2024 Toyota 4Runner vs 2023 Subaru Forester

The 2023 Subaru Forester, despite its familiar and somewhat unremarkable exterior, offered a practical and functional design. Its Cascade Green Silica paint was reminiscent of many Foresters seen over the years, contributing to its classic look. The Premier trim, which was the focus of our evaluation, featured 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior trim, enhancing its appearance. The Forester's design was characterized by its two-box shape, flared fenders, and pincer-shaped lighting, giving it a utilitarian yet busy look. Inside, the Premier trim boasted exclusive brown leather, exposed stitching, and metallic accents, maintaining a traditional Subaru design with analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen. While hard plastic was prevalent, it made the cabin easy to clean, and the control layout was user-friendly, relying on traditional buttons and knobs.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner retained its classic, albeit outdated, design, reminiscent of its 2010 roots. Its boxy shape and flared fenders gave it a rugged and stable appearance, ideal for off-road adventures. The TRD Pro model, with its underbody skid plates and all-terrain tires, exuded a serious off-road attitude. Inside, the 4Runner's old-school styling and technology were evident, with an analog instrument panel and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen. The interior featured hard plastic surfaces, but cushioned panels provided comfort. While the 4Runner's design leaned heavily on nostalgia, it lacked modern touches found in competitors like the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler.

The 2023 Subaru Forester was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that mimicked a traditional automatic. The Forester's SI-Drive system offered a Sport mode for enhanced responsiveness, while the X-Mode off-road traction control system included Deep Snow and Mud settings in higher trims. The Forester Premier, despite its tamer nature, handled challenging weather conditions with ease, showcasing its capability in flooded roadways and muddy trails. The Forester's driving dynamics were commendable, with light and accurate steering, responsive brakes, and excellent suspension tuning. However, the engine's performance was merely adequate, and the Forester fell short of its official fuel economy rating, prompting a desire for a turbocharged or hybrid option.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner featured a 4.0-litre V6 engine generating 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. While the powertrain specs were competitive, the 4Runner's transmission lagged behind competitors like the Bronco and Wrangler, impacting acceleration and fuel economy. The TRD Pro model came with standard four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case, enhancing its off-road prowess. On pavement, the 4Runner felt sluggish, with noticeable rear-end squat during acceleration and a noisy engine. The soft suspension, while beneficial for off-roading, resulted in body roll and floatiness on highways. Despite these drawbacks, the 4Runner's off-road capabilities remained impressive, with features like Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select enhancing its performance on challenging terrains.

The 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized function over form, offering a practical and user-friendly interior. The Touring trim provided features like a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats. Higher trims offered StarTex artificial leather or genuine leather upholstery, along with dual-zone climate control. The Forester's high seating position and excellent outward visibility made it easy to drive and park. However, the panoramic sunroof's lack of tinting led to solar heating, and the rear seats lacked comfort for taller adults. Interior storage was plentiful, and the Forester's cargo area offered 762 litres of space, expandable to 1,957 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's interior, though outdated, featured a straightforward layout with large climate-control dials and driveline levers. The 4Runner provided ample space for front passengers, but the steering wheel's limited telescoping range posed challenges for taller drivers. The second-row offered generous legroom, but headroom was limited due to the elevated bench height. The 4Runner's cargo area offered 1,337 litres of space, expandable to 2,540 litres with the rear seats stowed. However, the lack of remote seat releases and a powered liftgate were notable drawbacks. The 4Runner's sliding glass rear window and hitch receiver added convenience, while its towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms made it suitable for small campers.

The 2023 Subaru Forester's technology, though seemingly outdated, offered practical features. The Base trim included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Starlink connected services. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system was available in higher trims. The Forester's user interface was intuitive, 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.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's infotainment system included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the small touchscreen was challenging to use while driving. The TRD Pro model featured a 15-speaker JBL audio system, but road noise often obscured its quality. The 4Runner's terrain controls, located in the headliner console, required familiarity with the owner's manual for optimal use. Features like Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select enhanced the 4Runner's off-road capabilities, but the lack of off-road specific apps and gauges was a drawback compared to competitors.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured the next-generation EyeSight system, offering collision avoidance and driver assist technologies. Adaptive cruise control was standard, and higher trims included Automatic Emergency Steering and Rear Automatic Braking. The Forester's safety systems performed well, but the RAB system's sensitivity was a concern. The Forester earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with some areas for improvement in side-impact and frontal-impact tests. The NHTSA awarded the Forester five-star crash-test ratings, with a four-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner received mixed safety ratings, with four stars from the NHTSA for overall and frontal crash protection, and five stars for side impacts. The IIHS gave the 4Runner "Good" ratings for moderate frontal overlap and side protection tests, but "Marginal" and "Poor" results in newer tests. The 4Runner included driver assistance features like adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning, but its alerts were often oversensitive. The TRD Pro and Limited trims offered a surround-view camera system for added safety.