2023 Subaru Forester vs 2023 Toyota RAV4
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If you're in the market for a new compact SUV, both the 2023 Forester and the RAV4 are outstanding choices. But while they're both great vehicles, you're not heading out to purchase both!
So, which one is right for you? Well, it all comes down to what you're looking for. To help you make the best decision for you we've highlighted what both vehicles offer for you here.
The 2023 Subaru Forester
The Forester is one of Subaru's top-selling vehicles year after year, and one look at everything it has to offer and it's not hard to see why. To help you understand why this is such a great vehicle we've highlighted a few of its top features for you here.
Engine Options and Performance Specs
When it comes to what's under the hood, the 2023 Subaru Forester makes it easy with just one engine option to pick from. It's a responsive 2.5L Subaru BOXER engine pushes 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque.
It'll take you from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 8 seconds flat too. It's not an engine that will blow other cars off the line, but it's powerful enough to handle everyday driving conditions, and the 1,500-pound towing capacity means you can get it to tow smaller camping equipment if that's what you want.
It's extremely functional, doing everything you could ask of a compact SUV.
Cargo Space and Ground Clearance
Whether it's the cargo space or the ground clearance, you'll need to know what trim level you're getting to figure out the exact specs for the 2023 Forester. As far as ground clearance, every Forester except the Wilderness trim level sits 8.7 inches off the ground.
However, if you're looking for a little extra ground clearance and a more off-road worthy Forester, the Wilderness trim package is the way to go. It offers several off-road upgrades, and one of them is an extra half-inch of ground clearance, taking the 2023 Forester 9.2 inches off the ground.
Meanwhile, the Base level Forester provides the largest cargo space with 28.9 cubic feet of storage space behind the second-row seats, and when you fold them down you open up 74.2 cubic feet of space.
The good news if you decide to upgrade to a higher trim level is that they still provide plenty of cargo space, with 26.9 cubic feet of storage space behind the second-row seats. And when you fold them down you still open an impressive 69.1 cubic feet of storage space.
Standard Features
Subaru doesn't believe in making you pay more to unlock safety features, which shines through with the standard features on the 2023 Forester. Standard safety features include an automated emergency braking system, a lane departure warning system with lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, and a rearview camera.
Meanwhile, there are tons of standard technological features you'll love in every 2023 Forester too. You can find features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, dual front USB ports, and even auto on-off headlights in every 2023 Forester.
Finally, it's still a Subaru, which is why you can find an all-wheel drive system in every 2023 Forester.
The 2023 Toyota RAV4
Toyota makes tons of great vehicles and the 2023 Toyota RAV4 is no exception. There are tons of features to love, and we've highlighted a few of the best it has to offer for you here.
Engine Options and Performance Specs
While the 2023 Forester only comes with one engine option, the 2023 RAV4 has a few different ones for you to pick from - although they all include the same base 2.5L engine, but there are the standard, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options available.
The standard 2.5L engine pushes 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque and can take you from 0 to 60 miles per hour in eight seconds flat. Meanwhile, the hybrid options provide a combined total horsepower of 219, although the torque numbers do drop a bit to 149 lb-ft.
Cargo Space and Ground Clearance
While the cargo space and ground clearance vary a bit on the Forester depending on the trim level you go with, that's not the case with the 2023 RAV4. The cargo space dimensions stay the same, but there is a TRD Off-Road trim level that changes the ground clearance a bit.
Except for the TRD Off-Road, every RAV4 sits 8.1 inches off the ground, while the TRD Off-Road adds an extra half inch of ground clearance to take it to 8.6 inches. While this is certainly enough ground clearance for most applications, even the TRD Off-Road trim level sits a bit lower than every 2023 Forester.
Meanwhile, the interior dimensions for a RAV4 are just a bit different. Behind the second-row seats there's an impressive 37.5 cubic feet of storage space, which is more than the 2023 Forester. However, once you fold down the second-row seats you get just about the same overall storage space as the Forester at 69.8 cubic feet.
This means there's a bit more space in the trunk, but if you have passengers in the second row they're going to feel a bit more squished than they would in a 2023 Forester.
Standard Features
Just like Subaru, Toyota doesn't skimp on standard features, especially when it comes to safety. Every Toyota RAV4 comes with a blind spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alerts, an automated emergency braking system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and a lane departure warning system with lane-keeping assistance.
But it's not all about safety with the RAV4 as it comes loaded with tons of technological features too. These features include five USB ports, three in the front and two in the rear, a 120-volt AC outlet in the cargo area, and a rearview camera for when you're backing up.
Of course, higher trim levels come with even more features but starting with so many standard features mean you don't need to upgrade to a higher trim level if you don't want to. And just like the Forester, every 2023 RAV4 comes standard with all-wheel drive.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're interested in a 2023 Forester or a RAV4, the team at Granite Subaru would love to help you out, answer any questions you might have, and even schedule you for a test drive! They're knowledgeable, friendly, and all about getting you behind the wheel of the best vehicle for you.
