Welcome to Dude Said, Punk Said — a special series devoted to skewering the automotive ramblings of young punk Nick Tragianis with the infinite wisdom of old dude Brian Harper. This week, the duo see just how far the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4, two vehicles that arguably kickstarted the crossover segment, evolved over the course of two decades. Brian Harper: Gearheads might think Camaro versus Mustang or Porsche 911 versus Corvette are epic throwdowns, And, from a historical standpoint, they’d be right. But, these days, with the proliferation of crossovers on the automotive landscape, Toyota’s RAV4 versus the Subaru Forester is an ideal comparison. Think about it, more than 20 years ago the first-generation versions of both of these models, along with the Honda CR-V, were the originators of what is now a very full and very competitive compact crossover segment. And our two combatants are very evenly matched in size, powertrain, pricing and intent. In one corner, the topline Limited version of new, fifth-generation RAV4 ($40,945 as-tested). In the other corner, the equally new, loaded, Forester Premier ($39,495 as-tested), also the fifth generation. I’m sensing a very close battle here. Nick Tragianis: This isn’t going to be a runaway victory for either the RAV4 or Forester, I can tell you that much. Let’s start with the Subaru — on paper, the Forester is familiar. It’s still powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer engine, sending power to all four wheels (of course) through a CVT. But the engine is new for 2019; now direct-injected and equipped with an automatic start/stop system, it pumps out 182 horsepower and 176 lb.-ft. of torque. The good news is, it’s an efficient unit, officially rated at 9.0 L/100 kilometres in the city and 7.2 on the highway. For the record, the trip computer settled at 8.8 over our week with the Forester. But the bad news is, the 2.5 is now the only engine offered. Pour one out for the Forester XT because you can’t get a turbo anymore. Disappointing for sure, but the 2.5 is peppy enough — OK, it doesn’t accelerate with the same vigor as the previous-gen XT, but it doesn’t break a sweat on the highway. The CVT also does a fine job of mitigating that “motorboating” sensation under hard acceleration. Subaru has even seen fit to do away with its hypersensitive throttle pedal, so it’s now quite well behaved and smooth in the city. Speaking of smooth, the Forester rides incredibly well. I was blown away by the Crosstrek’s ride quality when we pitched it against the Kona, and the Forester is more of the same. It soaks up bumps and rough pavement — and manages road and wind noise — in ways that belie its price tag. Not that the RAV4 is any rougher. BH: No, it’s not. One of the things I really like about the Canadian-built RAV4 is its ride quality. It’s firm without being harsh over rougher pavement. It helps that the new RAV4’s unibody structure is 57 per cent more rigid than the previous model, providing a stronger foundation for the front strut and rear multi-link suspension. And that’s on top of a very quiet cabin. Unfortunately, said quiet exposes the one disappointing feature of the high-compression, 203-hp Dynamic Force 2.5L four-cylinder. And that would be a rather discordant growl when the Toyota is under heavier load, such as passing acceleration or when climbing steep inclines. That said, under light acceleration or at cruising speeds it’s as smooth an engine as most crossovers in the RAV4’s class and, let’s face it, Subaru’s boxer engines have never been known for whisper-like operation. Another plus is the RAV4’s eight-speed automatic transmission, which makes excellent use of the 2.5L’s power. Not that anybody is taking these two to the dragstrip, but the RAV4 (its 203-hp engine significantly up on power from the previous generation’s 179) is almost a full second quicker to 100 kilometres an hour than the Forester. I will grant the Forester one solid “attaboy,” though: Considering there’s just a 12-kilogram difference in weight between the two, the Subaru felt much lighter and livelier in the curves and turns. Now, when it comes to styling, I think you’ll have to agree that normally conservative Toyota’s decision to blend design elements of its pickups into the RAV4’s new sheet metal is a bold one. Yes? <img src="/uploads/img/road-test/33-suv-comparison-2019-subaru-forester-vs-2019-toyota-rav4.jpg" alt="SUV Comparison: 2019 Subaru Forester vs. 2019
Origin: SUV Comparison: 2019 Subaru Forester vs. 2019 Toyota RAV4