All New Subaru Forester vs. Toyota RAV4 in Madison, WI
Compare the 2026 Subaru Forester to the Toyota RAV4 in Madison, WI
Are you in the market for a capable, fun-to-drive new midsize crossover in Middleton? Then you should visit Don Miller Subaru West, where we carry the 2026 Subaru Forester. The Forester delivers rugged capability, a striking exterior, and plenty of interior amenities, and we think it might be your ideal SUV. Of course, you might be curious how the Forester compares to similar SUVs, including the Toyota RAV4. Well, keep reading to see how these two crossover stack up to one another.
| 2026 Subaru Forester | Toyota RAV4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Engine | 2.5L Boxer 4-cylinder | Hybrid 2.5L I4 |
| Standard Horsepower | 180 hp @ 5,800 rpm | 226 hp |
| Standard Torque | 178 lb-ft @ 3,700 rpm | Not specified |
| Drivetrain | Standard Symmetrical AWD | Standard FWD (AWD available) |
| Standard Screen | Dual 7-inch touchscreens | 10.5-inch touchscreen (most trims) |
| Premium Audio | 11-speaker Harman Kardon | 9-speaker JBL |
| Total Interior Room | 140.4 cu. ft. | 136.7 cu. ft. |
| Standard Safety Suite | Subaru EyeSight | Toyota Safety Sense |
Subaru Forester vs. Toyota RAV4: Performance
The 2026 Subaru Forester comes standard with a 2.5-liter Subaru Boxer® four-cylinder engine that generates 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. An available hybrid model adds an electric motor to the Boxer engine, generating 194 horsepower. The Toyota RAV4 comes standard with a hybrid 2.5-liter I4 engine that generates 226 horsepower with standard front-wheel drive and up to 236 horsepower with available all-wheel drive. Both models come standard with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).
While all-wheel drive is available for the Toyota RAV4, every Forester comes standard with Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. This advanced system delivers continuous power to all four wheels, ensuring exceptional traction in any driving conditions in Fitchburg.
Subaru Forester vs. Toyota RAV4: Technology
The Subaru Forester Base trim comes standard with dual seven-inch touchscreens, which pair with wired Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. All other Forester trims get an 11.6-inch touchscreen display, along with wireless smartphone connectivity. Most of the six Toyota RAV4 trims get a 10.5-inch touchscreen display, paired with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™.
While the Forester and Toyota RAV4 both offer available premium sound systems, we think you will prefer the Forester's option. You can equip the top four Forester trims with an eleven-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Toyota RAV4 offers a nine-speaker JBL premium sound system, which is only available on the top-tier trim.
Subaru Forester vs. Toyota RAV4: Interior
The Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 have similar interior dimensions, with the Forester getting a bit more interior room at 140.4 cubic feet inside the cabin compared to 136.7 cubic feet for the Toyota RAV4. How these vehicles utilize that space differs considerably. The Forester has 29.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats, while the Toyota RAV4 has 37.8 cubic feet. However, when you fold down the rear row of seats, the Forester yields up to 74.4 cubic feet for storage, compared to 70.4 cubic feet for the Toyota RAV4.
The Forester also provides more space for passengers to stretch out comfortably. Standard front seat dimensions for the Forester include 41.2 inches of headroom and 43.3 inches of legroom. The Toyota RAV4 has 37.9 inches of front headroom and 41 inches of front legroom. Rear passengers in the Forester get 39.4 inches of leg room and 53.7 inches of hip room, while the Toyota RAV4 has 37.8 inches of rear leg room and 49.6 inches of rear hip room.
Subaru Forester vs. Toyota RAV4: Exterior
The Subaru Forester comes standard with 8.7 inches of ground clearance, easily more than the 8.1 inches that come standard for the Toyota RAV4. The Toyota RAV4 Woodland trim gets a lift to 8.5 inches of clearance, still less than the standard Forester.
The Forester Wilderness trim is thoroughly optimized for off-roading, with 9.3 inches of ground clearance, plus an underbody skid plate, LED foglights, and 3,500 pounds of towing capacity. None of these features is available for the Toyota RAV4. The Forester Wilderness also gets roof rails, all-terrain tires, and copper-finish exterior accents.
Subaru Forester vs. Toyota RAV4: Safety Features
The Forester and Toyota RAV4 both offer plenty of safety features. Every Forester comes standard with Subaru EyeSight Driver Assist technology, a suite of safety tech features that includes features like Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure & Sway Warning, Pre-Collision Braking, Automatic Emergency Steering, and Pre-Collision Throttle Management. Available safety upgrades for the Forester include Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Advanced Headlights, DriverFocus®, Reverse Automatic Braking, and Blind-Spot Detection.
The Toyota RAV4 comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense, a suite of driver assistance features that includes forward collision warning, lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert.
Subaru Forester Trim Levels
The 2026 Subaru Forester has six trim levels for Verona customers to choose from:
Base:
17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, roof rails, dual-zone automatic climate control, dual seven-inch touchscreens, wired Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, Subaru EyeSight
Premium:
Builds on Base with panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and start, heated front seats, reclining rear seats, 11.6-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, wireless smartphone charger, available hybrid engine
Sport:
Builds on Premium with bronze-finish wheels, paddle shifters, multiple drive modes, brown interior stitching, synthetic leather upholstery, and additional safety features
Limited:
Builds on Premium with hands-free power liftgate, leather upholstery, power front seats, heated steering wheel with paddle shifters, and additional safety features
Touring:
Builds on Limited with ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, driver seat memory, navigation, 11-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, and additional safety features
Wilderness:
Builds on Sport with 17-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, underbody skid plate, 9.3 inches of ground clearance, LED foglights, roof rails, copper-finish exterior accents, water-resistant upholstery with copper stitching, and 3,500 pounds of towing capacity
Test Drive a 2026 Subaru Forester
Are you ready to see for yourself if the 2026 Subaru Forester is the right crossover for you? Then, visit Don Miller Subaru West to browse our inventory and to take one for a test drive. To schedule your test drive, contact us today.
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