2016 Subaru Forester vs 2016 Toyota RAV4
Two compact SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2016 Subaru
Forester
7/10
The 2016 Forester is the automotive Labrador: not exciting, endlessly capable, and secretly hiding a piston-ring problem you must screen for.
VS
2016 Toyota
RAV4
7/10
A sensible, high-mileage-capable crossover with a few nagging gremlins (peeling white paint, cloudy headlights, occasional stalling) but the 2AR-FE 2.5L and 6-speed auto are among the most durable powertrains Toyota ever built.
Dead heat: both score 7/10. The tiebreaker is which specific car you find.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Subaru Forester |
Toyota RAV4 |
| Known failure points | 8 | 8 |
| NHTSA complaints | 409 | 234 |
| Safety recalls | 3 | 3 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 0 |
| Reliability | 72 | 86 |
| Cheap to own | 68 | 82 |
| Fun factor | 42 | 28 |
| Holds value | 78 | 78 |
| Enthusiast cred | 55 | 15 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2016 Subaru Forester
CVT (TR580) shudder, judder, or valve body codes (P2764 etc.)
$300–$8,00090k–160k mi
2016 Toyota RAV4
Factory white paint (Blizzard Pearl 070 / Super White 040) delaminating from hood and roof — primer adhesion defect
$800–$3,50030k–60k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2016 Subaru Forester
2016 Forester 2.5i Premium with the All-Weather Package, one owner, dealer-serviced, WITH a documented oil consumption test showing under 1qt/3,000mi, CVT fluid changed at least once, and under 100k miles. Manual transmission if you can find one — they're unicorns and the best-driving Foresters.
✅ 2016 Toyota RAV4
2016 RAV4 XLE AWD in a non-white color (Barcelona Red, Magnetic Gray, or Silver Sky), with the Advanced Technology Package (blind spot + power liftgate), one or two owners, and dealer-stamped service records showing transmission and rear diff fluid changes. Bonus points for the SE trim if you can find one.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
Run my free report →
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Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.