The Japanese SUV with Toyota reliability and real adventure capability

We all know that Toyota is synonymous with reliability, right? Well, what if we told you that Subaru actually placed two spots above Toyota in the latest JD Power Dependability Survey, claiming a sixth-place ranking?

Subaru has consistently been one of the most underappreciated automakers in the industry when it comes to reliability. The Subaru Forester, in particular, is often overlooked as a dependable alternative to Toyota off-roaders like the Toyota RAV4. Here's why you might want to go with a Forester over a Toyota for your next SUV purchase.

The Subaru Forester Matches Or Beats The RAV4 In Many Ways

For the 2026 model year, the Forester starts at $29,995. The base model packs a 180-horsepower naturally aspirated 2.5-liter flat-four, and, like all Subaru SUVs, features symmetrical all-wheel drive as a standard feature.

The 2026 RAV4 starts at $31,900 with a 2.5-liter hybrid straight four delivering 183 hp. The base model is front-wheel drive, with the LE AWD trim going for $33,300.

Both SUVs run on a CVT as their only transmission option, so we can call it a tie in that department. In addition, both SUVs deliver comparable performance, except that the all-wheel drive Toyota costs $3,005 more.

The Forester has 0.1 inch more ground clearance than the RAV4, at 8.7 inches to the Toyota's 8.6 inches. Both SUVs are capable on the trail, and we've praised both for their comfortable, well-balanced ride in our reviews.

Both SUVs are suitably roomy for most families, too, offering around 57 inches of shoulder room, give or take a half-inch here and there. The differences in most interior dimension measurements are within an inch or so, so you can go ahead and break out the tape measure, but you don't break a tie that way.

The RAV4 Is Cheaper To Maintain, But With Pricier Individual Repairs

Checking in with RepairPal, we get an annual maintenance estimate of $632 for the Forester, while the Toyota should average just $429 per year.

However, the most expensive fixes for the RAV4 include cylinder head replacements at up to $5,669, and $3,666 oil pump replacements. The most expensive common task for the Forester, according to RepairPal, is a $415 coolant change.

CarComplaints has very few reports on file for recent model years of either SUV. But the 2024 RAV4's most worrying complaints include oil pan leaks and faulty brakes, while the 2024 Forester's only report on file with the website is for the Subaru EyeSight feature "turning on and off," which scores a "Definitely Annoying" 4.0 according to the site's severity rating system.

JD Power Gives The Point To Subaru

The Forester actually beats the RAV4 in their latest JD Power reviews. The Forester scores a Quality & Reliability rating of 81/100, or Great, to the RAV4's 77/100, Average rating. JD Power is looking at the full picture when handing out Q&R ratings, not just the engine and transmission, so cars can be dinged for everything from peeling paint to infotainment glitches. All the same, Subaru tops Toyota by four points this time out.

To be clear, these are two of the most reliable cars on the market, in any segment, and at any price. What this repair data tells us is that you'd be spending less, on average, to keep a RAV4 running, but a Forester wouldn't have you tucking away quite so much rainy day money for potential powertrain repairs.

Used Subarus Are More Affordable Than Used Toyotas

The Forester is a bit cheaper than the RAV4 to begin with, but if you want to save even more money, Toyota's famously slow depreciation makes the Forester a more attractive used buy. Our price tracking tool currently sees an entry-level 2021 RAV4 LE selling at $23,787, from an MSRP of $26,350. That's a drop of just 9.7%.

A base 2021 Subaru Forester is currently trending at $21,062, from an initial MSRP of $24,796, representing a five-year depreciation of 15%.

Toyota's name is synonymous with dependability, and that perception helps to keep used car prices high. That's great if you're buying brand-new and looking to maximize your trade-in value, but it makes Toyotas a tricky proposition for used car buyers. When the 2021 model costs almost as much as a 2026 model, why buy the used SUV?

Exploring our own marketplace, we found the following used Foresters.

• A 168,370-mile 2019 Forester Sport is selling for $12,900 in Michigan.
• A 109,938-mile 2020 Forester Sport is selling for $13,995 in New Jersey.
• A 31,519-mile 2021 Forester Premium is selling for $21,997 in Florida.
• A 78,743-mile 2021 Forester 2.5i Limited is selling for $21,999 in Montana.
• A 48,436-mile 2021 Forester Base is selling for $22,999 in Washington.
• A 59,513-mile 2021 Forester Base is selling for $20,455 in Florida.
• A 15,070-mile 2021 Forester 2.5i Premium is selling for $24,271 in New York.

Note that these listings are only provided to give you an example of what's out there. There's no telling what will be available in your area and within your price range when you're ready to go shopping. You'll want to run a search of your own to see what's available.

Based on these listings, $22,000 will pretty much get you your pick of the market. Those older models are priced to move, but you should be aware that the CVT in the Subaru Forester is known to have issues. It's not unusual to see Subaru's unkillable boxer engine outlasting two or more Lineartronic CVTs. This isn't necessarily a reason to avoid older Subarus, but you should budget up to $10,000 for a new CVT if you hope to join the high-mileage club in an older model.

Subarus Are Fairly Cheap To Own

The Subaru Forester is a fairly cheap car to buy, and a cheap car to own. CarEdge estimates annual full-coverage insurance costs at around $2,035 for a 40-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record. According to FuelEconomy.gov, you should be spending around $2,150 a year on refueling at 29 mpg combined, assuming 15,000 miles a year, split 45/55 between highway and city driving.

Add that to $632 in annual maintenance, and a typical Forester driver is spending $4,817 each year in basic ownership costs, not counting depreciation, car payments, and so on. This is well below the average ownership cost of $5,466 (based on typical maintenance, insurance, and fuel expenses, per RepairPal, CarEdge, and FuelEconomy.gov).

If you do want to factor in depreciation, a 2021 Subaru Forester is already over the hump when it comes to the biggest chunks of value loss. CarEdge sees the Forester losing around 35% of residual value in the first half-decade, then taking five more years to lose another 26%. This might not be an issue in the first place because, if you're willing to replace the transmission when it gives out, you could easily keep a Subaru Forester running like new for a decade or longer.

Subaru Is One Of The Most Underrated Brands On The Market Today

The Subaru Crosstrek was named JD Power's most dependable small SUV this year, with the Forester making the top three for compact models. The brand has already won four Top Safety Pick+ awards with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2026, including one for the Forester. The brand routinely produces some of the most versatile daily drivers on the market, with every Subaru SUV proving capable on both the highway and the trail. All that, and Subarus are affordable, too, typically selling for thousands less than a comparable Toyota.

All of this is to say that, if you haven't considered a Subaru, go ahead and consider a Subaru. You may find that it delivers everything you ever wanted from a Toyota, and then some.

Sources: Subaru, Toyota, RepairPal, CarEdge, FuelEconomy.gov.