Compare the2024 Subaru ForesterVS 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

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

Safety

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The Forester 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 Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Forester and the Corolla Cross Hybrid 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, all wheel drive, 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 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 Forester is safer than the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid:

	Forester	Corolla Cross Hybrid
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	186	191
Neck Injury Risk	23%	33.6%
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	61 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	293	330
Neck Injury Risk	31%	32.9%
Leg Forces (l/r)	105/93 lbs.	592/372 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 Forester is safer than the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid:

	Forester	Corolla Cross Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	66	92
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	122 lbs.	129 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	121	239

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 Forester’s reliability 11 points higher than the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Forester third among compact suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Corolla Cross Hybrid isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

Engine

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

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Forester’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Forester has 6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (16.6 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Forester’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Corolla Cross Hybrid:

	Forester	Corolla Cross Hybrid
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	11.1 inches

The Forester stops much shorter than the Corolla Cross Hybrid:

	Forester	Corolla Cross Hybrid
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	182 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Forester has larger tires than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (225/60R17 vs. 215/65R17).

The Forester’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 Corolla Cross Hybrid’s standard 65 series tires.

The Forester Wilderness has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Corolla Cross Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Forester’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Corolla Cross Hybrid (105.1 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

The Forester Touring handles at .83 G’s, while the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Forester Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE (27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Forester has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (8.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Forester to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Forester Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 1.2 inches higher than on the Corolla Cross Hybrid (9.2 vs. 8 inches).

Chassis

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Forester has liquid-filled engine mounts. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Corolla Cross Hybrid uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The front grille of the Forester uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Forester has 16.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (111.6 vs. 94.9).

The Forester has 2.6 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front hip room, 5.4 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 7.4 inches more rear legroom, 9.8 inches more rear hip room and 4.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Forester Premium/Sport/Wilderness/Limited/Touring’s rear seats recline. The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Forester has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Corolla Cross Hybrid with its rear seat up (28.9 vs. 21.5 cubic feet). The Forester has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Corolla Cross Hybrid with its rear seat folded (74.2 vs. 61.8 cubic feet).

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the Forester Wilderness/Limited/Touring’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

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

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is limited to 1500 pounds. The Forester offers up to a 3000 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Forester uses the Vehicle Dynamics Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

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

Ergonomics

When five different drivers share the Forester Touring, the memory system makes it convenient for each of them. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle and climate settings. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Forester Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Forester Premium/Sport/Wilderness/Limited/Touring’s exterior PIN entry system. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Forester’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 Corolla Cross Hybrid S’ standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

Consumer Reports rated the Forester’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Forester 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 Corolla Cross Hybrid has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the LE/XSE.

When the Forester Touring is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

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

Both the Forester and the Corolla Cross Hybrid offer available heated front seats. The Forester Touring also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

On extremely cold winter days, the Forester’s optional (except Base/Premium/Sport/Wilderness) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Forester (except Base/Premium/Sport)’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

Recommendations

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

The Subaru Forester outsold the Toyota Corolla Cross by over two to one during 2023.