Kinda depends on the type of snow. I'm pretty sure a Subaru would have struggled out here on Tuesday morning. Although I didn't see any, so who knows...

Uhh we just drove from Montana through Utah completely in snow and the 4Runner performed great in it. Only other car I've done that in was a VW Bug. I guess the Subaru would be fine to and from a ski lift. My daughter in law has one, which should tell you who they appeal to.

Now we're talking. Whereabouts are you in Utah?

On road, on snow and ice there's no comparison between a 4Runner and a Subaru. Subaru wins hands down except maybe against a Limited with its full time 4WD.

Any Sport wagon like a Quattro or Subie is better.

Even with crappy all-season tires my Macan outperforms my 4Runner that has dedicated Nokians.

Specifically curvy snow-capped mountain roads… I was driving without chains and switching between AWD and 4WD (locking and unlocking the center diff).

I was pretty surprised at how much better the truck felt when accelerating though a turns, traction control was quieter when unlocked. I also felt less scrubbing/binding in driveways and parking lots. It was easier to "break it loose" when locked. It was more fun to drive, but it was also less safe. I had more control unlocked.

In deep snow like you have in your photo, I don’t think it really matters. 4Runner will do better with clearance, and perhaps even better with a locked center. That looks much more challenging.

Every awd rav 4 has the ability to lock the center diff.

People must be talking about two different types of driving. Obviously the Subaru doesn’t “win” versus a part-time 4WD 4Runner in 12+ inches of snow. As for AWD vehicles on much less snow and on ice, enough people say they’re better that it must be true. I’ve never owned one so I wouldn’t know. As for me, I prefer the 4Runner’s ability to go more places than an AWD car can go.

Yes, but previous models locked with an clutch pack.

I recently learned NOT all Subaru AWD is created equal… it appears the tech is different between the Auto, Manual, and CVT. The STI has some Tier 1 stuff and outperforms the rest of their fleet too.

I saw this video and found it interesting.
YouTube

I think it’s important to note that Toyota traditionally made all the past generation 4Runners in AWD/4WD. Same tech as the Land Cruiser transfercase. It was an all mode all terrain type of deal. From snow ice to real locked 1:1 axle ratio for off-road. It’s not until the 5th gen came around they changed it on everything except the Limited. We used to have it all in the past generations, even the SR5, poor man’s Land Cruiser if you will.

I feel a better comparison would be to compare it to the Highlander as it is also unibody. The 4Runner is a body in frame brute that is built to last. Kind of like trying to compare apples to oranges ��

Few friends with 2016+ Subarus have all been towed to the dealer for a variety of reasons. All street driven, zero off-road time. Many Subaru burn excessive amounts of oil. Latest is the Starlink infotainment going dead with 6 month back order on the newer models. The CVT is the real bummer, in any vehicle.

Out in the west desert. Skiing was overcrowded. So I took the dog and went looking for wild horses. Saw a few. Opened my camera case and had all my lenses... and no body. Lol. There's actually not much snow out there. Only a quarter mile or so of drifts. I actually did my best to get stuck but it wasn't deep enough even in the deepest spot. It can get pretty difficult out there, but it's not at the moment.

I've owned 7 Subarus in various forms (3 STi's, Legacy GT and 2 Impreza RS's, one I still have and is heavily modified for SCCA racing). I also had a manual Forester XT. They were all great cars and very capable, but I would not put it in the same class as the 4Runner for anything but light offroading and rallying. Mind you, all these cars that I owned were running the EJ25 series engines that were pre-2006. As much as I love Subarus, I would definitely not buy one today.

LOL, if anyone is looking, I'm actually selling a 2005 Forester 5spd that I'm moving to make room for my 2013 TE. I know the Subie is better on gas, and certainly less effort in the snow. Ground clearance isn't bad, carrying capacity is great, but it can't tow my boat or ATVs, and can't quite keep up off road. Oh...and I don't have to constantly chase oil leaks, oil burn, do head gaskets every 80k miles and timing belts ever 90k.

It is a ridiculous comparison, almost like comparing an F-150 and a Miata (well not quite that extreme, but still, come on).

We currently have 3 Subarus in the family in addition to the 18 TRDOP (98 Legacy [son], 08 Impreza hatch [daughter], 16 WRX [wife/me]). We also used to have an 11 Forester, one of the infamous oil burners that got traded on the WRX. They are/were all manuals and are all great on the snowy roads we have around here all winter with their full time AWD and dedicated snow tires. You just never have to think about it with them. The 4Runner is like going back in time to our old ‘81 Toyota pu or Isuzu Trooper, with having to shift into and back out of 4wd to pull out in to traffic on the clear main streets from ice packed side streets. I don’t mind it at all, but you just don’t even have to think about it in AWD.

It is a total toss up for the wife and I over which vehicle we’d rather take in the morning between the WRX and the 4Runner. They are both white, both have hood scoops (one of them functional ), and are otherwise about as opposite in design and driving dynamics as you can get. I love them both, but you really can’t meaningfully compare them. They have different missions in life. Go get one of each.