Compare the2022 Subaru CrosstrekVS 2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
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 Crosstrek CVT are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Crosstrek 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Crosstrek CVT’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Crosstrek and the Rav4 Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, 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 Crosstrek is safer than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid:

	Crosstrek	Rav4 Hybrid
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	121	152
Neck Stress	304 lbs.	306 lbs.
Neck Compression	42 lbs.	56 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	252/363 lbs.	400/388 lbs.

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 Crosstrek is safer than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid:

	Crosstrek	Rav4 Hybrid
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	428 lbs.	508 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	201	299
Hip Force	824 lbs.	835 lbs.

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

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 Crosstrek’s reliability 29 points higher than the Rav4 Hybrid.

Engine

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the Crosstrek CVT and the Rav4 Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All Crosstrek CVTs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Crosstrek has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Rav4 Hybrid (16.6 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

The Crosstrek stops much shorter than the Rav4 Hybrid:

	Crosstrek	Rav4 Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	143 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Crosstrek’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Rav4 Hybrid LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The Crosstrek Limited’s tires have a lower 55 series profile than the Rav4 Hybrid XSE/Limited’s 60 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Crosstrek Premium handles at .81 G’s, while the Rav4 Hybrid XSE pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Crosstrek Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Rav4 Hybrid XSE (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Crosstrek’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Rav4 Hybrid’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Crosstrek has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Rav4 Hybrid (8.7 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Crosstrek to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Subaru Crosstrek may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 550 pounds less than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid.

The Crosstrek is 4.4 inches shorter than the Rav4 Hybrid, making the Crosstrek easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Crosstrek has .3 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front hip room and 7.5 inches more rear hip room than the Rav4 Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

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

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Crosstrek is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Rav4 Hybrid. 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 Crosstrek’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Crosstrek Base). The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Crosstrek’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 Hybrid 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 Crosstrek’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 Hybrid offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Crosstrek owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Crosstrek will cost $330 to $1490 less than the Rav4 Hybrid over a five-year period.

The Crosstrek will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Crosstrek will retain 62.13% to 65.32% of its original price after five years, while the Rav4 Hybrid only retains 56.17% to 57.16%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Crosstrek will be $3846 to $6480 less than for the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Crosstrek and the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.