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Subaru Forester vs Toyota Corolla Cross

2026 Subaru Forester vs 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross — two small SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Subaru Forester

2026 Subaru Forester

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS2 – 5Toyota Corolla Cross wins 5 of 7 categories
Toyota Corolla Cross

2026 Toyota Corolla Cross

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The Toyota Corolla Cross is more fuel-efficient: 42 vs 35 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $300 a year less in fuel for the Toyota Corolla Cross (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Subaru Forester is the bigger car, about 8 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Toyota Corolla Cross has had fewer recall campaigns (8 vs 39).

The two cars

The 2026 Subaru Forester is a small SUV offered with a 2.5L 4-cyl engine, including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive. It measures about 184 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 105-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,580 lb.

The 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross is a small SUV offered with a 2.0L 4-cyl engine, including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive. It measures about 176 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 104-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,263 lb (4dr SUV AWD).

Buying used? The 2024 Forester and the 2022 Corolla Cross have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2019 Forester and the 2023 Corolla Cross.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
2.5L 4-cyl
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl
All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

35 MPG
Best combined MPG
42 MPG
35 city
City / highway MPG (best)
46 city
$1,900
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,600

Performance & space

180 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
169 hp
5
Seats (most)
5
183.5 in
Length
175.6 in
72 in
Width
72 in
68.1 in
Height
64.6 in
3,580 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,098 lb

Safety & reliability

14
Driver-assist features standard
12
4
Recalls (2026)
1
39
Recalls, all years since 2005
8
32
Owner complaints (latest year)
29

Interest

21,870
Wikipedia views, 30 days
19,106

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2022
2019
Year to avoid
2023

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Subaru Forester if…

  • You want more room (8 in longer)
  • You want more standard driver-assist tech

Choose the Toyota Corolla Cross if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (42 vs 35 MPG)
  • You want something easier to park (8 in shorter)
  • You put reliability history first (8 vs 39 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2026 Subaru Forester

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 35 MPG combined — 35% better than the average 2026 small SUV (25.9 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • "Do not drive" recallCheck that the recall repair was done before buying or driving.

2026 Toyota Corolla Cross

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 42 MPG combined — 62% better than the average 2026 small SUV (25.9 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 Subaru Forester specs →Full 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →