2024 Subaru Outback vs 2024 Toyota RAV 4

How different are these two Japanese brands' small crossover SUVs? Let's take a closer look at these competing vehicles and share what each has to offer to help make your purchase decision a little bit easier.

2024 Subaru Outback

Currently in its sixth generation, the Subaru Outback received a refresh for 2023 with revised exterior styling, enhanced interior finishes, infotainment updates and additional safety features. 

Further changes feature on the 2024 Subaru Outback with a more aggressive and angular front fascia, a wider grille, along with redesigned headlights and front hexagonal fog lights.

An impressive lineup of nine trims is available for the 2024 Subaru Outback: Base, Premium Onyx, Limited, Touring, Onyx Edition XT, Wilderness, Limited XT and Touring XT.

2024 Toyota RAV4

Often credited with being the original small SUV back in 1994, the RAV4 is now in its fifth generation, revealed in 2018 and refreshed in 2021. Being one of the most shopped compact crossover SUVs in the US, Toyota hasn't seen the need to change too much, and the 2024 RAV4 continues pretty much as is.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 range comprises six models: LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, TRD Off-Road and the top of the range Limited.

Exterior Design

The 2024 Subaru Outback sports a wagon body harking back to its Subaru Legacy roots, providing the Outback with its distinctive and appealing design. As mentioned, the 2024 model year sees a more aggressive and angular front fascia with a wider grille, redesigned headlights and new-look front fog lights.  

Standard exterior features include LED steering responsive headlights, LED fog lights, a rear spoiler, 17 or 18-inch alloy wheels fitted with all-season tires, roof rail and two-speed plus variable speed intermittent windshield wipers.

Measuring 191.9 inches in length, the Outback uses a four-wheel independent raised suspension with a standard ground clearance of 8.7 inches, while the more off-road oriented Wilderness trim offers 9.5 inches. 

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 shows off a more traditional crossover body style with angular fenders on all four corners. The exterior design extends to LED projector low and high-beam headlights with chrome accent and automatic high beams with auto on/off, a rear spoiler and modern LED tail lights.  

Other standard key exterior features include privacy glass, dual chrome-tipped exhaust, steel wheels with covers and alloy wheels fitted depending on trim level, as well as a standard color-keyed roof-mounted shark-fin antenna.

The RAV4 measures 180.9 inches in length along with ground clearance of 8.1 or 8.6 inches trim, dependent.

A total of 15 exterior colors are available, including the new for 2024, Army Green. Buyers can also choose two-tone exterior paint color schemes. The 2024 Subaru Outback is available in a choice of eight exterior colors.

Drivetrains 

Subaru's well-known 2.5 liter Boxer four-cylinder engine that makes 182 horsepower @ 5800 rpm and 176 pound-feet of torque @ 4400 rpm powers the Outback. For those buyers needing extra power, there are turbocharged versions with 260 horsepower. A constantly variable transmission (CVT) with overdrive is fitted across the range, and power goes to all four corners through the standard Subaru symmetrical all-wheel drive.

The Outback offers a towing capacity of 2700 pounds.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 is also fitted with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder but, unlike the Subaru, is an inline configuration. Power figures are 203 horsepower @ 6600 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque @ 5000 rpm. Standard fitment of an eight-speed automatic transmission with overdrive sends power to the front wheels, with all-wheel drive being trim-dependent.

The Toyota can tow up to 3500 pounds, trim dependent.

Interior and Cargo  

Besides the base model, all trims offer dual-zone climate control. Standard features are heated front seats, steering wheel controls, a trip computer, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and plenty of USB ports. 

Moving up in the range, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a power-adjustable front-passenger seat, and heated rear seats are fitted. The Outback provides a rear cargo volume of just under 33 cubic feet.

The RAV4's interior sees the base trim standard with cloth seats, a leather-free steering wheel, and single-zone manual climate control. Moving up to the XLE adds a two-tone cabin option as well as a few more features. The XLE Premium shows off more luxury-oriented trim, a leather-covered steering wheel and shift knob, faux-leather upholstery, plus a stitched and padded dashboard and center-console armrest. 

Cargo loading is aided by the RAV4's rear seats that fold to a nearly flat position and cargo volume, with all seats up measuring 37.6 cubic feet.

Infotainment

Base trim Outbacks feature two stacked 7.0-inch touchscreens, with all other trims fitted with an 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen featuring a rotary knob for volume and tuning, as well as some physical buttons for climate settings. Built-in navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless device charging are all optional extras. Apple CarPlay, as well as Android Auto integration, is standard. And top-of-range trims allow buyers to enjoy a 12-speaker, 576-watt Harman/Kardon audio system.

The 2024 Toyota RAV4 is standard with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, with Limited and TRD Off-Road trims getting a 10.5-inch display. The system includes a 4G LTE mobile hotspot with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Options for the fitment of a high-end JBL premium audio system, navigation, and a wireless charging pad are available. Most trims feature a 7.0-inch gauge cluster display with a 12.3-inch fully digital gauge display option on the XLE Premium and TRD Off-Road trims and standard equipment on the Limited trim.

Safety and Drivers Assistance Features.

For 2024, all trims are equipped with a full suite of airbags, anti-skid braking and electronic stability control. The Outback range also offers Subaru's EyeSight suite of driver-assistance technology. Key safety features include automated emergency braking, forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2024 RAV4 lineup boasts an array of standard driver assists, including lane-departure warning with adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist system and automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Standard traction control helps drivers stay on track, and braking is aided by the fitment of anti-skid braking.

Extra cost items for buyers are blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross-traffic alert.

Purchase your 2024 Subaru Crosstrek at Granite Subaru

Visit the Granite Subaru dealership, located in Hudson, NH, where our dedicated Subaru team will help you discover more about the 2024 Subaru Outback range. We also offer an extensive range of both new and pre-owned Subaru cars and SUVs for buyers to choose from.