Compare the2023 Subaru Crosstrek HybridVS 2023 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Rav4 Hybrid’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Rav4 Hybrid.

Both the Crosstrek Hybrid 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras 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 Hybrid is safer than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid:

	Crosstrek Hybrid	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 Hybrid is safer than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid:

	Crosstrek Hybrid	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.

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, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crosstrek Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 101 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Rav4 Hybrid is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

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 Hybrid’s reliability 38 points higher than the Rav4 Hybrid.

Engine

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek Hybrid 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

On the EPA test cycle the Crosstrek Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the Rav4 Hybrid:

		MPGe
Crosstrek Hybrid
	Electric Motor	99 city/80 hwy
Rav4 Hybrid
		MPG
	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	41 city/38 hwy
	Woodland 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	38 city/35 hwy

The Crosstrek Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 17 miles. The Rav4 Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 1.6 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The Crosstrek Hybrid stops much shorter than the Rav4 Hybrid:

	Crosstrek Hybrid	Rav4 Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crosstrek Hybrid has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Rav4 Hybrid LE/XLE.

Suspension and Handling

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

Chassis

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

Passenger Space

The Crosstrek Hybrid has .3 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front hip room and 6.3 inches more rear hip room than the Rav4 Hybrid.

The front step up height for the Crosstrek Hybrid is 1.5 inches lower than the Rav4 Hybrid (17.5” vs. 19”). The Crosstrek Hybrid’s rear step up height is .6 inches lower than the Rav4 Hybrid’s (18” vs. 18.6”).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Crosstrek Hybrid 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 Hybrid’s exterior PIN entry system. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Safety Connect™ can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Rav4 Hybrid’s power window (except driver window), power lock and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’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 Hybrid’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Toyota charges extra for heated mirrors on the Rav4 Hybrid.

Recommendations

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