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The Xterra and Explorer are trucks so if you want car-like handling those should be out. Trucks normally have worse fuel economy as well.
The JGC has been notorius for being the least reliable of all midsized SUV's. See CR for recent models
The Pilot is as big as the Exporer and is a Honda on an Odyssey frame. It's big but should handle like the Odyssey.
The RAV is on it's own frame, slightly smaller than a Camry, but with the 3.5L V6 it's far and away the fastest of all.
Warranties: Nissan and Toyota
Reliability: Toyota and Honda
Resale value: Toyota and Honda
Safety features: ( fill in the blanks )
VSC/Trac
ABS/BA/EBD
S&C A/B?
Crash tests: IIHS
Fuel Economy: RAV V6 by a huge margin
I don't own a RAV4 yet but have driven 6-8 on long test drives and compare them to my Audi. The luxury is not there but it is a good basic performance hauler.
It is faster than a new Audi A6 Advant and $20K cheaper so if you are looking for value and fun it is in the sweet spot of SUVs.
Some of the reported problems of paint chipping and windshield cracks on RAV4W are a concern.
It all depends on what you want.
We shall see.
Checked out the Sport version of the RAV4 last weekend and had to disqualify it from my choices! We could not find a way to raise or lower the tailgate glass.
The RAV4 OAL is 181 inches and the side-swinging tailgate adds another 48 inches for a total of 229 inches! That's longer than a Suburban as well as a Tundra Double-cab!
At 229 inches, I won't be able to load anything in the back without opening my garage door. At least the CR-V's liftgate glass opens.
Is there a way to open the tailgate glass that I missed?
Thanks,
P.S. Here in N. Calif, you have to buy the limited + $3000 option package to get leather seats. And is there anything other than the hideous looking (and feeling) injected plastic steering wheel?
Yes you can keep it in 4th gear by moving the shift lever to one side sort of like "Tiptronic"
Not sure why you would want to. It will increse the RPM by 29%, wear out your engine and kill your highway milage.
Sometimes, when you drive thru hilly area it pays off to disable overdrive; it excludes annoying back and forth gear switching
Has anyone had any luck finding a V6 Limited w/ Leather?
I have seen the aftermarket leather in a few RAVs and it is very nice, better than the factory one I saw I think. Softer. My dealer wants $1300 to do it in a Sport and that is without the heated seats.
And the rear deck is low for easy loading.
You live in a bad neighborhood where you cannot back in and load you truck with the garage door open...
I live in San Diego, CA and have 6 or so Toyota dealers within a 50 mile radius. I was able to locate several Limited V6 w/Leather. Although color selection was quite small to say the least.
What I found worked best was to call and speak to the fleet manager and ask:
1) Are any in stock?
2) Are any in the pipeline?
They were able to look on their allocation sheets and tell me not only what was pending for them...but also what the inventory at other dealers around them was. (Saved me a lot of time).
If one was pending (usually no more than a week out), you can give them a refundable $500 deposit to hold the vehicle until you can see it and test drive it.
As far as San Diego county goes...
Last week, there was a Blizzard White pending at Toyota Carlsbad, a Silver at Toyota of Escondido, and a Red pending at Toyota El Cajon.
Don't know if this helps or not...
Toyota is selling RAV4s as fast as they can make them so it really does not matter just now what we customers might want.
The climate controls are a set of three circular panels with soft buttons for each of the features.
Maybe I don't understand something, but my controls are doing some weird things.
Example:
I'll turn everything off (climate control, air conditioner, fan etc.) I make sure that all controls are off. After a few minutes, the internal air button appears to activate itself. This is especially annoying because I want outside air.
Is anyone else seeing this?
-Dan
MM
Tell me about it! I wanted a Ltd. in evergreen metallic or barcelona red (anything but white really) with leather, moon roof and side/curtain airbags, that's ALL. I couldn't find one anywhere, and ordering one they said would take anywhere from 4 weeks to 4 months! Sooooooooo, what did I do? I got desperate and bought the blizzard pearl - extra options that I didn't want, and no leather. And this wasn't even the V6, so I think it's hard to get exactly what you want no matter what your're looking for.
(Not that bad a neighborhood. I just don't want anyone seeing me load my bondage devices, assault weapons, and dead bodies into the back. )
no outside spare and the tailgate access is much better.
of course, i realize just about nobody on this thread is going to cross shop the two.
I love my new Rav. It replaced a 4Runner I'd been driving for almost 10 years.
Pros:
* Quick and nimble.
* Comfortable and quiet.
* Special features of the Limited add a lot to the car (i.e. Leather, Stereo system, Dual Climate controls, etc.)
* Safety (Side Curtain air bags)
* Doesn't hurt that Consumer Reports chose it as #1 small SUV
Cons:
* Stupid drink holder design
* Rear window doesn't open
* External radio antenna
* Big blind spot at rear corners of vehicle
* Poor visibility of clock and stereo panel
* Supply is low, demand is high Dealers are not as willing to negotiate because they have people waiting to snap up the car if you decline.
Over all...very nice car. Size and power are excellent. Gas mileage is decent. Looks good and fun to drive.
I'm happy I got mine.
-Dan
This is likely the truth since the new RAV is a huge hit with the public as indicated in the sales numbers. However most owners are still the frugal RAV/CRV/Camry/Accord owners who normally look for good solid basic transportation with reliability and economy over niceties.
It's not unlike the trend that CE/LE/LX CamCord owners are far and away the largest single segment of buyers.
Ditto the RAV which appeals to the same demographics. This apparently is what the market is demanding.
I've heard some talk that Toyota's looking for something to slot between the Matrix and the Rav4? Personally I wouldn't mind something like a Daihatsu Terios (except a tad wider). The Matrix is good and all but just a bit too low and near the snow during winter driving (not that the Terios is that much higher).
The upcoming Ford Bronco should be an interesting addition to this segment.
Too bad Jeep doesn't have a city/urban version of the Wrangler (with better fuel economy!!) or else it'd be a great urban runabout.
-juice
I paid: 27,100
Also bought the 6yr/100K warrenty.
They asked 1,900, I ended up paying 1,230
Escondido Toyota (San Diego)
Unless the tire is mounted in the vehicle (you loose cargo space though) or under the vehicle, (inconvenient when need the spare), I am not sure I see any advantage to any one of these solutions. Plus with the tire under or in the car, your SUV starts to look like a Mini Van or wagon.
It would be nice though if the rear glass opened.
The euro RAV4 has a donut under the cargo floor, but I don't think they could accomodate that plus a 3rd row.
I've never seen an outside mounted spare swing up, though. Remember the old Rodeos had that seperate swing-open metal brace?
-juice
In all honesty, the 3rd row seats are a novelty that are about as practical as the back seat in a 911. I, for one, would much rather see the spare under the rear storage and eliminate the possibility of 3rd row seating.
Having a swing out tire carrier was real practical in older mid '80s SUVs, the Bronco II, Blazer, Cherokees all had them among several others, they took a little getting used to, but worked well if they were made right, some of the door mounted swinging mounts left a lot to be desired, IE Bronco II.
Steve, Host
Keep in mind we're shopping for 5, so trips are more frequent and we have to get more stuff. Wifey saw the door opening towards the curb and called it "stupid".
It's set up for RHD markets. They didn't flip it over. Even if they did you would not have rain shelter to do that emergency diaper change on the road. It happens, trust me!
-juice
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/?CFID=1585161&CFTOKEN=18813411
Are you tail-gating trucks that deliver stones all the time or something?
-juice