caliburn

Just trying to decide between these two. Anyone used them in Oz? How do they compare in terms of reliability, maintenance cost, resale value, comfort, interior quality, ride, handling etc. We (wife, son and myself) need a vehicle mostly for city use (NSW) but also some weekending off-road.

The Bloke

Contact the NRMA. They do independent comparisons on all vehicles and would be able give you the data to help you make a decision, as people have different opinions about vehicles.

Geelong Gent

I think the forester is a better buy.

rockpeblar

Forester XT - great car. Trouble free so far. Tad thirsty but great sound

NickyC

Yes, definitely the Forester over the Rav4.

Foresters have more of an air of seriousness about them than Rav4s, which are supposedly hairdresser's cars.

Catch

have you also thought of an xtrail ,did 60000klm in mine last year never put a foot wrong.

Pomster

we have both cars.

Forestor is more of a work horse and is solidly reliable, holds it value and is really good car.

Rav4 is great too but more of a Chelsea tractor-not sure I would go anywhere near off road in it.

MarkMC

neighbour has a newish rav4 its good off road, but the 4x4 automatically kicks out after 40k I think he said. Not good on the beach.

thermojetics

I think Forester has more space than RAV 4. Reliability is about the same.

MarkMC

how much 4x4 driving are you looking at? Do either of them have low range gearing? Not necessary for beach work, but very handy in the bush on rocky trails.

jamiefrod

I would advise not to buy anything with the word FOREST in it, maybe a dodge RAM?!

Kalenge

Neither have low range gearing so really not ideal for any decent offroading

quoll

I would have thought the Rav had a higher ground clearance which could be an issue depending on which dirt roads you go down.

scaria197

Not sure about the Aussie Rav4. We have the Japan built US Rav4.

I have driven it in snow and off-road never had any issues with it. I even tried to swing and move it to see if it moves but this thing would just go in a straight line.

Coincidentaly I have owned a Subaru Forestor. I liked that too but just felt the space was a little more on the Rav4 (I think North American and Australia get the long version Rav4). Also, wife prefers the Rav4 over the Forestor. Overall I would buy the Rav4 over the Forestor. Forestor just seems a little more box shaped without the curves. Not that Rav4 is a stunner..

Good luck

dave7370

Having owned both, I'd go for the Rav-4 everytime. Better equiped, better made, superior interior, and contrary to what others have put it is bigger inside and being able to completely remove the rear seats is a huge bonus.

Resale values are high and servicing costs are average, no they don't have a low range gear but I've seen the odd one or two on the beach on Fraser Island whenever I've gone so they can't be that bad off-road. Just make sure you go for the Cruiser model with all the extras.

Found the Forester sluggish, thirsty and very 'cheap' inside. They do have the low range selector but having left it in low range occasionally and was still able to get to a fairly high speed it's not that 'low'.

Good luck whatever you decide.