2023 Toyota RAV4 vs 2023 Subaru Forester

The 2023 Subaru Forester maintained its traditional, utilitarian design, reminiscent of its predecessors over the past two decades. Its Cascade Green Silica paint was a familiar sight, often seen on many Foresters. The vehicle was available in various trims, including Base, Touring, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Premier, with prices ranging from $30,995 to $41,595, excluding the $1,975 destination charge. The Premier trim, which we tested, was priced at $44,087, including destination. The Forester's design was characterized by its boxy shape, flared fenders, and distinctive lighting, though it wasn't particularly attractive. The Premier trim stood out with its 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior trim, while the interior featured brown leather, exposed stitching, and metallic accents. Despite the abundance of hard plastic, the cabin was easy to clean, and the control layout was user-friendly, relying on traditional buttons and knobs.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4, in its gas-powered form, offered four trim levels in Canada, ranging from the RAV4 LE to the RAV4 Limited, with prices starting just over $35,000 and exceeding $45,000 for the Limited. The Trail trim, which we tested, retained the two-part face design introduced in 2019 and featured blacked-out wheels, a faux skid plate, and black cladding around the wheel arches. The interior of the Trail trim included orange accents, contrast stitching, and a stripe down the middle of the seats. The RAV4's interior was practical, with a frameless rearview mirror adding a touch of premium feel. The LE and XLE trims offered fabric upholstery and standard heated front seats, while the XLE Premium package upgraded to synthetic leather. The Limited trim featured heated and ventilated power-adjustable seats with memory settings. Overall, the RAV4's design was more rugged and truck-like compared to the more car-like experience of the Toyota Venza.

The 2023 Subaru Forester was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, powering all four wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT featured eight programmed ratios, and the Subaru Intelligent Drive SI-Drive system offered a Sport driving mode for enhanced responsiveness. All Foresters came with an X-Mode off-road traction control system, with additional settings for Deep Snow and Mud starting from the Sport trim. The Forester Wilderness trim offered even more off-road capability with all-terrain tires and various modifications. During testing, the Forester Premier handled challenging weather conditions with ease, inspiring confidence in its ability to navigate flooded roads and muddy trails. The Forester's driving dynamics were commendable, with light and accurate steering, responsive brakes, and excellent suspension tuning. However, the engine was merely adequate, and the Forester's fuel economy fell short of expectations, returning 9.1 litres per 100 kilometres compared to the official rating of 8.2 L/100 km.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine generating 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard across the lineup, and the RAV4 included a Snow drive mode. While the RAV4's engine provided slightly more power than the Forester, its acceleration was not particularly exciting. The RAV4 Trail trim came with 19-inch wheels and all-season tires, along with a MacPherson independent front suspension and multi-link rear suspension. The RAV4's performance was characterized as unobjectionable, with a focus on noise reduction rather than thrilling acceleration.

The 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized function over form, offering a practical and straightforward design. The Touring trim included features such as a panoramic glass sunroof, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, a heated steering wheel, and a windshield wiper de-icer system. Higher trims offered StarTex artificial leather or perforated genuine leather upholstery, along with dual-zone automatic climate control. The Forester's outward visibility was excellent, thanks to its tall glass, thin windshield pillars, and large side mirrors. However, the panoramic sunroof lacked sufficient tinting, leading to solar heating in the cabin. The Forester's cargo space was generous, with 762 litres behind the back seat and 1,957 litres with the seats folded down.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 accommodated five passengers and offered 958 millimetres of headroom in the front row and 1,001 mm in the back seats with the moonroof. Legroom measured 1,039 mm in the front and 960 mm in the second row. The RAV4 provided ample storage options, including a shelf running the length of the glove compartment and generous door pockets. The cargo space measured 1,059 litres behind the second row and 1,977 litres with the rear seats folded, placing it in the middle of the pack compared to competitors.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and a Harman Kardon premium audio system was available. The Forester's user interface was straightforward, with separate climate controls and easy-to-use volume and tuning knobs. However, the voice-recognition system was unreliable, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable for navigation and other tasks.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 introduced a new infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen as standard, while the Limited trim featured a 10.5-inch touchscreen. The system supported over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and voice command. Toyota's Safety Connect, Service Connect, and Drive Connect services were included, with some requiring a subscription. The Limited trim also offered an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system and a 12.3-inch driver-information display.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured the next-generation EyeSight collection of collision avoidance and driver assist technologies, including adaptive cruise control. Models with blind-spot monitoring added Automatic Emergency Steering. Rear Automatic Braking was available on higher trims, though it could be overly sensitive. The Forester earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and five-star crash-test ratings from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came with standard safety features such as lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. The RAV4 was equipped with the TSS 2.5 suite of advanced driver-assistance systems, including Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. The RAV4 earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.