Subaru Forester Wilderness Versus Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road: Backroad Brawlin’

Butched-up off-road versions of small SUVs are becoming an ever-more significant subvariant of the popular compact-crossover category, part of the larger trend of overlanding everything from Porsche 911s to box trucks. Toyota added a TRD Off-Road version the RAV4 in 2020, implying a kinship with its brawny 4Runner and Tacoma. For 2022, Subaru fired back with a Wilderness variant of its diminutive Forester, following in the tire-tracks of the bigger Outback Wilderness.

Both look suitably jacked, but it’s not always obvious to the casual consumer whether there’s any real capability packed into these lifted and aggressively-cladded cute utes. Do they boast serious trail chops or are they more weekend-warrior cosplay? 

Fortunately, both a RAV4 TRD Off-Road and a Forrester Wilderness were on hand at Mudfest, the Northwest Automotive Press Association’s annual event that puts multiple trucks and SUVs head-to-head on the track and the off-road course. 

So we had the chance not only to test their mettle on the road course, through water-crossings and over a log-pile obstacle and deeply rutted terrain, but to see how they stacked up against each other in these extreme driving environments as well. Here’s what we found.

Forester Wilderness Versus RAV4 TRD Off-Road: On the Pavement

Throw these two on the track and already they couldn’t be more different. Neither crossover is what you’d call quick—they each get a non-turbocharged 2.5L 4-cylinder, though the Forester’s, while less powerful on paper, gets a slightly snappier-feeling launch than the RAV4 due to the Wilderness’ steeper final drive ratio. Both rigs get drive modes, though the RAV4’s Sport feels a little tamer than the Forester’s, which just seems to pull out a few more stops in homage to its WRX cousin.

Carving through the turns, the Forester gets an edge from its ultra-nimble steering—the feel is very dialed-up and borders on numb, but it really helps wing it through the slalom. Its tall, boxy proportions are certainly apparent, but the well-tuned handling helps rein in the worst of the body roll. By contrast, the RAV4’s more off-road-specific suspension feels a little soggy on the track, with quite a bit of lean, and heavy steering that tends toward sluggish. 

However, the quick steering that’s nice on the track is a liability on the highway, where the Forester feels twitchy compared to the RAV4. The Subaru also lets way more road noise into the cabin than the RAV4, with the latter’s absorbent shocks and cushy interior. Over an expanse of gravel road at speed, the Forester let every undercarriage rock-strike be known, and joined in the cacophony with its own interior squeaks and rattles. The RAV4 remained serene and well-isolated over the same stretch. 

As for fuel economy, this is where the Forester’s perkier final drive ratio works against it, causing it to rev higher and burn gas on the highway: it nets out at an EPA-estimated 26 mpg combined. The Toyota leads with 28. The RAV4 Prime returns much better mileage and is also off-road capable, but not quite like the TRD Off-Road. 

Our on-pavement verdict: The Forester Wilderness clinches it.

Forester Wilderness Versus RAV4 TRD Off-Road: In the Dirt

While Subaru may have written the book on AWD for all, both companies have strong four-wheelin’ lineages, and putting them head to head on Mudfest’s offroad course felt like it could be a toss-up. However, the Forester Wilderness has several advantages in this area, including taller ground clearance (9.2 inches vs the RAV4’s 8.6), better all-terrain tires and a button-operated front-facing trail cam to zoom in on obstacles. Both crossovers have hill descent control and a comparable set of terrain modes, but no axle lock. 

On the course, both crossovers trundled gamely over steep and slippery obstacles and scads of rutted dirt. The RAV4 is the only one of the two with a true torque-vectoring differential (standard on Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims), while the Forester’s torque-vectoring is brake-based. 

You’d think that would help it be more surefooted, but if anything, the RAV4 got more obvious intervention by its various stability- and traction-control nannies, with a bit of rumbling and chattering over the more unstable surfaces. It also scraped quite a bit more in deep ruts than the Forester Wilderness due to its lower ground clearance. 

Our off-road verdict: Forester Wilderness, no contest.

Forester Wilderness Versus RAV4 TRD Off-Road: Equipment and Utility

In addition to the Forester’s better off-road performance, it is better-equipped to go into the woods as well. The Subaru alone gets a real fullsize spare, rendering the inevitable rock puncture a minor inconvenience rather than the end to your day on the trail. Its blazing six-point LED foglights throw better illumination than the RAV4’s wimpier LED fogs, and only the Forester boasts an 800-pound static capacity on its roof rack, enabling it to support an entire tent full of people up there. 

Both rigs get a standard steel front skidplate, but the Forester allows you to add extra underbody protection pieces as dealer-installed options. 

The RAV4 TRD Off-Road wins back some points in hardworking utility. It will tow a maximum of 3,500 pounds, while the Forester Wilderness tops out at 3,000. In addition, the RAV4 TRD Off-Road gets a standard 120V outlet in the rear cargo area, not available on the Forester, which is handy for powering campground equipment. Both crossovers are comparable in total cargo space, with the Forester at 69.1 cubic-feet to the RAV4’s 69.8. However, with all seats in place, the RAV4 has considerably more space in the rear hold, 37.6 against the Forester’s 26.9.

Our utility verdict: Forester for off-path adventuring, RAV4 for hauling gear.

Forester Wilderness Versus RAV4 TRD Off-Road: Cabin Environment

In addition to its quieter cabin, the RAV4 TRD Off-Road surpasses the Forester Wilderness in interior appointments and features as well. The Toyota’s sculpted seats are plusher than the Forester’s, and are available heated and ventilated with memory. Subaru’s only have heat. Both cabins get a traditional layout with good analog controls, but the RAV4’s big rubberized climate knobs are more intuitive and easier to get hold of. The RAV4 gets a wireless charging pad in the center console, while the Forester gets a basic cubby that’s too small for many phones.

Get further into the feature set and the gulf between the two crossovers widens. The RAV4 TRD Off-Road gets an optional 360-degree overhead camera, rearview mirror monitor and heated steering wheel, features that are unavailable on the Forester Wilderness. Its partially digital gauge cluster is more feature-rich than the Forester’s shrimpy info screen, and the infotainment, though it’s running Toyota’s older platform, is intuitive and features a good smattering of analog knobs and buttons. 

The two main advantages the Subaru has going for it are superior rear legroom (39.4 inches vs the RAV4’s 37.8) and fantastic outward visibility, as the Forester’s tall, airy cabin contrasts the more cloistered feel of the RAV4’s interior. Still, these sparse advantages don’t change the fact that the RAV4 is the quieter, more comfortable and better-equipped interior.

Our interior verdict: RAV4 TRD Off-Road, easily.

Forester Wilderness Versus RAV4 TRD Off-Road: Value

All of this extra kit might suggest that the RAV4 TRD Off-Road is a better deal than the Forester Wilderness, until you consider the more than $6,000 dollar difference between these crossovers as pictured. 

While it’s true that the TRD starts off at a higher base price—$38,130 versus the Forester Wilderness’s $34,695—it doesn’t help that most of the Toyota’s extra goodies are added via pricey options packages that inflate the sticker price rapidly. With all the bells and whistles the RAV4 can easily blow past $40,000 with all the desirable features added, while the Subaru tops out in the mid-30s.

Moreover, when you back out the Toyota’s optional fancy frills, the RAV4 TRD Off-Road and Forester Wilderness are pretty comparably equipped: Both get standard dual-zone climate, powered front seats and off-road terrain modes. And both crossovers come standard with very comprehensive active-safety tech that includes adaptive cruise, auto-emergency braking, lane-departure warning and assist, auto highbeams and blindspot monitoring with rear cross-traffic detection. Reverse automatic braking is even standard on the Forester Wilderness, but costs extra from Toyota. 

But ultimately, what tips the scales in the Forester’s favor is its superior offroad prowess, which is presumably what customers are seeking in the off-road trim of these crossovers. If you can put up with a little road noise and live without a few frills, the Subaru Forester Wilderness offers more overall capability for a much more appealing price. 

Our value verdict: Forester Wilderness is the better deal.