The new Subaru Forester attacks the segment leaders. We decided to compare it with the latest crossover Toyota RAV4, and took the third Honda cr-v... Let's see which of these "Japanese" will prevail
In the new generation Subaru forester added in size and now looks even more impressive than before. Not handsome, but you can immediately see that he is a real man. But the Toyota RAV4, on the contrary, has become somewhat more glamorous and at the same time sportier. As for the Honda CR-V, everyone is already used to it, because it is very similar to the previous generation model. At the same time, the crossover looks modern and harmonious.
Subaru Forester is offered on the Russian market with three power units. All engines are gasoline. The first has a volume of 2 liters and develops 150 hp. The second is a 2.5-liter, its output is 171 hp. Finally, the third power unit, thanks to turbocharging, removes 241 hp from 2 liters of volume. The most affordable version is a 150-horsepower with a 6-speed manual transmission, it costs from 1,148,000 rubles. The option with a continuously variable transmission CVT will cost the buyer 40,000 rubles more. The next, more powerful modifications are equipped only with a variator and cost, respectively, no less than 1,419,000 rubles (171 hp) and 1,695,000 rubles (241 hp). The drive is exceptionally complete for all versions.
The range of Toyota RAV4 engines also consists of three power units. Two petrol volumes of 2 and 2.5 liters develop 146 and 180 hp. respectively, and the 2-liter turbodiesel has a power of 150 hp. The first (146-horsepower) version is offered with front and all-wheel drive, as well as with a 6-speed manual transmission or with a continuously variable variator. The initial configuration with front-wheel drive and “mechanics” is estimated at 998,000 rubles, and the version with all-wheel drive and variator costs from 1,135,000 rubles. The rest of the modifications are equipped exclusively with all-wheel drive and a 6-band “automatic” and cost from 1,355,000 rubles for the version with a turbodiesel and from 1,478,000 for the petrol version.
There are two engines to choose from for the Honda CR-V. Both petrol: 2-liter with 150 hp. and 2.4-liter with 190 "horses". The first can be aggregated with a 6-speed "mechanics" or with a 5-band "automatic", and this version costs from 999,000 rubles. The second motor is available only with a 5-band “automatic”, the price of this car is from 1,319,000 rubles. The drive is only full. For a test drive, we have collected petrol modifications with comparable power units. These are 2.5-liter engines from Subaru and Toyota and 2.4-liter from Honda.
Nothing extra
The interiors of our wards are quite ascetic. Soft plastic on the front panel can be found only in Subaru, and nowhere else in the Forester cabin you will see such plastic. Toyota has middle part the front panel is finished in leatherette with a soft backing, but the top and bottom are as rigid as the door panels. And Honda has hard plastic everywhere, and only the version with a 2.4-liter engine is finished this way. The fact is that it is produced in the USA, and American buyers are unpretentious and do not find fault with the quality of finishing materials. But the 2-liter modification, produced in England, has enough soft plastic in the finish, and it has enough other differences. However, more on that later. As for the build quality, in this parameter all cars are at their best.
The ergonomics of all three cars, in principle, raises no big complaints, but there are drawbacks. Check out the glare screens at Toyota and Honda, as well as the inconvenient manual selection of radios on the Subaru touchscreen. The RAV4 also has poorly visible keys in the lower part of the front panel in the area of the central tunnel. At night, not all buttons are illuminated for all three, which is why, for example, to adjust the mirrors, you have to turn on the salon light. However, the owners of these cars learn over time to find unlit keys by touch. Visibility is best at Subaru due to thinner body struts. Although his rivals have no problems in this parameter either.
The Subaru Forester offers the highest driving position ever. The geometry in relation to the handlebars and pedals is good. The seat, however, is not particularly comfortable: the cushion and back are flat, the padding is quite dense. In the Honda CR-V, the seat is softer, it has a better shape, and the landing is the lowest, although you cannot call it passenger. But Toyota has the most comfortable front seats. Their profile is perfect, the padding is soft, and they are located slightly higher than the Honda.
On the second row of seats, as well as on the first, the leadership is behind the RAV4. The best seat profile, huge legroom by class standards and the largest backrest adjustment range. In Subaru, there is no less space, and due to the higher location of the front seats under them, you can put your feet in more massive shoes, but the sofa is not so good and the angle of inclination of the backs is not adjustable within such a wide range. In Honda, the backrests have only two positions, not very different in angle, and in front of the knees of passengers to the front seats, the space is about 8-10 cm less. But in the CR-V, the widest salon and the central tunnel is absent, which creates more comfortable conditions for transporting three rear riders. Toyota also has no central tunnel, but Subaru has a ledge, although it is not high.
The small legroom of the rear passengers is compensated by Honda with the largest volume of the luggage compartment. And when folding the sofa, you get a flat floor, however, for this you first need to fold the pillows, and only then the backs. Under the floor there is a narrow “stowaway”. Toyota has a smaller trunk, and the loading height is too large due to a full spare wheel located under the floor. But the floor when folded rear seats also smooth. The smallest luggage compartment in Subaru, while only the "stowaway" fit here, and if you fold the sofa, a rather high step is formed.
Struggle of characters
According to the passport data, Honda is the most powerful among the three rivals, but it accelerates slower than the others, and this is noticeable. Unlike the British version with a 2-liter engine, the American 2.4-liter version lacks a sports transmission mode, moreover, its 5-band “automatic” is not too quick. Although the dynamics are generally sufficient in most traffic situations... And the CR-V's engine sounds nicer than its rivals and, moreover, runs quietly even at maximum revs.
The Toyota engine is more "vociferous", and the 6-band automatic transmission goes through gears faster. On the track, the box works fine, but in the city, with a ragged rhythm of driving, it sometimes gets confused when choosing a working range. Here you can turn on the sport mode “automatic” and additionally “sharpen” the accelerator pedal. In this case, the car begins to respond to fuel supply faster, although there is still no need to talk about instant responses.
The best acceleration feels like the Subaru. And all thanks to the perfectly tuned variator. At any speed, the car responds to the accelerator pedal with decent acceleration. The only complaint is that when driving in traffic jams, the gas pedal reacts somewhat nervously. But the brakes are fine tuned, however, like the competitors in the test.
Steering Subaru is quite “long” by modern standards - three and a quarter turns from lock to lock. In this case, the "steering wheel" is quite tight. With information content, everything is in order. It is clear that with such settings, there is no need to expect quick reactions from the crossover. On the other hand, this is not required of him - enough calm and correct behavior, which Forester provides to the fullest. The Honda has the same “long” steering wheel, but it is easier to turn, and the reaction force gives excellent feedback - the best in the trio. Control reactions are only slightly faster than Subaru's. But the "steering wheel" Toyota works faster and more accurately - from lock to lock, it makes 2.8 turns. The feedback is Subaru's and the steering effort is equally intense. The crossover behaves very collected, including thanks to the rigid suspension.
The RAV4 chassis shamelessly informs riders about every crack in the road surface, and makes it hard and sharp jerks. And on larger irregularities, it frankly shakes. I remember that the previous generation model was driving much softer. The Forester also rides harder than its predecessor, but compared to the Toyota, its ride is almost perfect. The Subaru's chassis is harsh on bumps with sharp edges, but on other types of surfaces it behaves exemplary. And the energy intensity of the suspension is fantastic. The same cannot be said about the Honda. On big potholes and pits, the CR-V simply lacks suspension travel - this crossover has an almost passenger chassis. But small patches and cracks in the asphalt Honda swallows better than anyone else.
And in terms of noise isolation, the CR-V is in the lead: this car allows you to drive at high speed without damaging your eardrums. The noise of the oncoming air flow, motor and tires practically does not bother. At Subaru, all extraneous sounds are drowned out by the rumble of tires. And at Toyota tires They “shout” even louder than they cause serious discomfort. True, our wards were "shod" in different tires, so the comparison is not entirely correct. Nevertheless, both in Subaru, and even more so in Toyota, the designers would not hurt to work on the soundproofing of the wheel arches.
On the pavement, all three are handled pretty well. Especially Honda. Its chassis settings, which are closest to cars, provide quick and accurate responses to steering actions, and the rolls are small. Only at high speed the steering wheel “empties” slightly in the near-zero zone, which, out of habit, causes tension in the driver. But on a winding track, Honda is able to give a lot of pleasant minutes to an active driver. Opponents do not know how to ride so recklessly.
Toyota's handling is also good, and it holds the straight line better than Honda, but there is no spark in its actions - everything is correct, reliable and ... boring. However, this can hardly be called a drawback. As for Subaru, this crossover is a little slower in reactions, and its rolls are a little more, but in general it rides no worse than the RAV4, and taking into account the better smoothness of the ride, it is more pleasant to travel long distances on it. Especially when the asphalt runs out and the cars drive down onto the broken dirt road.
Here Forester is head and shoulders above its rivals. Its stunning suspension allows you to dash over bumps twice as fast as the RAV4 and CR-V. And the handling remains reliable and understandable. Toyota's suspension also has enough energy, but not due to the amount of travel, but due to the rigidity. That is, the car overcomes irregularities without problems, but at the same time the riders are shaking strongly. But Honda forces you to slow down due to the small travel of the suspension, which it punches corny. If you slide into the mud, then the CR-V gives up almost immediately due to overheating of the clutch. Neither Subaru nor Toyota suffer from this disease. Well, on relative off-road conditions, Subaru will again be the best thanks to the competent all-wheel drive settings and the largest ground clearance.
Perhaps, we will bring Subaru Forester to the leaders of our “Japanese championship”. This crossover is the most versatile and comfortable, it rides equally well on normal roads and where the asphalt ends. Honda CR-V will the best choice for those who love active driving and at the same time are not going to drive off bad roads. The Toyota model was let down by the too stiff suspension, and if not for it, then the RAV4 could have become a winner at all, because in other parameters it often surpasses its rivals. We hope Toyota will hear our wishes, and then we will be happy to repeat this test.
| Technical Subaru characteristics Forester 2.5 |
|
|---|---|
| Dimensions, mm | 4595x1795x1735 |
| Wheelbase, mm | |
| Front / rear track, mm | |
| Turning circle, m | |
| Clearance, mm | |
| Trunk volume, l | |
| Curb weight, kg | |
| engine's type | petrol L4 |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | |
| Max. power, hp / rpm | |
| Max. moment, Nm / rpm | |
| Transmission | stepless variator |
| Front / rear brakes | ventilated disc / disc |
| Max. speed, km / h | |
| Acceleration time 0-100 km / h, s | |
| Fuel consumption (average), l / 100 km | |
| Tank volume, l | |
| Technical Toyota specifications RAV4 2.5 |
|
|---|---|
| Dimensions, mm | 4570x1845x1715 |
| Wheelbase, mm | |
| Front / rear track, mm | |
| Turning circle, m | |
Experienced car enthusiasts paraphrase the well-known wisdom: “You can look at three things for hours: how the fire burns, how the water flows, and ... how two dashing Japanese SUVs sort things out.” Well, let's not deprive auto gourmets of such joy. Moreover, in today's review, two cars will fight, which literally left for our virtual authoring, demanding recognition of their own merits. So let's find out who is better - Subaru Forester or.
Subaru Forester and Toyota Rav4 - Japanese SUVs from well-known manufacturers
Two from the casket
Many of you will rightly point out: finding out who is more competitive with Rav4 or Forester may turn out to be incorrect. It seems like these cars are from different classes. And at first glance, this is true.
Common features
But in fact, these Japanese have a lot in common. At least they are united (about 35 thousand dollars) and growing demand.
But they are similar in other criteria. For example, in both cars, you can find two-liter engines that are almost identical in power.
The same from the face
The Rav and Forester are also similar in appearance, despite the fact that the Forester is longer and lower, and the Rav is heavier. If you put the cars next to each other and look closely at their "faces", you understand - they are at least cousins brothers. So we are comparing who is cooler - Rav4 or Subaru Forester - on completely legal grounds.
| Car model: | Toyota RAV4 | Subaru forester |
| Manufacturer country: | Japan | Japan |
| Body type: | SUV | SUV |
| Number of places: | 5 | 5 |
| Number of doors: | 5 | 5 |
| Engine displacement, cubic meters cm: | 1987 | 1995 |
| Power, hp with. / about. min .: | 146/6200 | 150/6200 |
| Maximum speed, km / h: | 180 | 190 |
| Acceleration to 100 km / h, s: | 10,2 | 10,6 |
| Type of drive: | front | full |
| Checkpoint: | 6 automatic transmission | 6 manual transmission, automatic CVT art. |
| Fuel type: | gasoline AI-95 - AI-98 (RU) | petrol |
| Consumption per 100 km: | city 9.4; track 6,2 | city 8.5; track 6.0 |
| Length, mm: | 4570 | 4595 |
| Width, mm: | 1845 | 1795 |
| Height, mm: | 1660 | 1735 |
| Clearance, mm: | 197 | 220 |
| Tire size: | 225 / 65R17 | 225/60 R17 |
| Curb weight, kg: | 1540 | 1475 |
| Full weight, kg: | 2000 | 2015 |
| Volume fuel tank: | 60 | 60 |
"Forest" character
The Forester car is manufactured by Subaru. It appeared on our market back in the nineties. Naturally, the local drivers immediately renamed the car in their own way. "Forester" or "Forester" - such a nickname was given to this SUV as a result of translation original name from English to Russian. 
However, this name suits the machine not only because of the semantics. Car due to high ground clearance and is great for trips out of town, in the woods. By the way, the car acquired the pronounced qualities of a crossover only in the freshest variation. Initially, one could argue that there is more in Forester - the qualities of a passenger car or off-road stubbornness.
Rav - off-road ambition
Toyota Automobile Corporation (the largest in Japan) showed the world the Toyota Rav4 also in the early nineties. It immediately became clear that the Rafik was a special car. After all, until now, there was no “light accent”. Rav4 helped to give birth to the concept of SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle). And, perhaps, only with its appearance, motorists realized all the advantages of an SUV. 
In the two thousandth Toyota carried out a restyling of the car, and now we can consider the "Rafik" in updated colors. But its off-road ambitions are visible literally at first glance. At least the wheel on the rear door gives out the "jeep" habits of the Rav4.
The machine is characterized by a smooth ride with a high degree of cross-country ability, and also takes heart and good equipment.
Passion for the salon
Continuing the duel "Rav4 vs Forester"? Then let's take a look inside. And then there will be something to be surprised.
On board a starship
Have you ever been on board a starship? Get behind the wheel of the Rav and you will feel like a driver of an intergalactic unit. ... Modern technologies have gone through literally every corner of it. Buttons, screens, devices, displays ... Wow! 
At first, the eyes run up, so it's not so quick to figure out what's what. For example, the upper buttons on the center console are responsible for control. There are buttons for changing climatic conditions. The flaps for activating the seat heating function and are displayed separately. In general, it looks and functions really well.
Only on business
The forester, to be honest, cannot boast of such "minced meat". The salon has everything you need and familiar, but no frills. “Briefly and to the point” - apparently, the designers worked on this principle. But the classics also have a number of their advantages. Everything here is traditionally good and ergonomic, everything is at hand, nothing flickers, like a Christmas tree in New Year, and does not distract the driver from the road. 
In terms of roominess, the "Rafika" salon wins, which is higher and has a vertical seating position. Also, the rear sofa is regulated in this, so if necessary, you can move it and change the slope "for yourself".
Your luggage
What arguments will Forester present against the Rav4 when it comes to comparing the capacity of the luggage compartments? And no! They are not particularly needed here, since both cars are quite voluminous: Subaru - 390 liters, Toyota - 450. But in the first it is longer, and in the second it is higher.
By the way, both "Forester" and "Rafik" have underground in luggage compartments... Although, in general, there is more space in Toyota. Space saving is also achieved due to the fact that the spare wheel is mounted on the rear door. But loading is much more convenient in Forester, because the door opens upward, and not sideways, like in the "Rafik".
Another feature: when driving inside a Toyota, there is more noise than in a Subaru. Perhaps because of the thin wall between the passenger compartment and the luggage compartment.
Competition on the way
The competition "Subaru Forester vs Toyota Rav4" is interesting to watch. In the city and on the highway, both cars do not slow down and, on demand, quickly pick up speed... Ten seconds - and you are already on a hundred. As much as possible without any problems, both crossovers take 180-190 km / h.
Test drive a car Subaru Forester:
Cars do not skimp on successful maneuvers, which is a very big plus in city traffic conditions. They take turns playfully and do not think about when choosing the required driving intensity.
But everything is so smooth on the track. And how do Japanese SUVs behave on our bumps? Test drives show that cross-country ability is almost at the same level. And at a fairly good level. Cars do not climb, but literally jump over "hills". At the same time, driving on bumps in the cabin is almost imperceptible.
Test Drive Toyota car RAV4:
Cars react to driver commands without hesitation. True, off-road crossovers have difficulty overclocking. Here, picking up speed as quickly as on the track will not work.
Lives in the "heart" ... drive?
The "hearts" of both cars are also similar. In particular, the trim levels are presented for four cylinders. Although the engines still differ in the nature of the ride. At Forester, he is distinguished by drive and loves high speeds. On the other hand, the Rafik's motor is more designed for a measured driving style.
By the way, with greater dynamism, Subaru is less "gluttonous".
On the scales
So, the battle "Subaru Forester vs Toyota Rav4" is coming to an end. Let's draw the line. Choosing Forester or Rav4, you will not go wrong with any decision. Who will pull down, being on the scales, entirely depends only on your taste. In fact, the key difference between these cars lies in the brand of the manufacturer and the "stuffing" of the interior: Toyota employees have designed their Rav4 with great creativity.
Can two companies, whose annual sales turnover are incommensurable, offer a product that is equally interesting and equivalent in terms of its consumer characteristics?
After all, no one will deny that the small company Subaru by world standards, which produces a little more than half a million cars a year, in some market segments very successfully competes with the giant Toyota, which has long been considered automotive manufacturer number one in the world. Take the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester crossovers. On our roads, they are found equally often. But which one is better?
The RAV4 crossover was considered a women's car at all times. It just so happened that Toyota designers offered smooth lines and a calm appearance to motorists. Men did not seem very attractive to all this, but the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity liked it.
A man buying a RAV4 in Russia was considered, how to put it ... a little weird. Usually "rafik" was taken to the spouses, and the men continued to ride something more brutal. And finally, when working on the appearance of the latest generation Toyota RAV4, Toyota decided to make a real revolution. The feminine lines were replaced by sharp corners and pronounced edges. So from now on, the Toyota RAV4 is great not only for women, but also for men. No wonder the last behind the wheel of a Japanese crossover has recently become much more.
But the Forester in previous generations was definitely a man's car. Precisely not youthful, but confidently masculine. With its ego and testosterone charge. And now even more so. And you can't say that Forester impresses with some bright or aggressive solutions. Not at all. His Japanese-style appearance is restrained. For the sake of economy appearance Was “subarika” always quite ascetic? I doubt it ... Keep in mind that currently the cost of the "forester" starts from 1.6 million rubles, and in a good configuration it goes for 2 million. Yes, the price is not happy, but the car itself pleases the owners - it is still produced in Japan. The buzz of Subaru in drive and reliability, in the same quality from year to year. Yes, and of course, in terms of durability - Rav4 and Forester breathe "head to head."
In the restraint of Subaru, literally from the very first seconds of acquaintance with the Japanese crossover, one can feel strength and confidence. V lineup Subaru - The Subaru Forester is an iconic model. It is iconic in terms of daily use and versatility (this is not a WRX for you to drive without a family and jump over bumps). Forike is easy to drive. Drive everywhere without worrying about the road surface. Yes, this is not a full-fledged off-road vehicle, but how often do you go on a plow with your family? Potential Subaru Forester buyers will be pleased to hear that the crossover has been updated a bit this year. Here are just external differences from the "pre-styling" model is difficult to find.
What has changed? The "skirt" of the bumper has changed - there are lower gray plastic insertion lines near the fog lights. Slightly changed the lines of the head light with LED edging. Plus a little changed the radiator grille. It should be noted that Subaru is equipped with an excellent LED head light, which pleases the eye in dark time days and in bad weather. At the back, the lanterns remain of the old form, but their filling has changed "cosmetically". The feed has remained the same, but the design of alloy wheels has been updated, which, although controversial from the point of view of borrowing from Korean "brothers", looks very organic with the rest of the car.
There are differences inside too. They are also minor. Most Forester buyers have complained that the car's interior looks painfully modest. That is why, during the update, the Japanese tried to make it more interesting. As a result, the Forester has got a new three-spoke steering wheel and silver trimmed air ducts. The first thing you notice is the new screen of the multimedia system with an abundance of black lacquer details around. I must say that the quality of graphics and multimedia content leaves much to be desired ...
Not to say that the above changes radically transformed the interior of the "forester", but it looked really nicer, although it retained its asceticism. As for the convenience of using the controls and ergonomics in general, the Subaru Forester had no problems with this before. Questions are only raised by the picture quality of the rear-view camera and the complete absence of parking sensors (front and rear). Why they are not there is a mystery of the century. Perhaps because the "blondes" do not buy this "device", and the others simply do not need it due to the first-class visibility.
Finally, Subaru has a heated steering wheel! In the interior options, there is a traditional heated front and rear seats (dual-band), and also (in our configuration) there was a memory function for two positions for the driver's seat. There is a retractable armrest in the cabin, two USB and one AUX connectors. The dashboard remained in the old style, probably because it did not cause any complaints from anyone. Perforated leather handles and lacquered black inserts appeared on the doors. Still, the inside of the car has become more modern, although not pretentious. The designers did not follow the path of a revolutionary change in corporate identity.
Toyota RAV4 inside is different. While the Forester's center console is a simple vertical plane, Toyota uses a much more interesting two-story architecture. Nice and stylish steering wheel with three spokes. However, the Subaru Forester is no worse. Both Japanese crossovers are at about the same level in terms of the quality of finishing materials. If desired, hard plastic can be found in each of the cars. So the volume of production is in volume, but so far we have to admit that both crossovers are very worthy rivals of each other.
The rear of the Toyota RAV4 has plenty of room. Even for those passengers whose height is close to two meters, the second row of seats in a Japanese crossover will be quite comfortable. The situation is exactly the same in the rear seats of the Subaru Forester. A tall man is quietly sitting on the back sofa and does not feel any discomfort. For children, this is a "playroom" at all. And there is nothing surprising in this, since both crossovers differ in their dimensions by literally a couple of centimeters. The Toyota RAV4 is 4570mm long, while the Forester is just 25mm longer. But in terms of trunk volume, the Toyota RAV4 is several tens of liters ahead - 547 liters versus 505 for Subaru. Subaru's trunk will be enough for you, besides, it is very comfortable, and backdoor equipped with an electric drive. The Toyota RAV4 will take the lead even when the rear seat backs are folded down. Although in this case it is hardly possible to notice the difference with the naked eye. In Subaru, the luggage compartment will increase to 1,577 liters, and in the RAV4, approximately 30 liters more will be reserved for things. Also, Subaru has factory dark tinted “behind”, which adds a little coziness to the “inhabitants” of the rear row of seats.
Basic versions of the Japanese crossovers will have a two-liter gasoline engine under the hood, which in the case of Subaru will develop 150 Horse power, and in the case of Toyota RAV4 it is 4 "horses" less. That's just if the most affordable Toyota will have mechanical box After the upgrade, Subaru Forester does not offer "mechanics" for its customers in principle after the upgrade to gear changes and drive only to the front wheels. As well as front-wheel drive... CVT only and AWD only - Signature symmetrical AWD with optional x-mode off-road capability. It is he who gives a feeling of confidence and security. However, as is often the case, there is one small catch. Subaru is more expensive. The base Forester costs the same as a Toyota RAV4 with CVT and AWD. And now the comparison between the two crossovers seems quite correct. In addition, it is these versions that are most popular in our market.
Both vehicles come with four-wheel drive. The only difference is that the RAV4 has an automatic transmission and the Forester has a CVT. We had a Forester on the test with naturally aspirated engine volume of 2.5 liters, consuming only 8 real liters per 100 km. mileage, while the Toyota RAV4 will burn 11.4 liters. Subaru has a very good torque, the car behaves briskly on the road and in the stream you do not feel "cottoniness" even with a CVT. It should be noted that the "forik" has a very comfortable suspension, which swallows all the irregularities and flaws of domestic highways and field directions. The RAV4 is still more tight and more urban. Under the hood of Subaru, everything is simple and "open" for repair (there are no plastic plates). Everything is clear and concise.
For fans of Subaru Forester, there are three engine options on the market: 2-liter 150 hp, 2.5 liters. 171 h.p. and a 2-liter turbocharged 241 hp. and that is all. Diesel power units in our market are not offered. Still, 2.5 liters is the best choice for most consumers. But "Toyota" dared to offer another interesting option in our country - a diesel crossover, the engine of which, with a volume of 2.2 liters, develops 150 horsepower. Now attention! WITH diesel engine the Japanese crossover gains the first hundred kilometers per hour in exactly 10 seconds, and with the same power gasoline Toyota engine The RAV4 does the same exercise in 11.3 seconds. That is, the diesel crossover outright wins in dynamics over the gasoline version of the same power. Including the maximum speed - 185 versus 180 kilometers per hour. So call diesel cars sluggish after that.
In motion, both crossovers delight with behavior that is absolutely predictable in any conditions. The only difference is that the Subaru Forester is more geared towards gambling driving (the car accelerates very quickly), while Toyota engineers rely on comfort when adjusting the suspension and steering of the RAV4. The steering in it is slightly less informative and is in no hurry to convey to the driver absolutely all the information about what is happening with the car. And this is quite consistent with the image inherent in the cars of each brand. Toyota is calmness behind the wheel and the notorious Japanese reliability, Subaru - cars with "pepper", fanned with the glory of past sporting victories. Although Subaru has excellent soundproofing and you cannot say at all that it is sport car... Rather, he is still a family one. If you drive a car calmly, then "forik" behaves quite comfortably.
How to summarize our comparative test? Both cars have evolved for the sake of time, but have not changed their "niches" in the market. The RAV4 has become a little less feminine and elegant, and Subaru continues to delight men. Price tags have grown significantly in parallel with the improvement of tactical and technical characteristics. It is difficult to choose an unambiguous leader - both Japanese are good. As the saying goes, "there are no comrades for taste and color." Buy both cars for your family and rejoice depending on their mood different characters feeling inside the cabin security, comfort and reliability!
Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester are considered vehicles from different classes. Having carried out their comparative test, we are ready to convince you otherwise.
The closer the day of the benchmarking test got, the more often we encountered misunderstandings from those who knew about it. Some tried to dissuade us, others twisted their fingers at their temples, others considered it a gamble. But none of the opponents of the event was able to clearly define why these two cars cannot be compared. The reasons were different, but not one convinced us. On the contrary, the determination to accomplish what was planned became stronger and stronger. And that day has come.
This time everything has grown together as well as possible. The comparison turned out to be absolutely correct. Both cars were about the same price, on the order of $ 35-000. They had 2.0-liter engines similar in volume. They were about the same length: the Forester is 11 centimeters longer than the RAV4. And the wheelbase is similar: Toyota has 3.5 centimeters more distance between the axles. The only difference was in curb weight: the RAV4 (it looks more massive) is 95 kilograms heavier than the Forester in curb condition. In general, even before we started running trials, we already understood that these two cars are the same.
They turned out to be the same externally. Of course, the RAV4 is a little taller, because of which the profile of the cars naturally differs, but as soon as they stood side by side, it became clear that they practically have the same face. At first, we were even taken aback: we had not seen such similarities in cars of different brands for a long time. That's what it means to put two cars side by side! But the most interesting was ahead.
To begin with, we compared the cars from the inside. The first was the RAV4. Press the key on the door handle (label, and this is how you can now call the key fob, which allows you to do without a key, is in your pocket), it works central locking, and ... we are discovering the world of high technologies. Hi-tech all around, from the instrument panel to the center console. The impression is strong. The abundance of keys, displays, aluminum inserts and bizarre shapes is striking. At first, it is generally difficult to figure out what is what and what is responsible for what. After a while, you begin to understand that the upper row of the center console is reserved exclusively for the audio system, the lower tier is the air conditioning system, and even lower - additional keys for controlling the heated seats, the system for activating the assistance when descending from the mountain (there is one) and heated wipers. But all this, we repeat, does not immediately fit in my head. I was surprised that the button used to switch the readings trip computer, is located directly on the instrument panel. Passing your hand through the steering wheel is not very handy. And if during parking it is simply inconvenient, then while driving it is dangerous. In general, the dashboard and instrument panel on the RAV4 are insanely interesting in terms of design.
Forester is, of course, more modest in this respect. There is no such a riot of imagination here, but the salon is not deprived of style. Classics are always classics. It is understandable, comfortable, beautiful, especially if it is made of materials of the appropriate quality. Everything is simple and clear here. Everything is in its place, and there is no need to be distracted from the road in order to understand where, say, a knob is located, with which you can decrease or increase the blowing temperature. A quick glance - and the hand is already where it is needed.
Both the first and the second car have plenty of space in the salons, however, in the RAV4 there is more of it due to a more vertical landing (in this regard, by the way, it is higher), in addition, the rear row of seats is also adjustable here: you can move the seats forward or change the backrest tilt and get comfortable with great comfort... The second row of Forester seats does not have such a wide range of customization options, but even here you can have a pleasant time on a long trip.
As for the trunks, they are almost equal in volume, with the only difference that the Forester has it stretched in length, and in the RAV4 it is in height. Subaru can absorb 390 liters, and Toyota 450, however, provided that the second-row seats are moved closer to the front. If they are pushed back as much as possible, the cargo volume is reduced by 50 liters. The loading height is also approximately at the same level, but it is still more convenient to load and unload things in the Forester. The fact is that its fifth door opens upwards, while in the RAV4 it opens to the side, and in the direction of the sidewalk. This means that in order to put something in the car from the side of the road, you have to bypass the door. Such is the "legacy" of the right-hand drive.
And on the move, the cars showed similar characters. Toyota is noisier than Forester, and this noise comes not only from the engine, but also from the wheel arches, which is strange: we drove the previous generation RAV4 more than once and did not remember such a phenomenon. Apparently, the reason is precisely in the possibilities of adjusting the position of the rear seats. Between the backrest and the pillar, you can easily slip your hand into the trunk, so that the backrest is not an obstacle to the noise coming from the luggage compartment. In the Forester, the trunk is reliably insulated by the seat back and curtain, and the sound from the rear wheel arches is almost inaudible.
Both Toyota and Subaru, without much effort, gained a “hundred” in twelve seconds, and just as, without straining, they could easily keep a sufficiently high speed. By the way, according to the passport for both cars maximum speed equal to 170 km / h with a tail. The handling of cars on a suburban highway is approximately at the same level, the RAV4 is somewhat sharper.
However, we were more interested in the off-road section of the run. Moreover, unlike the Subaru Forester, the Toyota RAV4 allows you to hard block center differential, which means that her cross-country ability should be much better. It should, but, as reality has shown, it turned out to be not much better. In any case, any stretch that Toyota passed, Subaru passed just as easily and naturally. Except that when the lock was on, Toyota was a little easier to remove from a place. And so ...
In general, as our test has shown, these two cars can be safely put on the scales when choosing. And in which direction there will be an advantage depends solely on your personal predilections for one or another Japanese brand.
Specifications Toyota RAV4 // Subaru Forester
Curb weight, kg - 1505 // 1410
Full weight, kg - 2110 // 1685
Dimensions, mm:
- length - 4395 // 4485
- width - 1815 // 1735
- height - 1685 // 1590
Base, mm - 2560 // 2525
Trunk volume, l - 450 // 390
Maximum speed, km / h - 175 // 178
Acceleration time to 100 km / h, s - 12.0 // 11.9
Control fuel consumption (combined cycle), l / 100 km - 9.1 // 7.7
Fuel tank volume, l - 60 // 50
Engine:
- type - in-line, 4-cylinder. // opposed, 4-cylinder.
- working volume, cm3 - 1998 // 1994
- power, h.p. at min-1 - 152/6000 // 158/5600
- torque, Nm at min-1 - 195/4000 // 186/4400
Transmission - automatic, 4-speed
Tire size - 205 / 70R16 // 215 / 60R16
Wheel suspension (front and rear) - independent
Brakes (front / rear) - disc, ventilated / disc
Steering - pinion-rack, with power steering
Price, $ - 37 800 // 36 930.
Advantages and disadvantages
Toyota RAV4
+ High-torque motor, blocking in the center differential.
- Insufficient sound insulation, complex center console.
Subaru forester
+ Power mode for automatic transmission, symmetrical four-wheel drive, good noise insulation.
- Lack of adjustments in the rear row of seats.
Who has won?
All other things being equal, both of these cars are capable of satisfying the ambitions that a potential buyer has. The only difference is that the Toyota RAV4 is a completely new car, and the Subaru Forester is a restyling of the 2002 model. What exactly to choose depends only on your preferences for this or that brand.
The 2018 New York Auto Show is in full swing and all the major new items seem to be on show. It is worth noting that once again we have witnessed how one of the main world auto events of the year passed under the constellation of the SUV class, and two big premieres in the near future will have the most direct impact on car market Russia. We are talking about the fifth generations and are bitter competitors for the hearts of buyers in the segment of compact crossovers.
The outgoing RAV4 was without a doubt a very tolerant car. No sharp corners, no strong statements, no conflicting decisions - there was nothing like that in him. He simply had to be liked by everyone and no one at the same time. Nevertheless, such a positioning "for everyone", generously flavored with the necessary modern chips, has borne fruit - only overseas in 2017 it was sold under 400 thousand "Rafiks", which made the model one of the most popular in the world in principle.
In the opposite corner of the ring is the Subaru Forester - a car for those who know for sure what exactly Subaru and Forester wants. A very specific proposal with all the pros and cons, which, nevertheless, are always known in advance. Forester did not hold any surprises, remaining the choice of practicality and off-road enthusiasts in a compact body. "Oppositors" Japanese company have never been considered a model of reliability, but the traditional symmetrical four-wheel drive has won many adherents.
2019 Toyota RAV4 Revolution
With the new generation of the 2019 RAV4 crossover, Toyota has decided to revolutionize the world by shaking up the foundations on which the model's long-standing popularity has been based. If earlier the appearance of the car was neutral with a bias towards femininity, now this is a very brutal proposal in the spirit of American Toyota 4Runner and Tacoma. “Be a man - buy a RAV4”, it seems that this slogan is now best suited for the advertising campaign of the novelty.
In this case, it was the message, the excessive aggressiveness in the “look” that gave the crossover a lack of charisma, although we cannot unequivocally state the beauty of such a design. Obviously, not everyone (and not everyone) will like it. Nevertheless, our applause to the developers for their courage, and we hope that this does not turn out to be recklessness. The entire body of the new 2019 Toyota RAV4 looks like it had just been cut out of a single piece of granite, and even not with the sharpest tool.
2019 Subaru Forester Evolution
"The main thing, guys, is not to grow old at heart!" - heard the engineers of Subaru and immediately spit on these wise words of the "taiga" song performed by Eduard Gil. The developers decided to leave the heart-motor from the previous generation to the crossover and, apparently, this completely reshaped the work of the design department, which rushed to tighten old design 4 generations for a completely new and truly modern SGP architecture.
Of course, here and there, if you look closely, you can see that the appearance of the Subaru Forester 2019 is different from its predecessor. But these differences are so insignificant that they will not do honor to another restyling. It should not be hidden that we, and many loyal Subaru lovers, too, this tradition, to put it mildly, puzzled, and some frankly disappointed - well, you can't be so careful!
2.5 liters for two
Both the 2019 RAV4 and the 2019 Forester - both will be sold with 2.5-liter 4-cylinder "aspirated", "in-line" and "boxer", respectively. Naturally, this does not mean that they are the same, but it is very indicative in terms of the target audience of crossovers, which is one and the same - orthodox fans of reliable engines, without any "turbo whistles" there. The engine power of "Lesnik" is 182 hp, while that of "Rafik" - 203 hp. (the last figure was not officially confirmed, but in new Camry the return of this motor is as follows).
Salon
If I look into the salons of both models, we can note the similarity of their architecture, with the only difference that the RAV4 has a multimedia system display above the front panel, while the Forester has it built into it. Also, if you look at both interiors long enough, it might seem that the interior design of Subaru is a little more daring, not shy about playing with shapes, transitions, a combination of sharp corners and planes. In Toyota, everything is much more straightforward, plus this "cushion" on the steering wheel ...
Who is who in the end?
The decision, of course, will have to the buyer, that is, you. What crossover should you spend your hard-earned money on, who should you give preference to? We'd love to see your ideas in the comments section below!
