Looking for a trustworthy SUV to jazz up your drives through Vermont? Burlington Subaru is proud to present a head-to-head matchup between two of the most popular SUVs with our 2025 Subaru Forester vs. 2025 Toyota RAV4 comparison. Both models offer versatility, comfort and modern features, but only one is better suited for your daily commutes, weekend getaways, and all-weather journeys: the Forester.
The 2025 Subaru Forester has earned a loyal following in Chittenden County for its legendary standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, impressive ground clearance and rugged yet refined design. Let the Burlington Subaru sales team help you compare these standout SUVs so you can see why the new Forester is the perfect fit for Queen City Subaru fans.
Compare 2025 Subaru Forester Specs & Performance
Where the new Subaru Forester shines is its adventure-ready attitude with up to 8.7 inches of ground clearance and standard AWD -- a perfect combination for Vermont's snowy roads and unpaved adventures. The RAV4 falls short in this regard, with less ground clearance even on its most rugged models and for-cost rather than standard AWD.
Under the hood, the 2025 Forester features a 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER® 4-cylinder engine which remains the durable and reliable powerplant it has always been. The BOXER® engine design remains a Subaru exclusive, so don't expect to find any new RAV4 featuring an engine employing this layout.
By staying true to the horizontally opposed cylinder configuration, the Subaru engine effectively lowers the Forester SUV's center of gravity by keeping its weight low in the engine bay; this results in sharper handling and other benefits relative to a traditional inline four-cylinder like that found in the RAV4. You'll also enjoy great Forester mpg ratings thanks to the efficiency of a SUBARU BOXER® engine.
With all this and so much more to its credit, how could you not choose Forester vs. RAV4 every time?
2025 Subaru Forester
- Standard Engine: 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER® 4-cylinder
- Standard Ground Clearance (in.): 8.7
- All-Wheel Drive: Standard Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
2025 Toyota RAV4
- Standard Engine: 2.5-liter Dynamic Force 4-cylinder
- Standard Ground Clearance (in.): 8.6
- All-Wheel Drive: Available
Is the 2025 Subaru Forester a Good Family Vehicle?
The 2025 Subaru Forester lineup boasts fresh styling, smart safety tech and much more. Highlights include its EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology, an ever-vigilant system that will step in immediately in select situations to help you avoid a collision. The Subaru offers incredible tech, and many prefer it over the Toyota Safety Sense system due to how well it has been integrated into the car's mechanical systems. Transitions to automatic braking are seamless, and systems like Lane-Keep Assist offer gentle corrections rather than abrupt interruptions.
As for the Forester dimensions, the interior offers a max 74.4 cubic feet of cargo volume, a figure that is as impressive as it is thanks to the practical yet stylish shape of the Forester. The RAV4? It only has up to 69.8 cubic feet of room for luggage and groceries -- and we don't think it gains any style points despite its space-compromised exterior design.
Similarly, Forester passengers get more front legroom and rear legroom relative to the RAV4. In other words, the Forester is bigger in almost every way that counts -- while retaining a practical, maneuverable outside footprint. That's smart design. That's Forester.
2025 Subaru Forester
- Max Cargo Volume (cu. ft.): 74.4
- Front Legroom (in.): 43.3
- Rear Legroom (in.): 39.4
- Standard Safety Suite: Subaru EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology
2025 Toyota RAV4
- Max Cargo Volume (cu. ft.): 69.8
- Front Legroom (in.): 41.0
- Rear Legroom (in.): 37.8
- Standard Safety Suite: Toyota Safety Sense 2.5
Buy a 2025 Forester in Vermont
Ready to explore the 2025 Subaru Forester vs. competing SUVs in more detail? Our local Subaru dealership is your destination for discovering this outstanding new SUV. Contact Burlington Subaru and trade up to a new Forester, the affordable new SUV that is ready to take you on unforgettable adventures every time you start the engine.
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