Compare 2009 Subaru Forester vs 2008 Toyota RAV4

2009 Subaru Forester
2008 Toyota RAV4
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4-Door Automatic X
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic X 20 26 $20,028 $21,195
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic X L.L. Bean Ed 20 26 $24,330 $25,995
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic X L.L. Bean Ed PZEV 20 26 $24,541 $26,195
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic X L.L. Bean w/Nav 20 26 $25,977 $27,795
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic X L.L. Bean w/Nav PZEV 20 26 $26,188 $27,995
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic X Limited 20 26 $24,355 $25,995
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic X Limited PZEV 20 26 $24,566 $26,195
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic X Limited w/Nav 20 26 $26,002 $27,795
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic X Limited w/Nav PZEV 20 26 $26,213 $27,995
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic X PZEV 20 26 $20,239 $21,395
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic X w/Prem/All-Weather 20 26 $22,471 $23,895
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic X w/Prem/All-Weather PZEV 20 26 $22,682 $24,095
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic X w/Premium Pkg 20 26 $22,104 $23,495
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic X w/Premium Pkg PZEV 20 26 $22,315 $23,695
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic XT 19 24 $24,582 $26,195
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic XT Ltd 19 24 $26,409 $28,195
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Automatic XT Ltd w/Nav 19 24 $28,059 $29,995
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Manual X 20 27 $18,938 $19,995
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Manual X PZEV 20 27 $19,149 $20,195
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Manual X w/Prem/All-Weather 20 27 $21,563 $22,895
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Manual X w/Prem/All-Weather PZEV 20 27 $21,774 $23,095
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Manual X w/Premium Pkg 20 27 $21,196 $22,495
Forester (Natl) 4-Door Manual X w/Premium Pkg PZEV 20 27 $21,407 $22,695
Select style
4WD 4-Door 4-cyl 4-Speed AT
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
RAV4 4WD 4-Door 4-cyl 4-Speed AT 20 25 $20,839 $22,900
RAV4 4WD 4-Door 4-cyl 4-Speed AT Ltd 20 25 $22,890 $25,155
RAV4 4WD 4-Door 4-cyl 4-Speed AT Sport 20 25 $22,270 $24,475
RAV4 4WD 4-Door V6 5-Speed AT 19 26 $22,689 $24,935
RAV4 4WD 4-Door V6 5-Speed AT Ltd 19 26 $24,632 $27,070
RAV4 4WD 4-Door V6 5-Speed AT Sport 19 26 $24,012 $26,390
RAV4 FWD 4-Door 4-cyl 4-Speed AT 21 27 $19,888 $21,500
RAV4 FWD 4-Door 4-cyl 4-Speed AT Ltd 21 27 $21,972 $23,755
RAV4 FWD 4-Door 4-cyl 4-Speed AT Sport 21 27 $21,342 $23,075
RAV4 FWD 4-Door V6 5-Speed AT 19 27 $21,768 $23,535
RAV4 FWD 4-Door V6 5-Speed AT Ltd 19 27 $23,743 $25,670
RAV4 FWD 4-Door V6 5-Speed AT Sport 19 27 $23,113 $24,990

Pricing

Invoice Price
$20,028
$20,839

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$21,195
$22,900

Monthly Payment Estimate
$353 / month
$382 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating
8.0
7.6

TCC’s Bottom Line
It’s significantly improved this year, but the 2009 Subaru Forester remains a unique all-wheel-drive crossover with less power and fewer features, but better carlike handling, than its competition. The 2008 Toyota RAV4 brings a little more space than most compact SUVs without a mid-size price.

TCC Likes

TCC Dislikes

Fuel Economy

City
20 mpg 20 mpg

Highway
26 mpg 25 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification
4WD Sport Utility 4WD Sport Utility Vehicle

Interior Dimensions

Front Hip Room (in)
52.9 53.8

Passenger Volume (ft³)
107.6 108.2

Second Leg Room (in)
38.0 38.3

Front Head Room (in)
41.6 40.8

Second Hip Room (in)
52.7 52.4

Front Shoulder Room (in)
56.1 57.1

Passenger Capacity
5 5

Second Head Room (in)
40.4 39.7

Second Shoulder Room (in)
55.6 55.3

Front Leg Room (in)
43.1 41.8

Third Head Room (in)
- NA

Third Shoulder Room (in)
- NA

Third Leg Room (in)
- NA

Third Hip Room (in)
- NA

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Rear (in)
60.2 61.4

Wheelbase (in)
103 104.7

Rear Door Opening Height (in)
32.8 - TBD -

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
70.1 71.5

Track Width, Front (in)
60.2 61.4

Min Ground Clearance (in)
8.7 7.5

Length, Overall (in)
179.5 181.1

Rear Door Opening Width (in)
38.4 - TBD -

Height, Overall (in)
65.9 66.3

Liftover Height (in)
27.4 - TBD -

Cargo Area Dimensions

Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³)
33.5 36.4

Cargo Area Width @ Beltline (in)
53.25 - TBD -

Cargo Box (Area) Height (in)
33.9 - TBD -

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 1 (in)
61.8 - TBD -

Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³)
68.3 73.0

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 3 (in)
NA NA

Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³)
NA NA

Cargo Box Width @ Wheelhousings (in)
42.2 - TBD -

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 2 (in)
37.5 - TBD -

Brakes

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA NA

Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.7 x - TBD - 11.8 x - TBD -

Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA

Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.3 x - TBD - 11.2 x - TBD -

Brake Type
Power Pwr

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
16.9 15.9

Steering

Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
3.0 2.8

Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)
37.4 - TBD -

Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
Variable 14.4

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
34.4 34.8

Steering Type
Pwr Rack & Pinion Pwr Rack & Pinion

Tires

Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA

Rear Tire Size
P215/65HR16 P215/70R16

Rear Tire Order Code
NA NA

Front Tire Size
P215/65HR16 P215/70R16

Spare Tire Size
Compact P215/70R16

Front Tire Order Code
NA NA

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
200 150

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
200 150

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
2400 1500

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
2400 1500

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)
3300 3444

Wheels

Rear Wheel Size (in)
16 x 6.5 16 x - TBD -

Front Wheel Material
Steel Steel

Spare Wheel Material
Steel Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)
16 x 6.5 16 x - TBD -

Spare Wheel Size (in)
NA 16 x - TBD -

Rear Wheel Material
Steel Steel

Cooling System

Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)
7.2 7.2

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
520 - TBD -

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
90 - TBD -

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM
170 @ 4400 165 @ 4000

Engine Order Code
NA NA

Displacement
2.5L/150 2.4L/144

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
170 @ 6000 166 @ 6000

Engine Type
Gas Flat 4-Cyl Gas I4

Fuel System
SMPI SFI

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
26 25 (Est)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
20 20 (Est)

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
22 -

Transmission

Clutch Size (in)
NA NA

Third Gear Ratio (:1)
1.00 1.41

Trans Type
4 4

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)
NA -

Drivetrain
All Wheel Drive 4-Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA NA

Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA

Reverse Ratio (:1)
2.27 3.14

Second Gear Ratio (:1)
1.55 2.20

Trans Order Code
NA NA

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
4.44 3.08

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.69 1.02

Trans Description Cont.
Automatic w/OD Automatic w/OD

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA NA

First Gear Ratio (:1)
2.79 3.94

Transfer Case Gear Ratio (:1), High
- - TBD -

Transfer Case Gear Ratio (:1), Low
- - TBD -

Summary

Vehicle Name
Subaru Forester (Natl) Toyota RAV4

Body Style
4 Door 4 Door

Suspension

Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)
32 - TBD -

Suspension Type - Front
MacPherson-type MacPherson strut

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)
0.67 - TBD -

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
NA NA

Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)
32 - TBD -

Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)
0.83 0.95

Suspension Type - Rear
Double wishbone Double-wishbone

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
NA coil spring

Emissions

EPA Greenhouse Gas Score
6 -

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