What's the size of your family? No, not how many. How big? I'm 6'6" and fit with room to spare in both back and front seats of our Forester and Outback. Toyotas I fit with no room to spare in front, and don't quite fit in back.
Do you enjoy seeing the landscape you're driving through? The visibility from the Forester is not just a safety feature, although it's surely that. It also puts the tour in touring.
This ^^^^^ and this ^^^^^ are important issues to consider. I am 6ft 2in and built like a football player. My height is evenly split over my upper and lower body. I can fit very easily in the Forester - both front and rear. I did look at the previous generation RAV4 when buying my Forester and felt a little snug in the front seat and no way in hell could I fit in the rear seat. My Forester? No problems front or rear.
Trying to compare an SUV or crossover to your medium to larger sized Toyota sedans is not going to be easy.
You will find the view out of the Forester to be exceptional and - pun intended - head-and-shoulders above above the Avalon or Camry. You sit higher and have a better view out. All the glass gives you clear lines of sight in every direction. And there's no rear trunk lid to see over to make you wonder "how close am I to that car behind me?"... The bigger windows give you the ability to see all around with ease. I did not find that to be the same in the RAV4 I tried.
The boxier shape and more upright stance of the Forester is better-looking - to me - then the slightly trendy lots of angles styling of the RAV4. But then again I also thought that Volvo's were exceptionally good-looking cars. I guess I kind of like the boxy look over swoops and pointed arrow-angles.
Think about your daily driving. Are you in a lot of stop-and-go traffic? Is weather a factor Where You Are? Does it rain a lot? I live in the Southern California deserts near Palm Springs and when it rains - the few times a year it does - we get lots of flooded streets. There's also the nearby winter Villages of Idlewild and Big Bear. So while all wheel drive may not be a necessity for every day, it's a great thing to have no matter what.
As was said above, the only true test would be for you to go to your Subaru dealer - even if there are a mile away - and drive one. Sitting it, kick the tires, see how it feels and how you fit. See how the other members of your family or circle of friends that will ride in it regularly fit and feel in it.
My mother will be 85 years old this year and one of the reasons I picked out my Forester over all of the other smaller crossover utility vehicles, is because it was the only one she could get into and out of easily and comfortably without hurting her back or hip. Is she in my car every day? No put on a weekly basis I'm taking her shopping or to the library or somewhere else and so she is regularly in my car. I looked at the Toyota RAV4, the Jeep Liberty and Patriot twins, the Nissan Rogue, and the Volkswagen Tiguan- that's the small one right? And even most of the rest dot-dot.
The Ford Escape was out of the running from the get-go because of the far too busy dashboard design and snug tight fit interior. The Chevy and GMC smaller SUV crossovers we're just too cumbersome. The Dodge Durango was far too large, and the smaller Dodge SUV was not locally available with all-wheel drive or any option packages I would consider. Most of the dealer stock was aligned in lower trim levels and the most economical engine available.
I don't understand the draw and appeal of a BMW as in Europe it's not much more than a taxi cab. And Mazda's only had black Interiors here where I live. The Mercedes-Benz small SUV is just too expensive for what you get. You want me to pay over $60,000 and you're giving me vinyl seats? Not going to happen.
I also looked at the Outback and Crosstrek. and out of all, the Forester was the most comfortable for me, gave me the most room, and also was the most comfortable for my mom.
The most convincing argument will be the one you make yourself. If a wagon body style is something you're comfortable with, and if the features and safety Tech are things you want, and if the price point is where you want to be, then there is no need to talk you into a Forester over something else. You'll either get it or you won't.
In the end it comes down to what is most important for you.
