I enjoy your automobile reviews and am currently deciding between a Honda CR-V and a Toyota RAV4. I’m a female who will be moving to where there is cold weather. I want a dependable car that will warm quickly in the cold and handle well. I will be doing some freeway driving and am wondering if the four-cylinder will have enough zip on the onramps. Any suggestions? They both seem to be economical. Small children and hauling large loads are not an issue — this will just be my leisure car. I have not as yet test-driven the vehicles. Parallel parking is also an issue — do you know if one has better visibility, i.e. fewer blind spots, over the other?
This has got to be our most common question, so feel good knowing we’ve answered it many times and have test-driven both vehicles extensively. The simple answer is you won’t go wrong with either of them. Both are available with all-wheel drive for winter driving, both hold their value well and both are reliable.
Now, to make up your mind, we’d say this:
If you’re going to use the cargo area and fold the second-row seats flat frequently, the RAV4’s full cargo area has the edge with more space.
The RAV4 also has a terrific V-6 that not only has more power, but is almost as fuel-efficient as the four-cylinder engine. Who would have thought, right — 22/29 mpg for the V-6, 24/30 for the four-cylinder. If you want to get up to highway speed in a hurry, the V-6 RAV4 can do it quicker than any other small SUV — and most sedans, too.
If interior materials and ride comfort are more important, then the CR-V is the better choice. The ride is much quieter and more comfortable on long drives. The engine doesn’t feel underpowered for normal, everyday driving.
The better overall value is the RAV4, as far as sticker price and what you get for the money; you can get an AWD V-6 RAV4 for basically the same price as an AWD four-cylinder CR-V.
Visibility is good in both vehicles, with the slight edge for parallel parking and smaller blind spots going to the CR-V.
We also did a full comparison test of the RAV4 and CR-V against the new Mitsubishi Outlander. You can check it out here.
As always, we suggest you test-drive both vehicles to make your final decision, especially if it’s between just two cars.
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I just returned from test driving a CR-V and RAV4. While the RAV4 seemed a little more cramped than the CR-V, the RAV's interior build quality was much better than the CR-V's. The RAV was also quicker and much quieter than the CR-V, and I only drove the 4 cylinder of the RAV, not the smoother six. Still haven't decided, though...
This is a response to Kelly:
Coming from an industry insider, the CR-V uses higher quality plastics and has tighter tolerances as far as fit and finish goes. The plastics used in the RAV4 are a grade or two below the CR-V.
For the record, I do not own a Honda or Toyota.
Also, another worthwhile point.
The Honda CR-V has been America's best selling SUV for the past three years, not the RAV4. There is a reason for that.
I drove both the Rav4 and the CR-V before deciding on which one to purchase. I planned on purchasing a Highlander and just drove the Rav4 for the heck of it. Loved the Highlander, HATED the Rav4. It felt VERY unstable, loose, uncomforbale, and jerky. So, then I figured I wouldn't like the CR-V, becuase I expected it to be about the same as the Rav4. Well... I was wrong. I LOVED the CR-V so much that I choose it over the Rav4 and the HIGHLANDER. It drove just as good as my accord and for the price.. you can't beat it! I am very excited about my new car. The CR-V is the way to go. Honda is the way to go!
There is a new Honda Crossover called the Jammer and it is much roomier and better then either of the two cars mentioned above... only downside is that there is no steering wheel (it comes optional)... the seats are extremely comfortable... Toyota is building a match for this of course... it is called the Toyota Feet... extremely powerful and exceptionally beautiful.. keep in mind that the Feet will come in only one color, cauliflower white... downside to this vehicle is that there are no wheels (come optional)... i have made love in both cars and i must say that the Jammer is a better choice and much wider shifter for better fit...
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't like the new liftgate on the CRV. The window is fused shut, which is a pain, and there is less cargo room than in the previous model. I had an '04 CRV and everything about it was more practical and more thoughtfully designed than the new model, something I didn't anticipate or realize until I owned the 08 for 4 months.
I traded in the CRV for an RAV4 and have had absolutely no regrets. It's quieter, more powerful, and roomier than the new model CRV, plus I like the full-sized spare in case I get a flat.
I think Honda really took a step backward with the new CRV design, although women seem to like it which Honda said was the goal. The RAV4, however, is a better vehicle in my opinion.
Coming from an industry insider, the CR-V uses higher quality plastics and has tighter tolerances as far as fit and finish goes. The plastics used in the RAV4 are a grade or two below the CR-V.
For the record, I do not own a Honda or Toyota.
What the hell are you talking about. I have been in Manufacturing for over 25 years and in plastics for the most of it. There are no differences in grades of resin, there is however different resin. If Honda and Toyota both mold with a specific plastic, they cannot buy different grades.
That said. I own a Honda, and I own a Toyota. You want to talk about fit and finish? Grab a Visor in both cars, feel the thickness and build. Touch a button, look at the feel.
I have owned Hondas since 1979. I have had Accords, Preludes, and now a Minivan. I hated Toyota because of the higher than though dealerships.
Honda builds a good reliable car. However, as I sat in my Odyessey EXL I could see where they cut costs. I should know, as that is my job in manufacturing.
This past month, I felt like I cheated, but I bought a RAV4 over a CRV. The CRV just looked cheap. Look at the bumpers on a CRV and then compare them to a RAV. The CRV just seems to be a car that should be a lot less to buy than a RAV and it is not.
In regards to reliability. Ironically 1 week after buying the RAV my power steering pump went out on my new Honda. Enough said.
I also bought the RAV4 because it gave you:
Push Button Start with Keyless Ignition
4WD switch
Blue tooth
fog logs with a basic package ( you need navigation on the Honda)
roof rack with the same basic package
Full Size Spare
Neat Backup camera
compartment underneath where the spare would go on the CRV.
Do yourself a favor and avoid the RAV4, and all dealings with Toyota, at any cost. My RAV4 is currently in the shop undergoing a $5,000 repair (replacing transmission) that was caused by a faulty design, and one that Toyota is well aware of. Many people are facing financial hell because of this vehicle and Toyota refuses to recall the car and do what is right.
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I'm not sure which year model above is true. We just test drove 2008 RAV4 Sport as well as CR-V EX, both V4. The CR-V's interior felt cheap and seats less comfortable. Also it was far more under powered compared to RAV4. The RAV4 simply have more HPs and better driving feel. I think both do good on snow. The CR-V has a "conversation mirror" on sunglass holder which is very good to watch babies in back seats :). CR-V also has arm rests which will make long trips better for tall people even though its seats are not as nice. CR-V's audio system sucks (no MP3 support or bluetooth integration) which you can get that in RAV4 as additional option. The center box between seats in CR-V is much better because you can fold it away which in RAV4 it is really tiny and truely sucks. While CR-V's engine has less power it gives 1 mpg better.
So as you can see its a lot more difficult decision and the only way to decide is to actually drive both. We choose RAV4 because its drive feeling was just unmatched and as we are buying car that's what really mattered to us.