Subaru Forester vs Toyota RAV4: cost to own

Verdict, over 6 years

They cost about the same

Within $315: too close to call. Closest matching trims: same fuel and drive where possible.

Forester Convenience$1,024/moTrue cost

RAV4 LE$1,020/moTrue cost

2026 Subaru Forester

Closest matching trim: Forester Convenience

Sticker (MSRP)$34,195

+$7,657→↓Freight, fees, HST

Drive away$41,852

+ running costs→↓− $19,897 resale

True cost$1,024/moA month to own, after resale

2026 Toyota RAV4

Closest matching trim: RAV4 LE

Sticker (MSRP)$37,500

+$8,359→↓Freight, fees, HST

Drive away$45,859

+ running costs→↓− $24,454 resale

True cost$1,020/moA month to own, after resale

Line by line


Price
Sticker (MSRP)	✓ $34,195	$37,500	Forester by $3,305
Freight and fees, before tax	✓ $2,842	$3,083	Forester by $241
Sales tax (HST)	✓ $4,815	$5,276	Forester by $461
Drive-away price	✓ $41,852	$45,859	Forester by $4,007
Running costs, 6 years
Fuel or charging	$13,727	✓ $9,207	RAV4 by $4,520
Insurance (estimate)	✓ $12,076	$16,299	Forester by $4,223
Maintenance (estimate)	$9,324	✓ $8,239	RAV4 by $1,085
Loan rate	6.5%	6.5%	—
Loan interest	✓ $7,750	$8,593	Forester by $843
Lost return on your money	✓ $8,810	$9,583	Forester by $773
Resale after 6 yrs	−$19,897	✓ −$24,454	RAV4 by $4,557
Total
True cost	$73,733	✓ $73,418	RAV4 by $315
True cost a month	$1,024/mo	✓ $1,020/mo	RAV4 by $4
You pay each month	✓ $1,109/mo	$1,157/mo	Forester by $48
Practical
Fuel type	Gas	Hybrid	—
Seats	5	5	—
Carry-ons, 2 people	Not published	8+	—
Towing, lb	—	1,750	—
Built in Canada	—	Woodstock, ON; Cambridge, ON	—
Cargo behind row 2, litres	Not published	1,070	—
Length	—	4.60 m	—
Ground clearance	—	21 cm	—
Resale % after 6 yrs	58%	✓ 65%	—
US crash test	✓ 5★	Not rated yet	—
European crash test	✓ 5★ (2024)	—	—

Price

Sticker (MSRP)

Forester Convenience ✓ $34,195RAV4 LE $37,500Cheaper by Forester by $3,305

Freight and fees, before tax

Forester Convenience ✓ $2,842RAV4 LE $3,083Cheaper by Forester by $241

Sales tax (HST)

Forester Convenience ✓ $4,815RAV4 LE $5,276Cheaper by Forester by $461

Drive-away price

Forester Convenience ✓ $41,852RAV4 LE $45,859Cheaper by Forester by $4,007

Running costs, 6 years

Fuel or charging

Forester Convenience $13,727RAV4 LE ✓ $9,207Cheaper by RAV4 by $4,520

Insurance (estimate)

Forester Convenience ✓ $12,076RAV4 LE $16,299Cheaper by Forester by $4,223

Maintenance (estimate)

Forester Convenience $9,324RAV4 LE ✓ $8,239Cheaper by RAV4 by $1,085

Loan rate

Forester Convenience 6.5%RAV4 LE 6.5%Cheaper by —

Loan interest

Forester Convenience ✓ $7,750RAV4 LE $8,593Cheaper by Forester by $843

Lost return on your money

Forester Convenience ✓ $8,810RAV4 LE $9,583Cheaper by Forester by $773

Resale after 6 yrs

Forester Convenience −$19,897RAV4 LE ✓ −$24,454Cheaper by RAV4 by $4,557

Total

True cost

Forester Convenience $73,733RAV4 LE ✓ $73,418Cheaper by RAV4 by $315

True cost a month

Forester Convenience $1,024/moRAV4 LE ✓ $1,020/moCheaper by RAV4 by $4

You pay each month

Forester Convenience ✓ $1,109/moRAV4 LE $1,157/moCheaper by Forester by $48

Practical

Fuel type

Forester Convenience GasRAV4 LE HybridCheaper by —

Seats

Forester Convenience 5RAV4 LE 5Cheaper by —

Carry-ons, 2 people

Forester Convenience Not publishedRAV4 LE 8+Cheaper by —

Towing, lb

Forester Convenience —RAV4 LE 1,750Cheaper by —

Built in Canada

Forester Convenience —RAV4 LE Woodstock, ON; Cambridge, ONCheaper by —

Cargo behind row 2, litres

Forester Convenience Not publishedRAV4 LE 1,070Cheaper by —

Length

Forester Convenience —RAV4 LE 4.60 mCheaper by —

Ground clearance

Forester Convenience —RAV4 LE 21 cmCheaper by —

Resale % after 6 yrs

Forester Convenience 58%RAV4 LE ✓ 65%Cheaper by —

US crash test

Forester Convenience ✓ 5★RAV4 LE Not rated yetCheaper by —

European crash test

Forester Convenience ✓ 5★ (2024)RAV4 LE —Cheaper by —

✓ marks the better figure. Resale for both is from their own used prices (unless you lease). These trims differ in fuel (gas vs hybrid), which drives part of the gap. Their stickers differ by $3,305.