Compare the2022 Subaru OutbackVS 2021 Toyota Rav4

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Outback are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Outback has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outback. But it costs extra on the Rav4.

Both the Outback and the Rav4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Outback is safer than the Toyota Rav4:

	Outback	Rav4
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Outback is safer than the Toyota Rav4:

	Outback	Rav4
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	28	83
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.5 inches
Abdominal Force	101 G’s	138 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	116	146
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	146	299
Hip Force	674 lbs.	835 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outback its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 62 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Rav4 is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2021.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Outback’s reliability 11 points higher than the Rav4.

Engine

The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 57 more horsepower (260 vs. 203) and 93 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 184) than the Rav4’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Outback is faster than the Toyota Rav4:

	Outback 2.5i	Outback XT/Wilderness	Rav4
Zero to 60 MPH	8.7 sec	6.1 sec	8.8 sec
Quarter Mile	16.6 sec	14.8 sec	16.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	86.1 MPH	95 MPH	83.8 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Rav4 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

Regardless of its engine, the Outback’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) Toyota only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Rav4 LE AWD/XLE/XLE Premium.

The Outback has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Rav4 (18.5 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The Outback has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Outback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Rav4:

	Outback	Rav4
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	11.1 inches

The Outback’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Rav4 are solid, not vented.

The Outback stops shorter than the Rav4:

	Outback	Rav4
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	134 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Outback Wilderness/Onyx Edition XT has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Rav4; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Outback’s wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer than on the Rav4 (108.1 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The Outback Limited handles at .77 G’s, while the Rav4 Limited pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Outback Limited XT executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Rav4 Limited (27.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.9 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Rav4 LE/XLE (8.7 vs. 8.4 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Outback Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is .9 inch higher than on the Rav4 XLE Premium/Limited/Adventure/TRD Off-Road (9.5 vs. 8.6 inches).

Passenger Space

The Outback has 10.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Rav4 (109 vs. 98.9).

The Outback has .6 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear legroom, 7.1 inches more rear hip room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Rav4.

Cargo Capacity

The Outback has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Rav4 with its rear seat folded (75.7 vs. 69.8 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Outback. The Rav4 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Outback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Rav4’s (2700 vs. 1500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Outback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Rav4. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Outback Base). The Rav4 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Outback’s variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Rav4 LE’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

The Outback has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Rav4 has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the XLE/XLE Premium/Adventure/Limited/TRD Off-Road.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Outback has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Rav4 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Outback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Rav4 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Outback Limited/Touring is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Rav4’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Outback’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Rav4 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Outback owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Outback will cost $655 less than the Rav4 over a five-year period.

The Outback will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Outback will retain 54.13% to 56.37% of its original price after five years, while the Rav4 only retains 52.4% to 53.9%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Outback is less expensive to operate than the Rav4 because typical repairs cost much less on the Outback than the Rav4, including $15 less for a muffler, $22 less for front brake pads, $77 less for a starter, $70 less for fuel injection, $144 less for a fuel pump, $473 less for a timing belt/chain and $107 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Outback as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.