2025: Subaru Forrester Premium Hybrid vs Rav 4 XLE Hybrid

[Anonymous]

I'm assuming the two trims are comparable feature wise. Both are available at a similar price point. Which one of these is a better vehicle? We'll probably drive 10K miles a year, most of the mileage coming from a long distance trip 3-4 times a year. Otherwise, it will be local driving around town. No commute for work. Need enough room to move kid in and out of dorm rooms, home depot runs to buy mulch and lumber, etc.

We currently own a Honda minivan and a Lexus sedan both 10+ years old, and will likely keep this new vehicle for many years.

[Anonymous]

I have a 2025 non hybrid forrester. Great visibility. We debated waiting for the hybrid version decided to buy before tariffs hit.

I hear good things about the Subaru hybrid. It uses slightly older hybrid tech adopted from Toyota. Only like $1500 more than non-hybrid

The digital gauge cluster is said to be a major improvement. Stop star feature is much better than non-hybrid.

The main difference is that the forrester has a true four wheel drive system. Toyota “AWD”typically have a separate electric motor in the rear that only turns on for extra power or traction control.


Toyota likely has better long term reliability after 100k and will hold its value a bit better after that than the Subaru.

We don’t drive that much so fuel economy and 100k mile use was less of a concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 2025 non hybrid forrester. Great visibility. We debated waiting for the hybrid version decided to buy before tariffs hit.

I hear good things about the Subaru hybrid. It uses slightly older hybrid tech adopted from Toyota. Only like $1500 more than non-hybrid

The digital gauge cluster is said to be a major improvement. Stop star feature is much better than non-hybrid.

The main difference is that the forrester has a true four wheel drive system. Toyota “AWD”typically have a separate electric motor in the rear that only turns on for extra power or traction control.


Toyota likely has better long term reliability after 100k and will hold its value a bit better after that than the Subaru.

We don’t drive that much so fuel economy and 100k mile use was less of a concern.

Agree with all this^.

Own a Forester and Outback (both gas). I don't know about hybrid Subarus but you can negotiate a reasonable price on gas Subarus. Toyota dealers didn't seem keen on budging or providing great finance deals currently and I understand that goes double for hybrids. We've had a Prius which was great and Toyota is #1 undisputed in reliability. But Rav4s are like every other car on the road. The unwillingness to negotiate combined with the sheer generic-ness of them was a turn-off.

Still, hard to go wrong either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm assuming the two trims are comparable feature wise. Both are available at a similar price point. Which one of these is a better vehicle? We'll probably drive 10K miles a year, most of the mileage coming from a long distance trip 3-4 times a year. Otherwise, it will be local driving around town. No commute for work. Need enough room to move kid in and out of dorm rooms, home depot runs to buy mulch and lumber, etc.

We currently own a Honda minivan and a Lexus sedan both 10+ years old, and will likely keep this new vehicle for many years.

I like both your choices and drive a Forester myself, but are you keeping the minivan? Because a minivan can do the lumber and dorm room moving, which frees you up to perhaps choose a smaller car for local driving around town.

Anyway, even though I like my Forester (which has over 100k miles), I've always said my next car will be a Toyota for reliability and low maintenance. DH drives an ancient Toyota that he does nearly nothing to maintain and it just keeps going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm assuming the two trims are comparable feature wise. Both are available at a similar price point. Which one of these is a better vehicle? We'll probably drive 10K miles a year, most of the mileage coming from a long distance trip 3-4 times a year. Otherwise, it will be local driving around town. No commute for work. Need enough room to move kid in and out of dorm rooms, home depot runs to buy mulch and lumber, etc.

We currently own a Honda minivan and a Lexus sedan both 10+ years old, and will likely keep this new vehicle for many years.

Toyota for reliability hands down.

Love Subraus however they are not as reliable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm assuming the two trims are comparable feature wise. Both are available at a similar price point. Which one of these is a better vehicle? We'll probably drive 10K miles a year, most of the mileage coming from a long distance trip 3-4 times a year. Otherwise, it will be local driving around town. No commute for work. Need enough room to move kid in and out of dorm rooms, home depot runs to buy mulch and lumber, etc.

We currently own a Honda minivan and a Lexus sedan both 10+ years old, and will likely keep this new vehicle for many years.

Toyota for reliability hands down.

Love Subraus however they are not as reliable.

2025 Subaru was deemed most reliable cars overtaking Toyota and Lexus

https://www.cars.com/articles/subaru-tops-consumer-reports-annual-auto-reliability-survey-499052/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm assuming the two trims are comparable feature wise. Both are available at a similar price point. Which one of these is a better vehicle? We'll probably drive 10K miles a year, most of the mileage coming from a long distance trip 3-4 times a year. Otherwise, it will be local driving around town. No commute for work. Need enough room to move kid in and out of dorm rooms, home depot runs to buy mulch and lumber, etc.

We currently own a Honda minivan and a Lexus sedan both 10+ years old, and will likely keep this new vehicle for many years.

I like both your choices and drive a Forester myself, but are you keeping the minivan? Because a minivan can do the lumber and dorm room moving, which frees you up to perhaps choose a smaller car for local driving around town.

Anyway, even though I like my Forester (which has over 100k miles), I've always said my next car will be a Toyota for reliability and low maintenance. DH drives an ancient Toyota that he does nearly nothing to maintain and it just keeps going.

OP. Absolutely! It's trade-in value is about $500 (it's 21 years old) with 225K miles. Past summer we had 4-5 long distance trips and dorm move-out/move-in & job relocation moves for kids and it did really well. All it needs are regular oil changes and tires. However, at this point I don't want to risk doing long distance trips in the van with family, so need a comfortable vehicle that can carry a bit of luggage if necessary for long-distance trips. An SUV is preferred since we have aged parents living with us and SUVs are easier to get in and out of. The van will remain the primary "home depot" vehicle with the new vehicle being the backup. One of the kids is taking the sedan. We'll likely also go from about 15-20K miles/year to about 10K total.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm assuming the two trims are comparable feature wise. Both are available at a similar price point. Which one of these is a better vehicle? We'll probably drive 10K miles a year, most of the mileage coming from a long distance trip 3-4 times a year. Otherwise, it will be local driving around town. No commute for work. Need enough room to move kid in and out of dorm rooms, home depot runs to buy mulch and lumber, etc.

We currently own a Honda minivan and a Lexus sedan both 10+ years old, and will likely keep this new vehicle for many years.

I like both your choices and drive a Forester myself, but are you keeping the minivan? Because a minivan can do the lumber and dorm room moving, which frees you up to perhaps choose a smaller car for local driving around town.

Anyway, even though I like my Forester (which has over 100k miles), I've always said my next car will be a Toyota for reliability and low maintenance. DH drives an ancient Toyota that he does nearly nothing to maintain and it just keeps going.

OP again. What smaller car would you recommend, given that we do need the SUV form factor for parents and some amount of luggage space for long-distance trips?

[Anonymous]

*Forester