RAV4 vs Subaru Outback and Crosstrek: which rides softer and is easier to get in and out of?

So a lot of people looking at a RAV4 are also looking at a Subaru. Some are coming down from a Toyota Highlander, some are coming up from a Toyota Camry, and some have had a knee or hip replaced. And the questions are pretty much the same. Will it ride smoothly? Can I slide in and out without climbing or dropping? And is the RAV4 too tall? So in this guide I'll compare the RAV4 with the Subaru Outback and Crosstrek on ride comfort and getting in and out. And I'll cover the price, mpg and AWD basics you'll need to decide.

Quick picks

RAV4 vs Outback vs Crosstrek side by side (2026 and 2027 models)

So here's the short version in one table. Prices are MSRP, the maker's suggested price, before the delivery fee, as of October 15, 2026. I explain each row further down.

Ride comfort: RAV4 vs Outback vs Crosstrek

So the testers agree on ride comfort. Every current Outback and Crosstrek rides softer than the 2019 to 2026 RAV4. Here's how each one did, by year.

What Consumer Reports found, by model and year

• 2019 to 2025 RAV4, gas and Hybrid: Consumer Reports calls the ride stiff and "a little jumpy," and the gas engine noisy. That's the stiffest ride of this group.
• 2026 RAV4 Hybrid: Consumer Reports says the redesign brought a more comfortable ride, shorter stops and a quieter cabin. But Consumer Reports also lists a cramped driving position, uncomfortable armrests and a center console that gets in the way.
• 2020 to 2025 Outback: Consumer Reports calls the ride very comfortable.
• 2026 Outback: Consumer Reports calls the ride "exceptionally compliant," with comfortable seats front and back. The catch is the base 180 hp engine, which Consumer Reports found slow and noisy. And in its video review, Consumer Reports heard too much wind, road and tire noise.
• 2019 to 2023 Crosstrek: Consumer Reports found a smooth ride and a roomy back seat.
• 2024 to 2027 Crosstrek: Consumer Reports calls the ride composed and absorbent, and says people inside barely notice things like sunken manhole covers. And Consumer Reports says the Crosstrek Hybrid rides even slightly better.

What the side by side tests found

• 2026 RAV4 Limited vs 2026 Outback Touring XT: Car Confections drove both on the same rough Arizona roads. They said both soak up bumps easily, with a slight edge to the Outback for its softer suspension and smaller wheels. The RAV4 was on 20-inch wheels and the Outback on 19s. The RAV4 was quieter, but by less than 1 decibel.
• 2024 RAV4 TRD Off-Road vs 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness: On a 2-hour highway drive, Driving Sports TV felt "every pothole" in the gas RAV4 and called its suspension very stiff. They preferred the Crosstrek for everyday cruising. Keep in mind the TRD Off-Road has its own firmer suspension, so it isn't the softest RAV4.
• 2025 Crosstrek Limited vs 2025 RAV4 Hybrid SE: Automotive Anonymous owns both. They said the Crosstrek "probably has a more comfortable seat" for long drives. And they said their RAV4 Hybrid isn't much roomier inside, even though the RAV4 is a size bigger.

And one RAV4 owner on my RAV4 comfort and easy access guide said their RAV4 felt less planted on the highway than their old Outback. So ultimately, if a soft ride matters most, the Outback and Crosstrek are ahead. But the 2026 RAV4 rides noticeably better than the 2019 to 2025 RAV4 did, so the gap is smaller than it used to be. For cabin noise, my RAV4 road noise guide compares the RAV4 with its rivals.

Getting in and out: seat height, door openings and legroom

So the first thing to know is that Toyota and Subaru don't publish a seat height for the RAV4, Outback or Crosstrek. Seat height is how high the seat cushion sits off the ground, and it's the number that matters most for bad knees and hips. So any seat height comparison you see online is a guess. Consumer Reports does say the 2026 Outback and the 2024 to 2027 Crosstrek are easy to get in and out of.

Overall height by model and year

Now overall height isn't the seat height. But a lower roof usually means a lower seat, so it's a fair guide to which one sits lower.

Keep in mind the ground clearance of the regular RAV4, Outback and Crosstrek trims is within 0.6 inches of each other. So the Crosstrek's lower roof mostly means a lower cabin, not a lower floor.

Which one is easiest to get in and out of, by body type

• If you're shorter, or you're coming out of a sedan like a Camry: The Crosstrek's lower seat will likely be the easiest to sit down into.
• If your knees or hips make it hard to stand up from a low seat: A RAV4 or the 2026 Outback will likely suit you better. Basically, you slide across at about hip height instead of dropping down and pushing back up.
• If you're tall: The Outback has 43.0 inches of front legroom and the Crosstrek has 42.9, against 41.0 in the 2026 RAV4. So both Subarus give you about 2 more inches to slide the seat back.

Door openings and what to watch for

So Consumer Reports' video on the 2026 Outback found big door openings, regular door handles and a "pretty nice ride height." Getting into the 2026 Outback's back seat is easy too, thanks to the flat roof. But there are two things to watch. You'll duck a little under the windshield pillar getting in. And the door sill has a sharp edge you can bump your calf on. Some of the taller testers also wanted the 2026 Outback's driver's seat to go lower.

And Automotive Anonymous found the 2025 Crosstrek's rear doors open wider than the 2025 RAV4's, even though the Crosstrek is the smaller car. On the 2026 Outback, Car Confections measured almost 3 more inches of rear knee room than in the 2026 RAV4, behind a 5-foot-8 driver. Back seat legroom is 39.5 inches in the 2026 Outback, 37.8 in the 2026 RAV4 and 36.5 in the gas Crosstrek.

Lifting a walker or golf bag into the back

So liftover is how high the edge of the cargo floor sits off the ground. On a 2026 RAV4 it's about 28 inches. On the Crosstrek and Crosstrek Hybrid, Subaru lists 30.7 inches, or 31.3 on the Crosstrek Wilderness. So lifting a walker into a Crosstrek means lifting it about 3 inches higher than into a 2026 RAV4. Subaru doesn't publish a liftover height for the 2026 Outback. My guide to what fits in a RAV4 goes through the RAV4's cargo floor in detail.

The best way to test all three

So since there's no published seat height to compare, the dealer lot is the real test. Sit in each one, set the seat the way you'd drive, then get out and back in three times. Do the same in the back seat if someone rides there every week. And notice where you duck and where your leg catches on the sill. My RAV4 comfort and easy access guide has the easiest way to get in and out, plus owner tape measurements of the RAV4's seat height.

Snow and AWD: RAV4 vs Outback and Crosstrek

So every Outback and Crosstrek, every year, has Subaru's full-time Symmetrical AWD. That's the same kind of AWD the Subaru Forester uses. Basically, a driveshaft sends the engine's power to all four wheels all the time. On the RAV4 side, the 2019 to 2025 RAV4 Hybrid and every 2026 RAV4 with AWD use a separate electric motor on the rear axle, with no driveshaft. I explain how each system works, and what the snow tests showed, in my RAV4 vs Forester guide.

Now the only same-day snow test with a Crosstrek is from Driving Sports TV. They took a 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness and a 2024 RAV4 TRD Off-Road up a deep-snow hill at about 0 to 7 °F.

• In the deep snow: The Crosstrek got further up the hill on normal tire pressure. The RAV4's AWD overheated several times, even with the tire pressure lowered.
• The tires: The Crosstrek Wilderness was on its factory Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015, which is three-peak rated, the symbol for a snow-rated tire. In the Crosstrek Wilderness's factory size, 225/60R17, the G015 was $275.90 a tire at SimpleTire on October 15, 2026. The RAV4 was on its factory Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail, which the host said isn't three-peak rated in the size tested. In the RAV4 TRD Off-Road's factory size, 225/60R18, the Wildpeak A/T Trail 01A was $221.10 a tire at SimpleTire on October 15, 2026.
• The verdict: The host called the Subaru the overall winner, helped by its tires. Keep in mind this was the gas RAV4 with torque vectoring AWD, not a RAV4 Hybrid.

And for clearance, the Outback and Crosstrek sit at 8.7 inches against 8.1 on the 2026 RAV4 Hybrid. So the real gap is 0.6 inches. The Wilderness trims go higher, at 9.3 inches on the Crosstrek and 9.5 on the Outback.

Something to note is that the RAV4 also comes with front-wheel drive, and Subaru doesn't sell a front-wheel drive Outback or Crosstrek. My guide to how RAV4 AWD works shows which RAV4 has which system. And for winter driving tips and tires, see my guide to the RAV4 in snow.

Price by trim (2026 RAV4, 2026 Outback and 2027 Crosstrek)

So here are the starting prices as MSRP, before the delivery fee, as of October 15, 2026. Subaru hasn't announced 2027 Outback prices yet.

So the cheapest AWD RAV4, the RAV4 Hybrid LE AWD, is $1,695 less than the cheapest Outback. But the gas Crosstrek Base is $6,305 less than the RAV4 Hybrid LE AWD. And the Crosstrek Sport Hybrid is $695 more than the RAV4 Hybrid LE AWD. Something to note is that Subaru dropped the gas Crosstrek Sport for 2027, so the 2027 Crosstrek Sport now comes only as a Hybrid. For what RAV4 buyers actually pay over or under sticker, see my guide to 2026 RAV4 dealer markups.

Gas mileage and what it costs each year

So gas mileage is the RAV4's biggest win. Here are the EPA combined ratings, which mix city and highway driving.

Now here's my own math at 12,000 miles a year and $4.33 a gallon, which was AAA's national average on October 14, 2026.

• 2026 RAV4 Hybrid LE AWD at 42 mpg: About $1,237 a year in gas.
• 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid at 36 mpg: About $1,443 a year, or about $206 more than the RAV4 Hybrid.
• 2026 gas Crosstrek at 29 mpg: About $1,792 a year, or about $555 more than the RAV4 Hybrid.
• 2026 Outback 2.5-liter at 27 mpg: About $1,924 a year, or about $687 more than the RAV4 Hybrid.

So against the 2026 Outback, the RAV4 Hybrid LE AWD costs less to buy and about $687 a year less to fuel. But against the gas Crosstrek Base, the $6,305 price gap, before delivery fees, would take about 11 years of gas savings to make up.

Towing, spare tire and power

So the RAV4 Hybrid tows the most for the money. The 2026 RAV4 Hybrid SE, XLE Premium, XSE, Woodland and Limited with AWD tow 3,500 pounds. The 2026 Outback tows 2,700 pounds with the 2.5-liter, and 3,500 with the turbo on the XT and Wilderness. The gas Crosstrek and Crosstrek Hybrid tow 1,500 pounds, or 3,500 on the gas Crosstrek Wilderness. My RAV4 towing guide goes through hitches and limits.

And every RAV4 has a compact spare tire. The 2026 Outback and gas Crosstrek have a temporary spare, and the Outback Wilderness gets a full-size one. But Subaru's 2026 trim comparison lists no spare on the Crosstrek Hybrid. So if you drive long empty roads, check the Crosstrek Hybrid's cargo floor at the dealer.

Now for power, the 2026 RAV4 Hybrid makes 236 horsepower with AWD. The Crosstrek Hybrid makes 194, and the gas Crosstrek and base Outback make 180. The turbo engine in the Outback XT trims and the Outback Wilderness makes 260, and Car Confections found the Outback Touring XT quicker than the RAV4 Limited.

Safety and reliability

So for crash ratings, the 2026 Outback earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ on every trim, including the Wilderness. The IIHS is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and it gives out those awards each year. The Crosstrek Hybrid earned its own Top Safety Pick+ in July 2026. The gas Crosstrek has no 2026 award, and Consumer Reports notes it didn't score Good or Acceptable in the updated moderate overlap crash test. The 2026 RAV4 hasn't been rated by the IIHS yet.

For reliability, Consumer Reports predicts the 2026 Crosstrek will be more reliable than the average new car, based on the 2024 and 2025 models. Consumer Reports predicts about average reliability for the 2026 Outback, based on Subaru's track record and the 2020 to 2025 Outback. And Consumer Reports predicts the 2026 RAV4 will be more reliable than the average new car. I go through the RAV4's record by year in my RAV4 reliability guide.

And here are the recalls to check on a 2024 or 2026 Crosstrek.

• 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, recall 26V106: Fuel can spill from the filler neck when the tank is near full.
• 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, recall 26V436: The weight rating label on the door frame is wrong.
• 2024 Crosstrek, recall 23V551: This recall covers the instrument panel wiring harness.
• 2024 Crosstrek, recall 23V754: This recall covers the front driveshaft.

Now the RAV4 also comes with ToyotaCare, which is free scheduled maintenance for 2 years or 25,000 miles. I go through the details in the warranty section of my RAV4 vs Forester guide, and Toyota's ToyotaCare page has the full terms.

Used: 2019 to 2025 RAV4 vs 2019 to 2025 Outback and 2019 to 2023 Crosstrek

So the 12-volt battery drain problem was a class action covering 2015 to 2020 Outbacks whose 12-volt battery kept going flat. The settlement extended battery coverage, but the window to claim closed on December 24, 2022. And for RAV4 problems by year, my RAV4 reliability guide has the complaint numbers. For real-world RAV4 Hybrid mpg by year, see my RAV4 Hybrid mpg guide.

Who each one suits

So even though there are plenty of reasons to pick the RAV4, there are a few reasons a Subaru may suit you better.

• First, if a soft ride and the most legroom matter most, then the 2026 Outback is the one to look at. Consumer Reports praises both its ride and how easy it is to get in and out of, and it has the most legroom front and back. The base engine is slow and gets 27 mpg, but Consumer Reports calls the 2026 Outback's ride exceptionally smooth.
• Next, if you're shorter or coming out of a sedan, then the Crosstrek's lower seat and comfortable ride are worth a look. The Crosstrek is also the cheapest way into full-time AWD, at $26,995.
• And finally, if you have a steep unplowed driveway or deep snow, then the Outback and Crosstrek both have full-time AWD and 8.7 inches of clearance.

But otherwise, the 2026 RAV4 Hybrid would be my pick.

• If you drive a lot, the RAV4 Hybrid LE AWD saves about $687 a year in gas over the 2026 Outback, and about $206 over the Crosstrek Hybrid.
• If you tow a small camper, most AWD 2026 RAV4 Hybrids tow 3,500 pounds, against 1,500 for most Crosstreks.
• If you lift heavy things into the back, the 2026 RAV4's liftover is about 3 inches lower than the Crosstrek's.
• If resale matters to you, Car Confections' 5-year estimate has the RAV4 keeping 64.5% of its value against 63.0% for the Outback.

And if the Forester is on your list too, my RAV4 vs Forester guide goes through that one. For the Honda CR-V Hybrid, see my RAV4 Hybrid vs CR-V Hybrid guide.

Videos worth watching on the RAV4 vs the Outback and Crosstrek