4Runner vs. Forester

[RL Lemke]

I have the V8 4Runner and my wife a Forester, so this comparison may be more interesting to me.

My 4Runner has the Icon 3" lift, and there are a lot of Foresters with a 2" lift.

Just returned from driving 2,000 miles in the Forester:

Driving my speeds in a strong headwind the Forester gets a little over 17 mpg. Where as my V8 would get a little over 12 mpg. - 40% more.

Driving without headwind the Forester gets a little over 20 mpg. Where my V8 would get a little over 14 mpg, to 15 mpg. - 30% more.

Both are fulltime 4 wheel drive.

YouTube

Odds are strong that gasoline will remain priced as it is these days because of all the domestic production. This makes me more concerned with meeting all my off-road and carrying capacity needs more than getting 33% to 40% more gas mileage.

Even with the current V6 4Runners, I can carry a motorcycle on the back, but the Forester would require a trailer.

It is interesting that Subaru sells skid plates in aluminum and steel for the engine area and rear differential.

 

[Blue109]

I have an older outback, and was considering buying a new one when I was vehicle shopping. The mandatory CVT was the nail in that coffin. hard pass until they get those all sorted out.

 

[jordanrb81]

I saw this a few weeks ago on youtube and almost posted it, as they mention our little forum by name. I think it's sort of a silly comparison. I mean maybe I am being self centered (because I certainly didn't consider the forester) but most of the people I know considered a Jeep Wrangler or Grand Cherokee, or the Nissan Xterra, an older land rover maybe. I mean I just don't see a lot of cross shoppers. Perhaps there is also more cross over with different trims? I have a TRD Off Road specifically bought for crawl control and the locking diff. also I tow with it so the 5,000 lb tow rating is a factor. The comparison is kind of a joke imo

 

[MAST4R]

There are reasonably long threads about Outback vs 4Runner on the OB forum. I have been an active participant....

I am sure there are many on this forum for whom functionally an H6 or soon-to-be turbo Outback is the better choice than a 5th gen 4R.

The ht-CVT that is mated to turbo or H6 engines performs great. Whether it would last as well as the old 5EAt or a Toyota 5EAT is another question.

For me, the best for offroading modern Subaru was the 2009-13 FXT followed by the 2006-08 FXT with VDC and the 2010-4 H6 5 EAt OB that I had.

The FXT on a 2" lift can handle pretty much any moderate trail I have driven though it would often be challenging whereas moderate trails are easy to drive in my 4R, just often bumpy and slow going. Moderate as in the Charlie Wells books (blue trails) or 4-5s in Peter Massey's. My OB could handle most moderates on a 2" lift but not all due to the bumpers.

At the end, it is pretty simple for me:
--for serious off-road use and a BIG, functional cargo area, and long highway trips 4R
--for bad weather on road, long highway trips and dirt plus occasional easy trails: H6 Outback
--for bad weather on road, fun driving experience and up to moderate trails: FXT. Of course, there is no longer an FXT so there goes that.

 

[msp]

If all you care about is gas mileage, you should stay with the Subaru. If you need any of the 4Runner's off road abilities, and let's be real, most people don't, you should stay with the 4Runner. I've had Subaru's. They're great in the winters here. I prefer the 4Runner for the few weeks a year I can get out to the southwest and wheel (a little). I think the orange highlights on the Forester look ridiculous, but they don't give you a delete option on that trim. And a better cross-shop would be the upcoming 2020 RAV4 TRD Off-Road, because Toyota is putting TRD stickers on every model these days. More cowbell, yea!

 

[JayceeP]

That seems like pretty crappy fuel economy... figured a car like the forester would be better.

 

[MAST4R]

That seems like pretty crappy fuel economy... figured a car like the forester would be better.

Yeah, that sounds like an FXT not a naturally aspirated 4. An FXT is worth the penalty but is no longer offered.

The new n/a Outbacks easily get 30+.

The problem witb the na H4 is that when you load them up, they are slow and not very efficient either. So my loaded H6 Outback on KO2s got 21-22with a small trailer on thw highway vs like 24 for a na H4. Empty I was 24 vs 30+ on the H4s.

 

[04rnr]

I work at a Subi dealer, save your time and money and buy a 4runner.
:noidea:

 

[molecularman]

My wife's 15 Forester gets around 30mpg on the highway.


I understand the cross-shop, I'm living it. Don't really like the newer gen Forester. It just feels so boring and lacks the simplistic quirky nature of the older models. See so many grandmas driving them. If I could find a lower mileage 11-13 XT I might go that way.


I love the 4Runner, but hate the terrible gas mileage and it's seems silly to spend that much on a vehicle that will rarely be used on trails. 99.9% of the time if I needed something more than was a Subaru could provide, I wouldn't be on it.

With that being said - I still want to get a 4Runner

 

[Daikon]

Is the Forester the XT trim?

 

[t4nader]

I think rather than looking at cost of fuel which is short term stuff look at the long run of things. The 4runner is going to outlive the Subaru. Cost of repair for the 4runner is going to be cheaper as well. the Subaru is probably electronic everything vs the 4runner is a real 4wd. the Subaru uses a cvt tranny which not sure for your case but I have heard them to be quite troublesome and a costly repair and or replacement. Theres a lot more to consider than just mpg counting. hope I helped!

 

[RL Lemke]

Just showing a video link to a magazine comparison between the two.

In addition, my real comparison of gas mileage.

My 4Runner holds double the luggage without dropping the back seat. This is better for longer trips.

After listening to me for a week, my wife told me to get another 4Runner.

The 2020 TRD Pro or Premium Trail 4Runner are the plan.

Here is the fact about forest road and desert exploration: 95% is certainly fine for a Subaru. BUT, there are those Oh Crap!!! sections of any adventure where you need a 4Runner, or even a Jeep Rubicon. Or, better yet, one of my dirt bikes.

 

[RL Lemke]

My report of real world gas mileage allows those with a lead foot, speed loving drivers, mountain pass flyers, to see what to expect in both the 2.5 liter Subaru flat 4, and the V8 4.7 4Runner.

The XT Forester is dead for 2019 and not returning.
The TRD Supercharger for the 4Runner is dead and not returning.

That said, should I miss the V8 performance, I will add the aftermarket supercharger to the V6 4Runner.

 

[RL Lemke]

Is the Forester the XT trim?

Nope, a 2016 with the regular 2.5.

 

[RL Lemke]

My wife's 15 Forester gets around 30mpg on the highway.

Obviously, I drive differently that your wife, or my wife for that matter.

How many here can tell you what speed their 4Runner limiter kicks in at? Mine does at 125 mph, per GPS. (Closed course where no animals were hurt.)

 

[JVC8790]

As another Forester (wife) and 4Runner (me) owner, the Forester is for sure a better roadtrip car. It gets better mileage, is similarly comfortable, and is a bit "easier" of a car to drive for an extended period of time, especially if it's windy, or crappy outside. Of course if the trip involved offroading more than a washboard/dirt road, the 4Runner would blow past the Forester, but lets be honest, 99% of my road tripping is on pavement with the occasional gravel road.

That being said, I still love my 4Runner and the Foz (2010 2.5 NA) is slow and doesn't make cool noises like my V8 does, so from an entertainment value point, the 4Runner offers better smiles per gallon.

 

[jordanrb81]

So, I must confess I stand corrected. I really thought 0% of people had both of these cars on their short list. (assuming you folks use that process) But it seems there are a fair few. Seems even more folks have one of each, this makes more sense to me. I mean I drive a 4Runner and my wife drive a C300 4Matic... we put snows on it in winter and like a Subaru it's a tank in the snow, but otherwise they are totally different vehicles, each good in their own way.

 

[RL Lemke]

A practical and value oriented person requiring 4 wheel drive would consider a Subaru. With the new for 2019 - 2 stage X-Mode, it has sophisticated crawl capabilities, which means a lot in deep snow. Plenty of YouTube videos showing how well it works. Add to that the factory skid plates, the short wheelbase and 8.7" minimum clearance and many adventure roads are open for exploration safely. The Forester can easily be lifted 2" with spacer lifts.

An off-road devotee would prefer the 4Runner. The Off-Road or TRD options make for a high level of capability. Add KDSS, a lift and good tires and you have a winning combination of carrying capacity and capability.

My experience with travel with the Forester lends me to think that the 4Runner is more comfortable and easier to travel with. Quieter too, though the world platform 2019 is supposed to be quieter.

My biggest concern with any Subaru is longevity with the use of a CVT off-road. On the Forester forum they say sell the CVT cars before the 100,000 mile warranty expires. CVT repairs are reported to be $10,000.

 

[whiplashtx]

I currently have a Subaru Crosstrek and while it does surprisingly well off road there's no getting around the lack of 4lo.

 

[Sonnystile]

I have the V8 4Runner and my wife a Forester, so this comparison may be more interesting to me.

My 4Runner has the Icon 3" lift, and there are a lot of Foresters with a 2" lift.

Just returned from driving 2,000 miles in the Forester:

Driving my speeds in a strong headwind the Forester gets a little over 17 mpg. Where as my V8 would get a little over 12 mpg. - 40% more.

Driving without headwind the Forester gets a little over 20 mpg. Where my V8 would get a little over 14 mpg, to 15 mpg. - 30% more.

Both are fulltime 4 wheel drive.

YouTube

Odds are strong that gasoline will remain priced as it is these days because of all the domestic production. This makes me more concerned with meeting all my off-road and carrying capacity needs more than getting 33% to 40% more gas mileage.

Even with the current V6 4Runners, I can carry a motorcycle on the back, but the Forester would require a trailer.

It is interesting that Subaru sells skid plates in aluminum and steel for the engine area and rear differential.

You carry a Hypermotard on your hitch?!?!

I was worried about toting my little XT250 back there!

Which carrier do you use? Mine was some generic off Amazon and I don’t remember the name.






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