Compare the 2014 Subaru Forester Premium including the all weather package with the 2014 Toyota RAV4 XLE 4WD. These are comparable packages between the two manufactures and have a similar price. Below you will find comparisons based on:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
- Styling      Â
- Visibility    Â
- Safety
- Subaru Symmetrical AWD vs Honda Real Time 4WDÂ Â
- Overall Specs and Features
Styling and Visibility
  
One of the key features that sets the Subaru Forester ahead of the competition is driver visibility. Looking at the pictures above you'll not only notice how much taller the windows of the Forester are in comparison to the RAV4, but you also notice the way the windows of the RAV4 narrow towards the back of the car. This can cause large blind spots that that the Forester does not have. While both vehicles do have back up cameras that is no substitute for driver awareness when it comes to changing lanes.
Safety
When it comes to safety both the Forster and the RAV4 are rated pretty well by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). The Forester was named a Top Safety Pick Plus, where as, the RAV4 was named a Top Safety Pick. The difference between there ratings fell in one category. The RAV4 was rated as poor in small overlap front crashes, while the Forester received a rating of good. This test represents about 25% of serious injuries and fatalities.
Above on the left you see the results from IIHS crash testing in the Subaru Forester and on the right you see the RAV4. It is easy to see how well the Forster held up and how compromised the legs of the driver of the RAV4 are.Â
 
In the picture on the left you see a diagram of how the Subaru Symmetrical AWD works.
On the right you see a diagram of how the Toyota "On Demand" 4WD works.
One of the biggest things that stands out is how much more simple the
flow of power is in the Subaru. The Toyota has many right angles which
makes it much more difficult to get the power to the wheels. The other
main difference between these systems is the fact that the Subaru system
is working all 4 wheels all the time. The Toyota only engages the rear
wheels when it sense slipping in front. 
