Off the beaten battlefield, it's the road warriors left standing that make the grade. Here in Vernon, CT, they're those that held the line in the new Subaru Forester vanguard. Explore our extensive inventory here at Suburban Subaru, and we think you'll find it plain to see how our new SUV came out the victor against models like the new Toyota RAV4.
In the first foray, the new 2018 Subaru Forester headed out the gate offering 2.5-liter, four-cylinder and turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder SUBARU BOXER engine options. Toyota RAV4 remained on the defensive with only one, a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder DOHC. Each assailant could boast comparable base horsepower and torque, but it was the higher performance of 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque in upper Forester trims that left the standard 176 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of the new RAV4 jockeying for rank.
What's more, the new Forester base pulled ahead further with front-line fuel economy of up to 26 mpg in the city and 32 highway mpg, depending upon trim, while its Toyota SUV rival stuck it out with up to a respective 23 mpg and 30 mpg. Handling in 2018 Forester also proved more of a breeze, as our Subaru delivered on trim-dependent fully synchronized six-speed manual and Lineartronic® CVT transmission options, the latter with Adaptive Control and the hill-hauling chops of Incline Start Assist. Even the CVT-equipped Forester 2.0XT trim line offered sporty six- and eight-speed manual modes, for hands-on thrills. Toyota RAV4, however, struck short of these marks, only offering its own six-speed electronically controlled auto with intelligence (ECT-i).
At the end of the charge, it was the mainstays of the new 2018 Forester that took the championship. Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive comes standard in all its many trims, for example, but Toyota RAV4, though making available on-demand Dynamic Torque-Control AWD with intelligence (AWD-i), made it so only optionally. Plus, for the boatload of spoils to go to Subaru Forester, the SUV offers up to 74.7 cubic feet of cargo space, made possible by lowering its rear 60/40-split folding seatbacks. The new Toyota RAV4 offers but 73.4 cubic feet.
You can see how our compact SUV performs for yourself right here in Vernon. Let the friendly specialists here at Suburban Subaru take you on a guided test-drive tour. When you're ready to take one home, you can even avail yourself of one of numerous special finance and lease offers to help you step into the driver's seat.
