I drive a Subaru myself, and it's insane seeing all the hate it gets from Toyota and Honda fanboys. Drive a Subaru once, and you're hooked for life! They're truly amazing vehicles, VERY underrated.
I agree. Have the 2.5is for the last 1 year. Most safe car. You just cant crash it. Eyesight safety system does a great job. And it is very stable due to its low center of gravity.
@@abrahamakhtar2508 I've had a Mazda and three Hondas. Never thought I'd stray away from a Honda. I bought a 2021 Forester and now understand why people love their Subies and are loyal to them. I love my Forester.
This is the best comparison video I have seen on RU-vid. The way things are visually lined up makes it so much easier to make a direct comparison than someone just mentioning the difference in a random order while driving (how it is typically done). Love the editing and the graphics. Subscribed.
All depends on what you want from a car. For me its the Mazda CX-5. Best looking, well built, luxurious interior, comfortable and drives like a dream. Just needs a bigger infotainment screen.
The Buick Envision 2.0T is putting down a faster 27.5s figure-8 time vs 2019 CX-5 2.5T and 2019 RDX 2.0T at 27.7 in Motor Trend testing. That continues in an Emergency Lane test by Consumer Reports that has the Envision 2.0T doing 55.5 mph while the CX-5(non-turbo) did 54 mph and the RDX 2.0T can only go 52.5 mph. For 2019 Envision 2.0T gets a new 9-speed and 295 lb-ft of torque, 316 lb-ft of torque on overboost. The twin clutch and torque vectoring AWD is something that Mazda cannot match only able to use brakes on a single on a wheel for torque vectoring. The Hiperstrut, as also seen on Honda Civic Type-R as dual axis strut, eliminates any torque steer under accleration. At a discounted $35K the Envision Prem ll offers heads up display, adaptive high beams and articulating HID, adaptive cruise control with full stopping, tri-zone climate control, sliding rear seat, 12-volt outlet, along with Buick's longer warranty than Mazda.
@@craigbeatty8565 depends on how tall and how "leggy" they are I suppose. I had a guy that is 6'1" in the passenger seat and another that 6'2" right behind him and birth started they were quite comfortable.
That's interesting, in the US the Forester Mid trims have leather and heated seats... and are MUCH cheaper. You can easily save $6K going with a Subaru here.
The CX-5 is more premium than the others, a bit less trunk space but still enough for most people. The gearbox is not CVT and that I think it's a big advantage over the other cars. I bought a CX-5 a month ago and I am very happy with it, feels like I did the right choice.
Agreed. The Toyota is hideous as per usual and that screen looks like an iPad with a life proof case shoved on the dash. Overall go for anything other I’d say. Also the CVT is awful and we all know the hybrid engine is absolutely rubbish. Mazda certainly should’ve won.
@@7homas0wen This test has put me off the CX-5. If it hasn't got excellent grip, forget it. Unless I go for an all new Outback next year I might see how long it will be until we get an all new CR-V that will no doubt have the missing safety features on the current one and I suspect an all new engine option.
Worrywart I suppose it’s about how you use the car. I’ve got a fairly high apexes model for work and I’m not driving that aggressively. It’s such a nice car for regular driving. Perfect family car. It’s quite luxurious for a regular spec suv. I recently was updated to the new work car which was of course the Toyota rav 4. My hopes died down after the driving experience and interior quality. I’ve asked for the Mazda back and luckily the were more than happy to give the new car to someone else. Guess it’s just my opinion but the crv doesn’t sound like a bad choice for now.
Johnny Tampocao definitely the perfect most comfortable suv. Toyota sits too high up and interior quality is poor. Ride overall is not great. Mazda is definitely the clear winner. At least from my experience.
Resale and Depreciation: Our Mazda CX-5(Edmund's) had a sticker price of $34,505 when it was new. After a year of driving, our odometer had about 17,600 miles on it. Assuming clean condition, the CX-5 had a private-party appraised value of $24,818. This is a 28% depreciation, which is worse than our long-term fleet average of 22%. Edmund's
@@normt5463 American I'm guessing? As red book and glasses guide here in Australia rate it as one of the better ones. Mazdas generally have good resale here.
@@JohnSmith-nz4bn the Mazda brand has never been a good value as it was too expensive as a economy brand and not enough cache as a luxury brand. The Mazda retention rate a couple years ago was the lowest in the industry. Motor Trend magazine figure eight test measure not only grip but accleration, braking power, along with shock dampening, sway bars, spring rates. It's the recipe that has the 2018 GMC Terrain/Equinox one full second ahead of the 2018 CX-5 in that test. You see, the Japanese cook the books in making a lightweight, small, and great handling cuv that journalist rave about and get fuel economy as a result. When the buying public review the Mazda it is loud and rough riding and a turn off with just a ride around the block. So 2018 Mazda adds to the CX-5 missing sound deadening and adds heavier acoustic glass. Now the suspension is taxed with sway bar and spring rates from the previous updates along with shocks that need revalving. Braking performance has suffered with the extra weight with longer stopping from 60 than a 2018 Terrain by over 10 feet. And if you want to compare real world economy, fuelly.com-which are owners reporting, has the new 2018 Equinox 1.5T besting the CX-5. Sorry to burst your Japanese bubble but most everyone is on the same playing field today and many have passed them up and especially on the cost to buy front thanks to dealerahips advertising on places like cars.com. It is public perception that lags because of you and the journalist want to protect their internet clicks and keep inflated resdiuals as the prices are higher to buy than non-Japanese, negating any excellent resdiuals value. The auto auctions thank you guys. This is especially the case for the Honda CR-V. Regarding pricing and value the 2018 Terrain and CX-5 are dead even today and 3 year, 36,000 miles from now. The Subaru is $2,000 less today and $2,000 less in the same time period. This all based on info gathered from cars.com. It favors the Terrain if I used 2017 values as it is an out going model and the best deal here. Though the base 2018 Terrain doesn't have dual zone climate control it does have rear seat upper vents. The Mazda does not until you go up to the Touring model. The Terrain SLE has dual zone and the CX-5 Touring has rear seat vents starting the last two years or so. Both cars are the same price on cars.com Early Mazda models do not have rear seat venting. The 2018 Honda CR-V is the most expensive at $2,000 more than comparable 2018 Equinox. The Honda still offers the old 2.4l and is $5,000 more than a 2017 Equinox 2.4l. It is just over priced at all levels. And at 3 years, 36,000 miles later the CR-V cost less than a Equinox. Which means the more expensive, new Honda has dropped more in value than the Equinox. The Terrain 1.5T receives the 9-speed transmission and has not been tested. Only the Equinox 1.5t 6-speed has been timed.
@@normt5463 duuuuuude, just highlighting the difference between Australian and US markets. Also, not a Mazda owner. Just stating facts for Australia. Not America. Again, highlighting differences.
@@JohnSmith-nz4bn our media pumps up Mazda and other Japanese brands taking then from economy car status to super car. The fact is everyone else has caught up or passed them and offer more features at a lower price.
I drove a CRV and RAV4 Hybrid, both with CVTs. Actually, they were quite enjoyable to drive. CVTs have smooth response and as for the noise, I don't drive like a maniac.
The Buick Envision 2.0T is putting down a faster 27.5s figure-8 time vs 2019 CX-5 2.5T and 2019 RDX 2.0T at 27.7 in Motor Trend testing. That continues in an Emergency Lane test by Consumer Reports that has the Envision 2.0T doing 55.5 mph while the CX-5(non-turbo) did 54 mph and the RDX 2.0T can only go 52.5 mph. For 2019 Envision 2.0T gets a new 9-speed and 295 lb-ft of torque, 316 lb-ft of torque on overboost. The twin clutch and torque vectoring AWD is something that Mazda cannot match only able to use brakes on a single on a wheel for torque vectoring. The Hiperstrut, as also seen on Honda Civic Type-R as dual axis strut, eliminates any torque steer under accleration. At a discounted $35K the Envision Prem ll offers heads up display, adaptive high beams and articulating HID, adaptive cruise control with full stopping, tri-zone climate control, sliding rear seat, 12-volt outlet, along with Buick's longer warranty than Mazda.
@@Xyb3rTeCh "...when it comes to long-term reliability in particular, Buick has absolutely decimated their supposedly more fashionable family member. While most older Cadillacs rival old Kias when it comes to long-term quality, Buick is ranked #1 in our study when it comes to one important metric. Length of ownership. For active brands, the oldest trade-in on average in our study covering nearly 1,300,000 vehicles is not a Lexus or a Mercedes, it's a Buick. The reason is while a lot of premium brands try to pursue greatness to an audience that tends to have a more fickle and transient nature towards car ownership, Buick has been able to focus on what I would call 'fine'-ness towards a more conservative audience that simply looks for a car that can comfortably do the job. If you ask an owner of an older Buick what they think of their car, the answer you're likely to receive is someone in the realm of, "It's fine". There really isn't a lot of love for an older car that is created for conservative tastes. But for those who consider cars to be little more than a comfortable intermission between going here and there, Buick has fulfilled that reasonable expectation better than nearly everyone else...." thedrive GM vehicles do not cost a penny the first year or so. "The CX-5 went in for four scheduled services, which cost $340.57. For comparison, our 2015 CX-5 cost a total of $320.37 for three service visits, and our 2017 Honda CR-V cost $417.60 for two, not including the unscheduled battery and differential fluid change...." Motor Trend
@@Xyb3rTeCh and today Buick Envision 2.0T with torque vectoring AWD at $32-33K is a better deal than these econ boxes. The longer warranty is icing on the cake.
You can't beat the price and practicality of Subaru Forester. Plus, I think it is the most handsome among the 4. The Mazda looks sleek too but but kinda bourgeois to my taste. And talk about visibility, Subaru Forester is the clear winner. And correction to the lady, the Forester has heated driver and passenger seat - at least for the higher trims, but not ventilated seats though.
They must tune the suspension/steering differently on CX-5s down under, because the CX-5s up here in the states has lovely steering, well weighted and with some feedback from the road surface. Yes, the turbo engine is a brute (turn off the traction control and watch all four tires spin on launch), and there is some torque-steer when you plant the pedal, but the thing has 310 lb/ft of torque, for goodness sakes! The CX-5 will look nice in your driveway, too, being the most attractive vehicle in the group. We used to say cars without a lot of emblems, scoops, stripes and chrome were "sano" in design and the Mazda has that quality. There isn't one Mazda or CX-5 nameplate anywhere on it. Just the logo on the grill (hiding the radar sensor). If it wasn't needed for that important function, it probably wouldn''t be there either.
Sorry reply 2 years later. Mazda does tune steering and suspension differently for different markets. To be fair, Australian and American roads are equally as bad when compared to European/Japanese roads and likewise, both countries suffer from poor quality fuels. With this in mind, suspension might be fairly similar (a usual Mazda firm - which is in my opinion the goldilocks between too soft and too firm. Although most buyers will expect softer). But the real highlight getting into a Mazda (including here in Australia) is the steering. I like the well weighted nature with some feedback (exactly how you put it). Getting into the Mazda after getting out of some other test drives, I thought - wow, you can feel the steering. And yes, that means Mazda's cannot be parked with a single finger, but who would want that anyway. For the record, Mazda spent over a year of continuous testing in the US with a steering team purely for the North American steering tune. This is likely representative of other markets, but the US team was used in a lot of the US marketing.
Hi guys, well ive just received my 2020 Rav4 2wd Hybrid Cruiser, I've been driving around in it for just over a week now. I have to say, not big noting myself or the car but it's one of the best SUV cars I've ever driven. It feels robust and it is very accurate as you guys do mention, the satellite cruise control works a treat especially good on the highway, and you can even use it around town.The new shape of the new Rav4 is definitely an improvement, now men can actually drive them without feeling bad LOL. The cvt and engine noise is not bad in my mind, like in the video its mentioned the car seems to have some road noise but saying that I only hear the road noise when the car is in electric battery mode. The sensors and all round parking cameras are amazing and work really well, especially when trying to park in some tight areas, and I've saved the best till last, "Fuel Consumption" , I feel is the one to gloat about for sure but only having the car for just over a week and 560 klms so far, and still having just under half a tank a juice left. I would've loved the panoramic glass roof but afraid I had to settle for the normal sunroof. All said and done Im very impressed :-) Well done Toyota Australia.
Hi, curious if you test drove the normal petrol Rav4 to compare? I test drove a petrol one and was pretty disappointed with how it drove. I really wanted to like it! It took longer than expected to accelerate & revved super high. It was not very responsive. I want to compare it with a hybrid but not sure I'll have a chance to test drive one. Do you know if it feels much different?
Had a 2015 rav4 limited. Actually it was my wifes car that got dumped on me because she moved on to a luxury brand. I got bored of driving it around and the 2019 design caught my eye. Went for a test drive of the limited and was very disappointed. Except a little bit of power upgrade and interior tweaks not much has changed. Same boring steering and the engine and road noise is actually louder than my 2015 limited. Almost 40 grand car but does not even have illuminated power window buttons (only the driver window button is illuminated). Good luck fishing for the mirror adjustment button at night. Went to test drive the CX5 GTR and told them to take my money immediately. If you want your smile of the day go test drive the turbo. Puts one on my face everyday now. CVTs are out of question for me.
Subaru has gas and oil hungry engine. It runs fine for a few years, then head gasket leak due to open deck engine design is guaranteed and they haven't changed that stupid design yet. Not to mention poor MPG it gives. Yes it had a good AWD system but that's it.
Just a tech question you state that the Subaru doesn't have front and rear parking sensors, but it does have Reverse Auto Braking and front view camera? Not worth mentioning?
It does have rear parking sensors. It misses out only on the front parking sensor. It is well compensated by the front camera. It is the most safest car. Hands down. I have one for the last one year. These pple are always paid well by Toyota. So they tend to play down on Subaru despite of it having a full time power for all 4 wheels. Others will engage rear wheels only when they start slipping. This make a huge difference when you are losing control on a highway where only subaru will save you.
In my opinion, the only downside of the Mazda CX-5 is the lower space, but I find it plenty enough space for me and I would trade in some space for a much nicer quality interior.
You guys can’t tell me that the drone of the CVT is not the most irritating noise you can experience when going on a drive. So the real winner is the vehicle which doesn’t have CVT.
the public doesn't know about the mazda cx5 i-stop system. the long term ownership of cx5 is the most expensive among the cars reviewed. a battery of cx-5 can cost upto 4x more than a typical car battery. yes cx-5 is the most refined and family friendly car, but the ownership cost is a monster.
Nice article and comparison. I have just done this exact comparison and bought one of your test vehicles. I know you have to go on advertised pricing, but shopping around and hammering a deal at each outlet saw a much different outcome in price comparison. That and the individual spoken to at each dealership. I now own a Mazda CX-5 GT 2.5 Turbo. Longest wheelbase, shortest overhangs and 19” wheels means it will eventually be the best handling car here. As empty nesters we only need comfort upfront so any of these would have done. I really wanted the Honda CR-V, but you were kind. It’s gutless and still has a droning CVT. Drove nicely and was as comfortable as the CX-5. I liked the idea of the RAV4 due to Toyota’s reputation, but the high starting price, no willingness to discuss price and an arrogant salesman turned me off. Drove the Subaru and couldn’t wait to give it back. Gutless, droney and a little wallowing over speed humps. THE VERDICT: knowing that I can still fit my 2 grand children’s rear facing car seats in the back and by adding a decent set of Pilot Sport 4 tyres I will end up with the best midsize SUV. Try fixing the short comings of the others that easily. Footnote: we loved the buying experience so much when purchasing the CX-5, I bought a CX-3 Akari for my wife. Needless to say we saved quite a bit off MSRP of the cars for buying 2.
We know - but we decided four was our number, and these were the ones we choose... this time around. Stay tuned, we might have to see how RAV4 stacks up against Tucson and Sportage soon! Cheers Matt
A perhaps more critical criteria for those of us in more wintry climates is the performance of AWD. This is where the Subaru excels and tips the scales in favour of Subaru. Comparisons of AWD vehicles is deficient if the merits of the off-road and slippery road performance are not considered.
My wife and I have taken all these cars for a drive in the past week. Honda CRV felt dated and the build quality was below all others. Toyota RAV4 GXL Hybrid had a fantastic quiet and smooth drive train with responsive CVT and clean interior lines (except for the gawky display screen). Braking problem has a manufacturers delivery hold atm and the current supply delay is 5 months! Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sports with 2.5 non-turbo motor was only ordinary but the cabin was luxurious albeit darker than others (great if you like black everything). Subaru Forester 2.5i-Premium was our pick for features, finish and driving performance. The fuel consumption figures that are listed in the video test are a concern! Maybe we'll wait 12 months and see if Toyota can sort out the regenerative braking problem in the RAV4 and improve supply lead times.
I am a non car person and bought a Rav4 today! Could you please elaborate for me what you're talking about with the braking problem as if you're talking to a complete novice of which I am. I tried to di my research when coming to my decision, but this is the first I have heard of such problem. Thanks!
We have been tossing up between the forester and rav. Your right the forester is the features. Really struggling though with the fuel consumption, that’s what’s holding us back.
Probably the best look, turbo engine with automatic transmission, dynamic, good interior and GT comes with sunroof. I would go with CX5. Smaller boot space can be a decisive factor for someone.
See how stress free you feel when the CRV 1.5L has oil dillution problems and your stuck on the side of the road waiting over 2hrs for roadside assistance.
When you look at Subaru's specs, all Foresters have heated seats except the entry-level. You don't need leather, either, the cloth seats have it as well.
Why didn't you consider off-road capabilities? RAV4 Hybrid is one of the worst (because of hybrid) in this. A lot of European automotive journalists prove it and there are tons of video... Also you found that it's noise inside Toyota... and it's a winner? Weird result
None of the Aussie reviewers are consistent, the only source i trust now are chasing cars (AU) and carwow (UK). very professional and cut the crap. i used to read a lot of caradvice, and carsguide, but they both swayed towards their sponsors.
@Dulnyavka, it is very strange to hear about cabin noise isolation problem in RAV4. I tested RAV4 German Style version and I can say the isolation is quite close to what Mazda CX-5 has. Toyota uses double glass for sound insulation for Europe market. USA version uses single layer glass to get more chipper price. Maybe Australian version uses the same glass like in USA version. Toyota customizes RAV a lot for different markets. For example European version of RAV4 has more sporty suspension for all versions. But if we are talking about USA (I think like for Australia too) version then only RAV XSE has more sporty suspension.
The Cr-v had serious engine problems with the turbo and oil problems, the seats are reportedly uncomfortably firm, the interior has a digital only spedometer and awkward looking gear changer posted like a minivan, and most seriously reviewers say the turbo lag is so bad, the car sometimes doesn't seem to move at all from a start, ie. consumer reports. Furthermore, reliability of honda has gone down as has design. And you're surprised? Give me a break. All the other cars, every single one of them, from the hyundai, rav4, forester, and mazda are superior to the crv.
These videos are great thank you! I’m about to buy one of these and it is helping with my decision! Thank you ☺️ I’m looking forward to test driving some myself!
Rav 4 the winner of that bunch mmm I hope with this new model they have fixed the problems they had with the previous model. I drive a 2017 Rav as my work car driving people to and from hospital appointments and shopping etc. We are on to our second Rav in our district due to brakes grinding and shuddering in our first one which could not be fixed completly after several trips to the mechanic, so they swapped cars over and now this one has the same problem, with only 50 to 60 thousand on the clock. these two cars are out of a fleet of mixed Toyotas and with other cars reporting similar problems within the fleet.
Toyota doesn't have Android auto or Apple carplay, that's a huge disadvantage. If you're at all interested in usage of smartphones, navigation and music in your car.
nissan xtrail lemon by ex owner.... i bought a 2012 2.4 xtrail and took it to the beach which is the most common off road environment.. it could not drive the wheels out of the sand.. just revd a little and nothing... stuck.. i checked the gear ratio of 1st gear which has an overall ratio of 10 to 1... way to high... other suv are 15 to 1 overall in 1st and can pull out of the sand...i sold this lemon within a month and bought a mitsi outlander... no problem...spins all wheels in the sand.. this is a diesel as at low revs the diesel has more torque and hp than the petrol ....the 2l version xtrail has 15 to 1 overall ratio in 1st... overall includes the diff ratio
Great review guys! So if I’m right and according to the video the Honda won the tests on ride quality and handling, best interior, the most space in the back seat and one of the biggest boots. It also had the second lowest price and lowest fuel economy versus the comparative cars which were not a hybrid (Mazda and Subaru). It did not win on engine performance (but neither did the Mazda and that was the most powerful of the bunch - so peak performance can’t be the deciding factor then). Arguably, if the CR-V handles the best then this means it has the best steering, suspension setup and chassis engineering for the power it delivers. So I think the whole package is what is most important. It did however lack two safety features the other three had. So I’m struggling to understand what made the RAV4 get across the line in first position? If it has won and it was based on Honda’s lack of engine performance and safety then why didn’t the Mazda win as it had the exact same safety features? Answer: because it didn’t have the most dynamic driving package - this belonged to the CR-V. So why wasn’t the win by the RAV4 supported by the statement if the CR-V had all the safety kit then it would have won? Also Considering resale, which CR-V has always performed very well, and given parents would be looking to upgrade as the family grows in the years to come, I think this is an important criteria which has been overlooked. Objectively, I find it hard to see how the RAV4 won.
No doubt the Rav4 is the winner. Just bought mine last week and love it every single time i drive it. The safest, most economical and great looking vehicle. And last but not least, we all know Toyota’s are known for their reliability🚘
We have a 2015 Rav4 XLE with only 80,000 miles on it. Our dealer maintains it so it is handled with kid gloves, the rear seal is shot and will cost close to $3000.00 to fix. :-/ This is our first Toyota so perhaps we just got a bad one.
@@desmondventurato_1585 what's the new rav like?? I've gotta 2010 version but looking to upgrade, gonna be hard to give up my 2010, I've got over 200ks and not giving me any problems at all,
I have a 2018 CX5 AWD, isn't so bad, but isn't that good either. If I'd known then what I know now after a year of ownership, I hadn't buy it. It's slow, the infotainment is very slow and do stuff it shouldn't do, has a lot of rattles, fuel economy isn't good, the driver's mirror sometimes doesn't fold completely, and a lot of other little things.
Oh I don't have any great problems on that front. You could just as well say they should have tested the non-turbo Mazda. They showed the prices of them all which, excluding the Mazda, were pretty much in the same ball-park. An interesting test. Unfortunately, on looks alone, I couldn't bring myself to buy the RAV4.
CVT gearbox is a big NO, me and my surrounding friends had a very bad experience with them. Personally, whenever a car fitted with CVT I will not consider at all or totally not looking at them too.
Chose the Honda. Quietest, better ride and handling. 7 year warranty and capped service at $300 per service. Not sure where they got the Toyota boot capacity as the Honda is best in class and with the seats down further extends its lead. But all in all there wasnt a lot in it.
The Mazda is certainly nice but seriously let down by the small infotainment screen and lack of wireless charging. The Toyota is huge, waaay to big for the class now. I think the boot space being so large should detract points during tests. The Mazda looks a little too feminine for my liking. The Subi looks like an oversized wagon rather than an SUV. The Honda looks like it’s sticking its bottom lip out. CVT’s?? Bahhhh
Forester lacks heated seats? Nonsense. Forster has heated frontal seats, but also rear seats are heated too, in cheapest(!) configuration in my country. What market is it?
I’ve had the new Subaru Forester top model for half a year now and love it. Have gone on quite a few road trips and camping trips already and it’s perfect for those ☺️
Yep. And they don't even mention the Forester's advantage in ground clearance for anyone who wants to occasionally leave the city. Nor do they mention that the Forester has a proper full-sized spare tyre. Personally I wouldn't leave the city with a space saver or repair kit instead.
Toyota has always been a reliable and fuel efficient brand but you will hear from from many reviewers right now that they are resting on their laurels. Edmunds has a more detailed review.
Honda Engine Oil Dilution is a non-picker. Honda's quality has been in decline for years. Subaru has experienced multiple recalls. Subaru, like Honda, has been in decline. Toyota let their reputation ride, NO LONGER provide value for your dollars. Mazda seems like the winner of this pick.
@@subazealand9158 "...70 percent of new Subaru vehicles are now the object of recalls or service campaigns within two years of being purchased, noting that the “permissible limit” should be around 10 percent." www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2019/06/report-outlines-how-subaru-is-coping-with-quality-control-issues/
To be honest this compression is unfair. Mazda equips 2.5 TTTTTurbo. What is the reason that you guys compared the performance model to the 2.5 naturally gas ?
@Classic AFL Matches. Funny how the only people complaining about the Subaru CVT's are the people who don't own them. Subaru CVT's are 5th generation compared to 3rd generation of other manufacturers.
She kept on saying - you’re still getting a leather wrapped steering wheel. What car can’t you get a leather steering wheel these days? They all come standard as such now.
I find all Honda's garbage now. I was a Honda fanboy and owned many Hondas and the last model I bought was 2012 Accord fully loaded. I think Hondas has lost its reliability image and over-all experience.
The toyota hybrid has just stopped production due to hybrid break issues. Are hybrid regenerative brakes safe? I've had NY taxi drivers tell me they're not. The recall just makes me question this even more than I had? Is the Rav4 non-hybrid still the best here? Seems like it, no? Where's the Hyundai Santa Fe. At about the same price it seems you get perhaps the nicer car and a bit more size.
Regenerative brakes are quite effective and are used in conjunction with friction brakes depending on what part of the braking curve your stopping is at. It what they use to brake suburban trains (in Perth anyway). I agree that for Toyota, this is not a good look so soon after the launch of the RAV4 and it affects all of their Hybrid vehicles.
Hi guys - thanks again for a great review. Surprised you didn’t include Peugeot’s 3008 after you picked it as a winner over the CX5 in a previous head to head
No mention of the fact that everything changes if you ever want to actually leave the city? I know these vehicles spend most of their time ferrying families around the 'burbs but they do promise some utility and mild adventure right? The Subaru has a big ground clearance advantage for driving on unsealed roads or sand. The Subaru has a proper spare tyre. Personally I don't want to be somewhere potenially hours from any break-down service with a space saver tyre or worse still a repair kit! The Hybrid RAV4 is also notable for having really low towing capacity. The lowest here and lower than the petrol models in the range. Even a light camper trailer is potentially beyond it.
Who came up with this comparison? A hybrid powertrain vs gasoline? A spec model of the Subaru that doesn't have heated seats? Gas mileage vs hybrid gas mileage? Waste of time.
