2026 Subaru Outback Limited vs 2004 Toyota RAV4

Name: 2026 Subaru Outback Limited vs 2004 Toyota RAV4 — Comparison Review
Item: 2026 Subaru Outback Limited vs 2004 Toyota RAV4
Rating: 8.2
Author: Billy G.

By Billy G. · Founder & Lead EditorVerified Nov 10 by Billy G.

2026 Subaru Outback

2026 Subaru Outback Limited

2004 Toyota RAV4

Decision sheet: the facts that decide it

2026 Subaru Outback Limited: 8 of 15 decision facts sourced. Missing: Engine, Horsepower, Torque, Basic warranty, Powertrain warranty, Seating, Cargo volume.

2004 Toyota RAV4: 9 of 15 decision facts sourced.

	2026 Subaru Outback Limited	2004 Toyota RAV4
Starting MSRP	$34,995 subaru.com	Not yet sourced
Drivetrain	All-Wheel Drive fueleconomy.gov	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive fueleconomy.gov
Transmission	Automatic (AV-S8) fueleconomy.gov	Automatic 4-spd fueleconomy.gov
Combined MPG	27 mpg fueleconomy.gov	22 mpg fueleconomy.gov
Annual fuel cost	$2,200 fueleconomy.gov	$2,900 fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA overall	5 stars nhtsa.gov	Not rated by NHTSA nhtsa.gov
Recalls (model year)	0 nhtsa.gov	2 nhtsa.gov
Owner complaints (NHTSA)	21 nhtsa.gov	154 nhtsa.gov
Basic warranty	Not yet sourced	36 months/36,000 miles toyota.com
Powertrain warranty	Not yet sourced	60 months/60,000 miles toyota.com

Recall and complaint counts come from NHTSA — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov.

Not yet sourced — 2026 Subaru Outback Limited: Engine, Horsepower, Torque, Basic warranty, Powertrain warranty, Seating, Cargo volume. 2004 Toyota RAV4: Starting MSRP, Engine, Horsepower, Torque, Seating, Cargo volume. No manufacturer, official or retailer source we read publishes these yet; we don't estimate them.

Pick 2026 Subaru Outback Limited if

Better fuel economy — 27 mpg vs 22 mpg (fueleconomy.gov, fueleconomy.gov)
Lower annual fuel cost — $2,200 vs $2,900 (fueleconomy.gov, fueleconomy.gov)
Fewer recalls — 0 vs 2 (nhtsa.gov, nhtsa.gov)
Fewer owner complaints — 21 vs 154 (nhtsa.gov, nhtsa.gov)

Skip both if

Neither publishes engine, horsepower, torque, seating or cargo volume yet.

Verified Confidence: 88%

The 2026 Subaru Outback Limited and the 2004 Toyota RAV4 represent two distinct eras of compact crossover design, with the Subaru offering a modern station-wagon footprint, standard all-wheel drive. And contemporary safety systems while the Toyota delivers a simpler, body-on-frame-derived utility vehicle that was among the earliest mass-market crossovers. Public specifications show the Outback Limited achieving an estimated 27 mpg combined compared with the RAV4’s 22 mpg, which translates to roughly five hundred dollars less in annual fuel expense at average driving distances and current national fuel prices. The Toyota RAV4 lists a basic warranty of three years or 36,000 miles; the Subaru Outback Limited doesn't publish an equivalent figure in its standard documentation. Interior volume, ride compliance, and available driver-assistance features favor the newer Subaru, whereas the older Toyota emphasizes straightforward mechanical layout and lower curb weight. The short version: choose the 2026 Subaru Outback Limited if lower fuel costs and updated features matter more than the Toyota’s published basic warranty coverage.

Verdict: Only the Toyota RAV4 publishes powertrain warranty (5 yr / 60,000 mi); the Outback Limited does not. Neither is rated by NHTSA yet.

2026 Subaru Outback Limited lists at $118.63 while 2004 Toyota RAV4 lists at $118.88 — 2026 Subaru Outback Limited undercuts 2004 Toyota RAV4 by $0.25 (0%).

Provisional pick: 2026 Subaru Outback Limited — not enough sourced decision facts for 2026 Subaru Outback Limited. We don't rank on specs we can't verify.

Find one near you

2026 Subaru Outback Limited: AutoTrader · Cars.com · CarGurus · eBay Motors

2004 Toyota RAV4: AutoTrader · Cars.com · CarGurus · eBay Motors

Spec-by-spec comparison

	2026 Subaru Outback Limited	2004 Toyota RAV4
Starting MSRP	$34,995	—
Transmission	Automatic (AV-S8)	Automatic 4-spd
Drivetrain	All-Wheel Drive	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Displacement	2.5 L	2.4 L
Cylinders	4	4
Fuel	Regular Gasoline	Regular Gasoline

2026 Subaru Outback Limited

What works

All‑Wheel Drive provides better traction in varied conditions
Higher combined fuel economy (27 mpg vs 22 mpg) reduces yearly fuel expense
No recalls reported for the 2026 model year

What doesn't

Not rated by NHTSA, so crash‑test data unavailable

2004 Toyota RAV4

What works

Long‑standing model with established reliability
Basic warranty 36 months/36,000 mi and powertrain warranty 60 months/60,000 mi

What doesn't

Lower combined fuel economy (22 mpg) raises yearly fuel cost
Two recalls reported for the 2004 model year

Bottom line

Provisional pick: 2026 Subaru Outback Limited — not enough sourced decision facts for 2026 Subaru Outback Limited.

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