2022 Subaru Forester vs 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The 2022 Subaru Forester was available in several trims, including base, Convenience, Touring, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Premier. Prices started at $29,495 MSRP for the base model, with the Premier trim reaching $40,595. An additional $1,800 destination charge applied, and Subaru offered a variety of dealer-installed accessories. All-wheel drive was standard across all Forester models. The Forester Wilderness, new for 2022, featured white paint and a dark grey interior with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, priced at $38,995 including destination. The Wilderness trim added a suspension lift and higher ride height, resulting in 22.9 centimetres of ground clearance. However, the extensive protective cladding and matte-black hood decal gave it a less appealing look. Inside, the Forester focused on functionality, with a mix of hard plastic and soft surfaces. The 8-inch Starlink infotainment system was user-friendly, though the presence of three display screens was less than ideal.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid borrowed styling cues from the Tacoma pickup, featuring a trapezoidal grille and upright fascia for a rugged appearance. However, the design introduced some softness with a character line over the rear wheel arch, making it appear slightly bloated. The rear echoed the trapezoidal grille, resulting in a somewhat disjointed design compared to competitors like the Kia Telluride and Honda Pilot. Inside, the Highlander had an unconventional but less jarring asymmetrical dash with a metallic styling element. The infotainment touchscreen was mounted high for easy visibility. The Highlander Hybrid Bronze Edition featured 18-inch bronze alloy wheels and light grey fabric seat upholstery with a triangle motif. The fabric attracted dirt and stains, raising durability concerns. Other trims offered more conventional materials, with genuine leather available only on the top trims. The third row had more hard plastics, making it less comfortable for longer trips.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with its 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive, with the Wilderness model offering a 25% increase in initial torque supply. This allowed the Wilderness to double its towing capacity to 1,360 kilograms. Fuel consumption was rated at 9.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with our test averaging 9.1 L/100 km. The Forester's engine was adequate near sea level but felt sluggish at higher altitudes. The CVT had eight programmed ratios, and the Wilderness model included SI-Drive for a more lively response. Subaru's dual-function X-Mode system was standard, offering improved speed management and hill descent control. The Wilderness trim featured a re-tuned suspension, longer springs, and shocks for improved ground clearance and off-road capability. The Forester excelled in various environments, though it lacked engine power and had excessive wind noise at higher speeds.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and hybrid system, producing 243 horsepower. It used a CVT and standard all-wheel drive, with an electric motor powering the rear axle. The Highlander Hybrid reached 100 kilometres per hour in just over eight seconds. The hybrid powertrain provided a quick but tepid response from a standstill, with the gasoline engine supplying more power as needed. The engine hum was subtle under light acceleration but became a drone when more power was required. Braking was traditional, with regenerative braking switching the electric motors into generators to recharge the hybrid batteries. The ride quality was soft, with the suspension smoothing over bumps while maintaining adequate cornering confidence. The cabin remained mostly free of wind and road noise on the highway, making the Highlander Hybrid one of the quieter midsize SUVs.

The 2022 Subaru Forester emphasized functionality, with easy entry and exit due to tall seating hip points. The StarTex upholstery was water-resistant, and the Wilderness trim included all-weather floor mats and washable materials. The upgraded roof rails accommodated a dynamic load of 100 kilograms and a static load of 362 kilograms, suitable for a three-person roof tent. The Forester offered high comfort levels in both front and back seats, with rear air conditioning vents and quick-charge ports. Storage space was decent, with bins, bottle holders, and seatback pockets. Cargo space measured 818 litres without the panoramic sunroof and 762 litres with it. Folding the rear seat increased capacity to 2,101 litres, making the Forester one of the roomiest compact SUVs.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid's front seats were well-cushioned, with plenty of adjustments for drivers. Storage options included a deep tray under the infotainment screen, a small shelf, and a large centre armrest bin. The second-row seats were spacious, with captain’s chairs that slid and reclined for versatility. A second-row bench was available, increasing passenger capacity to eight. The third-row seat was less accommodating, suitable for occasional use by children. Cargo space behind the third row was 453 litres, expanding to 1,370 litres with the seatbacks folded. Maximum cargo capacity was 2,387 litres with the second row stowed. Limited and Platinum trims included a hands-free power liftgate.

The 2022 Subaru Forester included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and Starlink connected services. The Touring trim and higher featured an 8-inch screen with available navigation and a Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Wilderness trim included a 180-degree forward-view camera. The test vehicle had navigation and the Harman Kardon audio system, producing clear sound. The navigation system was helpful, though a breadcrumb function would have been beneficial. The voice recognition system was inconsistent.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, with a 12.3-inch screen available on the top trim. The system was quick to respond, with logically organized menus and physical shortcut buttons. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless charging on Limited and Platinum trims. Navigation and an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system were standard on the Highlander Hybrid Limited and Platinum trims.

The 2022 Subaru Forester debuted the EyeSight 4.0 safety system, offering improved accuracy and smoother operation. It included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. The Forester also featured a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. Limited and Premier trims included DriverFocus, a facial recognition technology. The Forester earned a 5-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and was expected to retain its IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” rating.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid achieved a 5-star overall score from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. A surround view camera system and head-up display were available on the top Platinum trim. The safety systems generally worked well but could use some fine-tuning.