I'm leaning towards Subaru because of its superior quality and driving experience, and overall value, also it is available in a manual shift which is a priority for me. Nissan Rogue is a close second.
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from a mechanic stand point...
the Rav4 is number 1
forester is number 2
from a consumer stand point..
forester is #1
Rav4 is #2
personally i would rather blow torch my nipples off than buy a nissan.
another thing to keep in mind is that the subaru has the best AWD, and the international engine of the year award 2006, and the small SUV of the year 2009, and the insurance institute for highway safety's top pick.
and is the environmental protection agency (EPA)s top pick and only 1 car in subarus history has got 18mpg or below (SVX) and they have the highest retained customer rate in the auto industry, and its on track to set an all time sales high and on top of all of that they are the first car manufacture to build a zero waste factory.
so pretty much subaru is the best.
Boatalot
No doubt about it, you want the Forester. The Forester will last longer than the other 3, additionally it will outperform any of them in the winter time. They are amazing cars.
TRIAD
definitely a forester. the thing's great in sleet or snow or whatever weather that's goin' in your region. it has the best awd system ever built so you know you're gonna be safer in harsh weathers than all the rest that you've mentioned. because even though the rest you've mentioned are the so called "4-wheel drive systems' all it is, is a crappy bolt on mushed in together. so good luck!