Can two companies, whose annual sales turnover is incommensurable, offer a product that is equally interesting and equivalent in terms of its consumer characteristics?

After all, no one will deny that small by world standards Subaru, which produces a little over half a million vehicles a year, competes quite successfully in some market segments with the giant Toyota, which has long been considered car manufacturer number one in the world. Take at least Toyota RAV4 crossovers and Subaru Forester. On our roads they are equally common. But which one is better?

The RAV4 crossover has always been considered female car. It just so happened that Toyota designers offered motorists smooth lines and a calm appearance. All this seemed not very attractive to men, but the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity liked it.

A man buying a RAV4 in Russia was considered, how can I put it ... a little strange. Usually "rafik" was taken to the spouses, and the men continued to ride on something more brutal. And finally, while working on Toyota's appearance RAV4 of the latest generation, "Toyota" decided on a real revolution. Feminine lines have been replaced by sharp corners and pronounced edges. So from now on, Toyota RAV4 is perfect not only for women, but also for men. No wonder the latter behind the wheel of a Japanese crossover has recently become much more.

But Forester in previous generations was definitely male car. It is not youthful, but confidently masculine. With your ego and testosterone boost. And now even more so. And it's not to say that Forester impresses with some bright or aggressive solutions. Not at all. His appearance is Japanese restrained. For the sake of economy appearance"Subarika" was always quite ascetic? I doubt it ... Keep in mind that at present the cost of a "forester" starts from 1.6 million rubles, and in a good configuration it costs 2 million. Yes, the price does not please, but the car itself pleases the owners - it is still produced in Japan. The thrill of Subaru is in drive and reliability, in the same quality from year to year. Yes, and of course, in terms of durability - Rav4 and Forester breathe "nostril to nostril".

In Subaru's restraint, literally from the very first seconds of acquaintance with the Japanese crossover, strength and confidence are felt. IN model range Subaru - The Subaru Forester is an iconic model. It's iconic in terms of daily use and versatility (it's not a WRX for you to drive without your family and jump over bumps). On the "forik" just comfortable to ride. Ride everywhere and not think about the road surface. Yes, this is not a full-fledged SUV, but how often do they climb to the “plowing” with their family? Potential Subaru Forester buyers will be pleased to hear that this year's crossover has been updated a bit. That's just external differences from the "pre-styling" model is difficult to find.

What has changed? The "skirt" of the bumper has changed - lower gray plastic insert lines near the fog lights have appeared. The lines of the head light with LED edging have changed slightly. Plus a little changed the grille. It should be noted that Subaru is equipped with an excellent LED head light, which pleases the eye in the dark and in bad weather. At the back, the lanterns remained of the old form, but their content has changed “cosmetically”. The stern remained the same, but the design of the wheel alloy wheels, which, although controversial in terms of borrowing from the Korean "brothers", looks very organic with the rest of the car.

There are differences inside as well. They are also minor. Most Forester buyers have complained that the interior of the car looks too modest. That is why during the update the Japanese tried to make it more interesting. As a result, Forester got a new three-spoke steering wheel and silver edging air ducts. The first thing you notice is the new screen 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 really looked prettier, although it retained its austerity. As for the ease of use of controls and ergonomics in general, the Subaru Forester had no problems with this before. The only questions are the quality of the picture 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 "blondes" do not buy this "device", and the rest simply do not need this due to first-class visibility.

Finally, Subaru has a heated steering wheel! The interior options include traditional heating of the 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 instrument panel remained in the old style, probably because it did not cause any complaints. Perforated leather handles and black lacquer inserts appeared on the doors. Still, inside the car has become more modern, though not pretentious. Designers didn't follow the path revolutionary change corporate style.

Toyota RAV4 is different inside. If in Forester the center console is a simple vertical plane, then in Toyota a much more interesting two-story architecture is used. Good and stylish steering wheel with three spokes. However, the Subaru Forester is no worse. Both Japanese crossovers are approximately at 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 volumes of production are volumes, but so far we have to admit that both crossovers are very worthy rivals to each other.

There is plenty of space in the back of the Toyota RAV4. Even those passengers whose height is close to two meters will be quite comfortable on the second row of seats in a Japanese crossover. The situation is absolutely the same in the rear seats of the Subaru Forester. A tall man calmly sits on the back sofa and does not experience 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 just a couple of centimeters. The Toyota RAV4 is 4570mm long, while the Forester is just 25mm longer. But in terms of trunk volume, 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 convenient, and the tailgate is equipped with an electric drive. Toyota RAV4 will be in the lead even if the rear seatbacks are folded down. Although in this case, it is unlikely that it will be possible to notice the difference with the naked eye. The Subaru will increase the luggage compartment to 1577 liters, while the RAV4 will have about 30 liters more for things. Subaru also has a factory dark tint on the back, adding to the “inhabitants” back row seats a little comfort.

The basic versions of 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 the Toyota RAV4, 4 "horses" less. But if the most affordable Toyota will have a manual gearbox and drive only to the front wheels, then the Subaru Forester after the update does not offer “mechanics” for its customers in principle. The same as front-wheel drive. Only CVT and only all-wheel drive - proprietary symmetrical all-wheel drive with an additional x-mode off-road function. It gives a feeling of confidence and security. However, as is often the case, there is one small snag. Subaru is more expensive. The base Forester costs the same as a Toyota RAV4 with a CVT and all-wheel drive. And now the comparison between the two crossovers seems quite correct. In addition, these versions are the most popular in our market.

Both cars come with all-wheel drive. The only difference is that the RAV4 has an automatic, while the Forester has a CVT. We tested a Forester with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine that consumes only 8 real liters per 100 km. mileage, while the Toyota RAV4 will already burn 11.4 liters. Subaru has very good torque, the car behaves cheerfully on the road and in the stream you don’t feel “wobbly” even with a CVT. It should be noted that the "forik" has a very comfortable suspension, which swallows all the bumps and flaws of domestic highways and field directions. RAV4 is still more clamped and more designed for the city. Under the hood of the Subaru, everything is simple and “open” for repairs (there are no plastic plates). Everything is clear and concise.

For fans of the Subaru Forester, three engine options are offered on the market: a 2-liter 150 hp, 2.5 liter. 171 HP 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" ventured to offer in our country another interesting option - a diesel crossover, the engine of which, with a volume of 2.2 liters, develops 150 horsepower. And now attention! FROM diesel engine japanese crossover gains the first hundred kilometers per hour in exactly 10 seconds, and with the same power gasoline engine Toyota RAV4 does the same exercise in 11.3 seconds. That is, the diesel crossover outright wins in terms of dynamics from the gasoline version identical in power. Including the maximum speed - 185 against 180 kilometers per hour. So call after that diesel cars sluggards.

In motion, both crossovers delight with absolutely predictable behavior in any conditions. The only difference is that the Subaru Forester is more tailored for gambling driving (the car accelerates very quickly), and Toyota engineers relied on comfort when setting up the suspension and steering of the RAV4. Steering it has a little less information content 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 peace of mind behind the wheel and the notorious Japanese reliability, Subaru is cars with “pepper”, covered with the glory of past sports victories. Although Subaru has excellent sound insulation and you can’t say at all that it is sport car. Rather, he is still family. If you drive a car calmly, then the “forik” behaves quite comfortably.

How can we sum up our comparative test? Both cars have evolved for the sake of time, but have not changed their "niche" in the market. 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 performance characteristics. It is difficult to choose a clear leader - both Japanese are good. As the saying goes, "there are no comrades for the taste and color." Buy both cars in the family and rejoice depending on their mood different characters feeling inside the cabin security, comfort and reliability!

Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester are considered cars from different classes. After conducting their comparison test, we are ready to convince you otherwise.

The closer the day of the comparative test came, the more often we encountered misunderstanding from those who knew about it. Some tried to dissuade us, others twisted their fingers to their heads, others considered it a gamble. But none of the opponents of the event was able to clearly define why the two cars cannot be compared. The arguments were different, but none convinced us. On the contrary, the determination to carry out the plan became stronger and stronger. And that day has come.

This time everything worked out perfectly. The comparison turned out to be absolutely correct. Both cars were about the same cost, about 35-000 dollars. They had similar in volume 2.0-liter engines. They were about the same length: Forester is 11 centimeters longer than RAV4. Yes, and the wheelbase is similar: Toyota has a distance between the axles of 3.5 centimeters more. The difference was only in the curb weight: the RAV4 (it also looks more massive) is 95 kilograms heavier than the Forester in curb condition. In general, even before we started sea trials, we already understood that these two cars are the same.

They were the same in appearance. Of course, the RAV4 is slightly taller, which naturally makes the profile of the cars different, but as soon as they stood side by side, it became clear that they practically had the same face. At first, we were even taken aback: to see such a similarity in cars different brands have not had to 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. We press the key on the door handle (the 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 discover the world high technology. 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 amazing. At first, it is generally difficult to figure out what is what and what is responsible for what. After some time, 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 are the additional control keys for seat heating, the downhill assist activation system (there is one) and heated wipers. But all this, we repeat, does not fit in the head right away. I was surprised that the button with which the indications are switched trip computer, located directly on the instrument panel. Passing a hand through the steering wheel is not very handy. And if during parking it is simply inconvenient, then it is dangerous while driving. In general, the dashboard and instrument panel on the RAV4 are insanely interesting in terms of design.

Forester in this regard, of course, is more modest. There is no such riot of fantasy here, but the salon is not deprived of style. Classic is always classic. It is understandable, comfortable, beautiful, especially if it is made of materials of appropriate quality. Everything is simple and clear here. Everything is in its place, and there is no need to look away from the road to understand where, say, a knob is located, with which you can reduce or increase the blowing temperature. A short glance - and the hand is already where it needs to be.

Both the first and the second car have plenty of space in the cabins, but in the RAV4 there is more of it due to a more vertical landing (in this regard, by the way, it is higher), besides, the rear row of seats is also adjustable here: you can move the seats forward or change the inclination of the backrest and settle in more comfortably. The Forester's second row of seats doesn't have as much customization options, but it's still nice to have on a long trip.

As for the trunks, they are almost equal in volume, with the only difference being that the Forester has it extended in length, while the RAV4 has it 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 moved back as much as possible, the cargo volume decreases by 50 liters. The loading height is also approximately the same level, however, it is still more convenient to load and unload things in the Forester. The fact is that its fifth door opens up, while the RAV4 opens to the side, and towards the sidewalk. This means that in order to put something into 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 wheel arches, which is strange: we have driven a RAV4 more than once previous generation and such a phenomenon was not remembered. Apparently, the reason is precisely in the possibilities of adjusting the position of the rear seats. Between the seatback and the pillar, you can quite easily put your hand into the trunk, so that the backrest is not an obstacle to the noise coming from luggage compartment. In the Forester, the trunk is securely 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, without straining, could easily keep a fairly high speed. By the way, according to the passport of both cars maximum speed is equal to 170 km / h with a tail. The handling of cars on a country road is about the same level, RAV4 is somewhat sharper.

However, we were more interested in the off-road section of the run. Moreover, unlike the Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 allows you to rigidly lock the center differential, which means that its 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 section that was overcome by Toyota, Subaru passed just as easily and naturally. Unless with the lock turned on, Toyota was a little easier to take off. And so...

In general, as our test showed, these two cars can be safely put on the scales when choosing. And in which direction there will be an advantage, it depends solely on your personal preferences for one or another Japanese brand.

Technical Toyota specifications RAV4 // Subaru Forester

Curb weight, kg - 1505 // 1410
Gross 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
Volume fuel tank, l – 60 // 50
Engine:
- type - in-line, 4-cylinder. // boxer, 4-cyl.
- 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 - rack and pinion, with power steering
Price, $ - 37,800 // 36,930.

Advantages and disadvantages

Toyota RAV4
+ High-torque motor, locking in the center differential.
– Insufficient soundproofing, complex center console.

Subaru Forester
+ Power mode for automatic transmission, symmetrical all-wheel drive, good sound insulation.
- Lack of adjustment in the rear row of seats.

Who has won?

Other things being equal, both of these cars are able to satisfy 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 a 2002 car. What exactly to choose depends only on your preferences for one or another brand.

The 2018 New York Auto Show is in full swing and all the major new items seem to be on display. It is worth noting that once again we have witnessed how one of the world's main 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 automotive market Russia. We are talking about the fifth generation and, which are the worst competitors for the hearts of buyers in the compact crossover segment.

The outgoing version of the RAV4 was, without a doubt, a very "tolerant" car. No sharp corners, no strong statements, no controversial decisions - there was nothing like that in it. He simply had to please everyone and no one at the same time. Nevertheless, such positioning “for everyone”, generously flavored with the necessary modern features, has borne fruit - only overseas in 2017 it was sold for 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 exactly what Subaru and the Forester want. A very specific offer with all the pluses and minuses, which, however, are always known in advance. The Forester held no surprises, remaining the choice of practicality and off-road enthusiasts in a compact body. "opposers" Japanese company have never been considered a model of reliability, but the traditional symmetrical four-wheel drive has won many adherents.

Revolution Toyota RAV4 2019

With the new generation of the RAV4 crossover 2019 model year Toyota decided to make a real revolution, shaking up the foundations on which the long-term popularity of the model was 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 the American Toyota 4Runner and Tacoma. “Be a man - buy a RAV4”, it seems that such a slogan is now best suited for an advertising campaign for new items.

In this case, it was the message, the excessive aggressiveness in the “look” that gave the crossover the missing charisma, although we cannot unequivocally declare the beauty of such a design. It is clearly not for everyone (and not everyone). And yet, our applause to the developers for their courage and we hope that this does not turn out to be reckless. The entire body of the new Toyota RAV4 2019 looks like it was just cut out of a single piece of granite, and not the sharpest tool.

Evolution Subaru Forester 2019

“The main thing, guys, is not to grow old with your heart!” - Subaru engineers heard and immediately spit on these wise words of the "taiga" song performed by Eduard Khil. The developers decided to leave the heart-motor crossover from the previous generation and, apparently, this completely reshaped the work of the design department, which rushed to pull the old 4th generation design onto a completely new and really modern SGP architecture.

Of course, here and there, if you look closely, you can see that the appearance of the 2019 Subaru Forester is different from its predecessor. But these differences are so insignificant that they will not do honor to other restyling. It should not be hidden that we, and many devoted Subaru lovers too, were puzzled by such traditionalism, to put it mildly, and frankly disappointed others - well, you can’t be so careful!

2.5 liters for two

Like RAV4 2019, like Forester 2019, both will be sold with 2.5-liter 4-cylinder “aspirated”, “row” and “boxer”, respectively. Naturally, this does not mean that they are the same, but it is very significant in terms of target audience crossovers, which is the same - orthodox fans of reliable engines, without any "turbo whistles" there. The engine power of the Lesnik is 182 hp, while that of the Rafik is 203 hp. (officially the last figure has not been confirmed, but in new Camry the output of this motor is such).

Salon

Looking into the interiors of both models, one can note the similarity of their architecture, with the only difference that the RAV4 display of the multimedia system is placed above the front panel, while the Forester has it built into it. Also, if you look at both interiors long enough, it may seem that Subaru's cabin design is a little more daring, not embarrassed to play with shapes, transitions, a combination of sharp corners and planes. At Toyota, things are much more straightforward, plus that cushion on the steering wheel…

Who is who in the end?

Of course, the buyer will have to decide, that is, you. Which crossover to spend your hard-earned money on, which one to give preference to? We'd love to see your ideas in the comments section below!

Experienced motorists paraphrase well-known wisdom in this way: “You can spend hours looking at three things: how fire burns, how water flows, and ... how two dashing Japanese SUVs sort things out.” Well, let's not deprive autogourmets of such joy. Moreover, in today's review, two cars will fight, which literally went to our virtual authoring themselves, 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 chest

Many of you will rightly point out that finding out who is more competitive than Rav4 or Forester may not be correct. 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 respects as well. For example, in both cars you can find two-liter engines that are almost identical in power.

Identical from the face

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 side by side and carefully look at their "faces", you understand that they are at least cousins. So we compare who is cooler - Rav4 or Subaru Forester - on completely legal grounds.

Specifications

Car model:	Toyota RAV4	Subaru Forester
Producing country:	Japan	Japan
body type:	SUV	SUV
Number of places:	5	5
Number of doors:	5	5
Engine capacity, cu. cm:	1987	1995
Power, l. s./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 st.
Fuel type:	gasoline AI-95 – AI-98(RU)	petrol
Consumption per 100 km:	city ​​9.4; route 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
Gross weight, kg:	2000	2015
Fuel tank capacity:	60	60

"Forest" character

The Forester is made by Subaru. In our market, he appeared in the nineties. Naturally, the local carriers immediately renamed the car in their own way. "Forester" or "Forester" - such a nickname was given to this SUV as a result of the translation of the original name from English into Russian.

However, this name suits the car not only because of the semantics. The car due to the high ground clearance and is great for trips out of town, into the forest. By the way, the car acquired the pronounced qualities of a crossover only in the most recent variation. Initially, one could argue that there are more in the Forester - the qualities of a passenger car or off-road stubbornness.

Rav - off-road ambitions

The 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 give birth to the concept of SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle). And, perhaps, only with its appearance, motorists realized all the advantages of the SUV.

In the 2000s, Toyota restyled the car, and now we can consider the Rafik in updated colors. But him off-road ambition visible at first glance. At least the wheel on the door at the back gives out the “jeepish” habits of the Rav4.

The car is distinguished by a smooth ride with a high degree of cross-country ability, and also takes the soul and good equipment.

Passion for the salon

We continue the duel "Rav4 vs Forester"? Then let's take a look inside. And there will be something to be surprised.

On board the starship

Have you ever been on board a starship? Get behind the wheel of Rav and you will feel like a driver of an intergalactic unit. . Modern technologies went through literally every corner of it. Buttons, screens, instruments, displays… Wow!

At first, the eyes run wide, so it’s not so fast to figure out what’s what. For example, the top keys on the center console are responsible for controlling. There are buttons to change climate conditions. Separately, shields are displayed to turn on the function of heated seats and. All in all, it looks and functions really well.

Only on business

The forester, to be honest, cannot boast of such “minced meat”. The cabin has everything you need and familiar, but no frills. “Briefly and to the point” - apparently, designers worked on this principle. But the classics also have a number of advantages. Everything here is traditionally good and ergonomic, everything is at hand, nothing blinks, like a Christmas tree in New Year and does not distract the driver from the road.

In terms of spaciousness, the Rafik salon wins, which is taller and has a vertical landing. The rear sofa is also regulated in this, so if necessary, it can be moved and the slope can be changed “for yourself”.

Your luggage

What arguments will Forester present against the Rav4 when it comes to comparing the capacity of the luggage compartments? But none! They are not particularly needed here, because both cars are quite voluminous: Subaru - 390 liters, Toyota - 450. But the first one is longer, and the second one is higher.

By the way, both Lesnik and Rafik have underground luggage compartments. Although in general there is more space in Toyota. Space saving is also achieved due to the fact that the spare tire is mounted on the rear door. But loading is much more convenient in the Forester, because the door opens up, and not sideways, like 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 pick up speed sharply on demand.. Ten seconds - and you are already on the cell. As much as possible without problems, both crossovers take 180-190 km / h.

Test drive of Subaru Forester:

Cars do not skimp on successful maneuvers, which is a very big plus in city traffic. Turns are taken effortlessly and do not think when choosing the required driving intensity.

But it's all so smooth on the track. And how do Japanese SUVs behave on our bumps? Test drives show that the patency is almost at an identical level. And at a fairly good level. Cars do not climb, but literally jump over "hills". At the same time, in the cabin, riding over bumps is almost imperceptible.

Test Drive Toyota car RAV4:

Cars respond to the driver's commands without a hitch. True, off-road crossovers experience difficulties with acceleration. Here, picking up speed as briskly as on the highway will not work.

In the "heart" lives ... drive?

The "hearts" of both cars are similar. In particular, the configurations are presented for four cylinders. Although the nature of the ride, the engines still differ. At the Forester, he is distinguished by drive and loves high speeds. But in Rafik, on the contrary, the motor is rather 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" finishes. Let's draw a line. Whether you choose Forester or Rav4, you can't go wrong with any decision. Who will pull down, being on the scales, depends entirely 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 designed their Rav4 with great creativity.

The new Subaru Forester rushes to attack the leaders of the segment. We decided to compare it with the latest Toyota crossover RAV4, and they 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 a real man. But 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 Russian market with three power units. All engines are petrol. The first has a volume of 2 liters and develops 150 hp. The second is a 2.5-liter, its return 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 mechanical box gear, it costs from 1,148,000 rubles. The option with a continuously variable transmission CVT will cost the buyer 40,000 rubles more. The following, more powerful modifications are equipped only with a variator and cost, respectively, at least 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 gasoline 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 or stepless variator. The initial configuration with front-wheel drive and “mechanics” is estimated at 998,000 rubles, and the version with all-wheel drive and a CVT costs from 1,135,000 rubles. The remaining modifications are equipped exclusively with all-wheel drive and a 6-band “automatic” and cost from 1,355,000 rubles for the turbodiesel version and from 1,478,000 for the gasoline version.

The Honda CR-V has a choice of two engines. Both gasoline: 2-liter with 150 hp. and a 2.4-liter with a return of 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. Drive - only full. For a test drive, we collected petrol modifications with comparable powertrains. 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 only be found in Subaru, and you will not see such plastic anywhere else in the Forester cabin. At Toyota, the mid-section of the dash is finished in soft-backed leatherette, but the top and bottom are rigid, as are the door panels. And Honda has hard plastic everywhere, and only the version with a 2.4-liter engine is finished in 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, then in this parameter all cars are on top.

The ergonomics of all three cars, in principle, does not cause much criticism, but there are drawbacks. Let's complain about the glare screens of Toyota and Honda, as well as the inconvenient manual selection of radio stations on the Subaru touch screen. 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 of the buttons are illuminated for all three, which is why, for example, to adjust the mirrors, you have to turn on the interior light. However, the owners of these cars eventually learn to find unlit keys by touch. Visibility is the best in Subaru due to thinner pillars. Although his rivals have no problems in this parameter.

The Subaru Forester offers the highest driving position ever. The geometry of the location relative to the steering wheel and pedals is good. The seat, however, is not particularly comfortable: the pillow 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 can’t call it a passenger one. But Toyota has the most comfortable front seats. Their profile is perfect, the padding is soft, and they are located a little higher than the Honda.

On the second row of seats, as well as on the first, the leadership is for the RAV4. Best Profile seats, huge legroom by the standards of the class and the largest range of backrest adjustment. The Subaru has no less space, and due to the higher position of the front seats, you can put your feet under them in more massive shoes, but the sofa is not so good and the angle of the backrest is not adjusted so widely. At Honda, the backrests have only two positions, which do not differ much in angle, and in front of the knees of passengers to the front seats there is about 8-10 cm less space. But in the CR-V, the widest and central tunnel is absent, which creates more comfortable conditions for transporting three rear riders. Toyota does not have a central tunnel, but Subaru has a ledge, although it is not high.

The Honda makes up for the small legroom for rear passengers with the largest amount of luggage space. And when folding the sofa, you get a flat floor, however, for this you need to first fold the pillows, and only then the backs. Under the floor is a narrow “dock”. The Toyota has a smaller trunk, and the loading height is too big due to a full-fledged spare tire located under the floor. But the floor when folding the rear seats is also flat. The smallest luggage compartment in Subaru, while only a “dokatka” fit here, and if you fold the sofa, a rather high step is formed.

Fight of characters

According to passport data, Honda is the most powerful among the three rivals, but it accelerates more slowly than others, and this is noticeable. Unlike the British version with a 2-liter engine, the American 2.4-liter version lacks a sporty transmission mode, and its 5-band “automatic” is not too quick. Although the dynamics are generally sufficient in most traffic situations. And the CR-V engine sounds nicer than rivals and also runs quietly even at maximum speed.

The Toyota engine is more “vociferous”, and the 6-band automatic transmission shifts gears faster. On the track, the box works fine, but in the city, with a ragged driving rhythm, it sometimes gets confused when choosing a working range. Here you can enable sports mode“automatic” and additionally “sharpen” the accelerator pedal. In this case, the car begins to respond to the fuel supply faster, although there is still no need to talk about instantaneous responses.

The best acceleration feels like Subaru. And all thanks to a perfectly tuned variator. At any speed, the car responds to pressing 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 set up perfectly, however, like those of the rivals in the test.

The Subaru's steering is quite “long” by today's standards - three and a quarter turns from lock to lock. At the same time, the "steering wheel" is quite tight. All is well with information. It is clear that with such settings, fast reactions from the crossover are not to be expected. On the other hand, this is not required of him - quite calm and correct behavior, which Forester provides in full. The Honda has the same “long” handlebar, but it is easier to turn, while the reaction force gives excellent feedback - the best in our trinity. Control responses are only slightly faster than the Subaru. But the “steering wheel” of Toyota works faster and more accurately - from lock to lock it makes 2.8 turns. The feedback is Subaru-level, and the steering effort is just as intense. The crossover behaves very collected, including thanks to a stiffer suspension.

Chassis RAV4 without a twinge of conscience tells riders about every crack in the road surface, and does it with hard and sharp shocks. And on larger irregularities frankly shakes. I remember the previous generation model was 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 a little harsh on bumps with sharp edges, but behaves exemplarily on other types of coverage. And the energy intensity of the suspension is absolutely fantastic. What can not be said about Honda. On large potholes and pits, the CR-V simply does not have enough suspension travel - this crossover has an almost light chassis. But Honda swallows small patches and cracks in asphalt better than anyone.

And in terms of noise isolation, the CR-V is in the lead: this car allows you to drive on high speed without damage to the eardrums. The noise of the oncoming air flow, motor and tires is practically not disturbing. At Subaru, all extraneous sounds are drowned out by the rumble of tires. And at Toyota, the tires “voice” even louder than they cause serious discomfort. True, our wards were “shod” in different tires, so the comparison is not quite correct. Nevertheless, in Subaru, and even more so in Toyota, designers would do well to work on soundproofing the wheel arches.

On pavement, all three handle pretty well. Especially Honda. Closest to the passenger settings of its chassis provide fast and accurate response to control actions, and 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 a straight line better than Honda, but there is no twinkle in its actions - everything is correct, reliable and ... boring. However, this can hardly be called a disadvantage. As for the Subaru, this crossover is a little slower in reactions, and it has a little more roll, but in general it rides no worse than the RAV4, and given the better ride, it is more pleasant to travel long distances. Especially when the asphalt is over and the cars will move out onto a broken primer.

This is where the Forester is head and shoulders above its rivals. The amazing power of its suspension allows you to race over bumps twice as fast as the RAV4 and CR-V. And handling remains reliable and understandable. Suspension Toyota there is also enough energy intensity, but not due to the magnitude of the stroke, but due to rigidity. That is, the car overcomes bumps without problems, but the riders are shaking a lot. But Honda forces you to slow down due to the small suspension travel, which it corny breaks through. If you move into the mud, then the CR-V gives up almost immediately due to overheating of the clutch. Neither Subaru nor Toyota suffer from such a disease. Well, on relative off-road, the best of all will again be Subaru thanks to competent settings all-wheel drive and the biggest ground clearance.

Perhaps, we will bring the Subaru Forester to the leaders of our “Japanese championship”. This crossover is the most versatile and comfortable, it rides equally well on ordinary roads and where the asphalt ends. Honda CR-V will the best choice for those who like active driving and at the same time are not going to move out on bad roads. The model from Toyota let down too rigid suspension, and if not for her, then the RAV4 could have become a winner in general, because in other respects it often surpasses its rivals. We hope in Toyota hear our wishes, and then we will repeat this test with pleasure.

Technical Subaru specifications Forester 2.5
Dimensions, mm	4595x1795x1735
Wheelbase, mm
Track front / rear, mm
Turning diameter, m
Clearance, mm
Trunk volume, l
Curb weight, kg
engine's type	petrol L4
Working volume, cu. cm
Max. power, hp/r/min
Max. moment, Nm/r/min
Transmission	stepless variator
Brakes front/rear	ventilated disc/disc
Max. speed, km/h
Acceleration time 0-100 km/h, s
Fuel consumption (average), l/100 km
Tank volume, l

Specifications Toyota RAV4 2.5
Dimensions, mm	4570x1845x1715
Wheel base, mm
Track front / rear, mm
Turning diameter, m