.

 

On bumpy stretches of asphalt, the Forester?s suspension soaks up bumps more actively, giving a more composed and stable ride than the RAV4. At highway speeds, the Forester also has a quieter cabin that hushes road noise better.

 

When the asphalt turns to dirt, not only does the Subaru benefit from a superior AWD system, but it also boasts up to 8.9 inches of ground clearance, over a full inch higher than the RAV4. Adding a little extra to that connected driving experience, the Subaru is also available with a five-speed manual transmission, an option the RAV4 lacks.

 

In terms of design and styling, the Forester takes an approach other compact SUVs don?t. The Forester blends the appearance and function of a station wagon with full-size SUV. Despite the Forester?s low center of gravity and deft handling characteristics, it has a tall cabin with terrific visibility out all windows. Headroom in the Forester is plentiful at nearly 42 inches, highlighting an overall interior that feels roomier and less cramped than the RAV4. For those who break the six-foot tall barrier, the Forester can easily accommodate you, even with a sunroof. Forester also offers more rear headroom and front legroom.

 

Although the RAV4 boasts a few more inches of cargo capacity, access is better in the Forester due to a lower cargo floor and an upward opening rear hatch. The side opening hatch on the RAV4 is not only problematic in tight spaces, but the rear-mounted tire also impedes rear window visibility.

 

Both vehicles have a host of optional equipment including navigation, backup cameras, Bluetooth integration, climate control, USB inputs, remote keyless entry and leather interior. But the Forester?s interior is more ergonomically laid out and pleasing to the eye. Instrumentation is more intuitive and cleaner in the Forester, whereas the dashboard in the RAV4 looks odd, taking on a tiered appearance much like ground and balcony seating in an auditorium.  

 

When it comes to safety ratings, the Forester triumphs. The Forester received top ratings of ?Good? in all Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests and a four-star overall rating in the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) test ? a European safety standard now being implemented in the United States. Comparatively, the RAV4 also received ?Good? ratings from the IIHS in frontal, side and rear impact, but only received an ?Acceptable? result in the roof-strength category ? critical for surviving rollover accidents. In the NCAP test, the RAV4 received one fewer star than the Forester, at three stars overall.

 

So, how badly will both of these machines deplete your checkbook? The Forester starts at a very reasonable $20,495 with fully equipped models in the low-$30,000 range. A base RAV4 will cost more coin to the tune of $22,025, but at that price doesn?t offer all-wheel drive. An all-wheel drive equipped RAV4 starts at $23,425, and more substantially equipped models reach the mid-$30,000 range.

 

The Forester and RAV4 are both top-performing vehicles in a compact SUV segment that gets more and more competitive each year. Because they both benefit from years of production, the Forester and RAV4 deliver among best performance, safety, quality and reliability of any compact SUV. But when compared against each other, the Forester?s superior handling, AWD system, interior layout, safety ratings and value give it a distinct advantage over the RAV4. Now, the only question remaining is what color to get. We?ll leave that one up to you.

The 2011 Subaru Forester is available now at Balise Subaru of Warwick, RI.  Click here to see our inventory.