2019 Subaru Forester vs. 2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road: Which Is Best On and Off the Road?

Edmunds editors Travis Langness and Calvin Kim take the new Subaru Forester and Toyota 4Runner on a trip to the local mountains to showcase each vehicle's strengths and weaknesses on and off the road. It's all to answer the pressing question: Does the car industry's near ideal crossover have what it takes to challenge Toyota's very definition of an SUV? How do these two fare on the roads that real people drive every day? How are they when asphalt turns to dirt? Find out as we answer these questions!

Q: How much power do the 2019 Subaru Forester Touring and the 2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road make?
A: The Forester is available with a 2.5-liter flat-four that makes 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The 4Runner comes with a 4.0-liter V6 that produces 270 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque.

Q: How do these cars work?
A: The Forester is equipped with a continuously variable automatic transmission, while the 4Runner uses a five-speed automatic. While both drive all four wheels, they do it very differently. The Forester uses a variable clutch system to engage and disengage the rear wheels as traction is needed in conjunction with active brake control to limit wheelspin. The 4Runner can send its power to just the rear wheels for routine street driving or engage H4 to mechanically connect the front wheels to the rest of the drivetrain. For more torque, shift further to the low range, L4. The Toyota's system is mechanical and requires a firm hand on the transfer case shift lever for actuation. Other 4Runner models are equipped with a variable system that's easier to operate at the expense of outright mechanical connectivity.

Q: How much do these things cost?
A: As equipped, our 2019 Subaru Forester Touring totaled $35,270, while our 2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road rang in at $40,820. Both prices include destination and handling charges.

Read our review of the 2019 Toyota 4Runner here: https://www.edmunds.com/toyota/4runner/2019/
Read our review of the 2019 Subaru Forester here: https://www.edmunds.com/subaru/forester/2019/

Subscribe to Edmunds to get all of the latest car reviews, automotive news, car comparisons and shopping advice.

Edmunds – we help you find your perfect car with unbiased and useful reviews, advice, pricing and tools. Visit us at https://www.edmunds.com/.