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Outback vs. Highlander vs. Rav 4?

115 messages,  Last post on Jan 28, 2008 at 9:04 PM

You are in the Toyota RAV4 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Highlander, Subaru Outback, Toyota RAV4, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 11 of 13

#93 of 115 ..and now for something completely different... by kurtamaxxxguy

Dec 21, 2007 (5:28 pm)

adding, briefly, 1 more model to this discussion:
 
Ford Escape Hybrid AWD. This uses the Prius Synergy Hybrid drivetrain but with an additional motor and shaft driving the rear wheels. Ford claims the drive system is intelligent (i.e., it transfers power to the wheels opposite from what are slipping ).
 
This one's looking attractive as given the big hills I have to go up and down (which guzzle gas going up, and use up the brakes going down) this SUV may help save a lot of gas and brake wear and none of the other 3 in this discussion can avoid using.
 
yes it's less powerful than the other three, but uses way less fuel. I have yet to drive it to see how responsive it is.
 
Comments?

#94 of 115 Re: ..and now for something completely different... [kurtamaxxxguy] by xwesx

Dec 21, 2007 (6:31 pm)

Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Dec 21, 2007 5:28 pm)
I would have seriously considered this vehicle as well except for my sub-arctic location. I cannot see the batteries lasting long enough to make the investment worthwhile. In a more temperate environment like Portland, why not try it?

#95 of 115 Re: ..and now for something completely different... [kurtamaxxxguy] by ateixeira

Dec 26, 2007 (1:21 pm)

Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Dec 21, 2007 5:28 pm)
IMHO it really, truly, depends on the price you pay.
 
At low-mid 20s, it's fine.
 
For a well equipped one, they get near $30k, and then the interior starts to feel cheap.
 
See what sort of prices paid people are getting. At $25k or less it makes a good case for itself, higher than that it just feels too low-rent.

#96 of 115 edmunds wrapup by kurtamaxxxguy

Dec 28, 2007 (8:31 am)

Edmunds completed its long term test of a RAV4. Interesting remarks about the V6 engine . It's first time I have heard Emunds saying a vehicle had too __much__ horsepower, but apparently the V6 RAV4 had nasty torque steer.
   
By comparison, I have never seen/felt Torque steer on any '08 Subaru outback I have driven, even when two wheels were in gravel and other two on pavement. m On other hand, the Subies don't respond well to the throttle (they have good ultimate power, but you have to wait to get it).

#97 of 115 Re: edmunds wrapup [kurtamaxxxguy] by ateixeira

Dec 28, 2007 (9:00 am)

Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Dec 28, 2007 8:31 am)
That's the difference between a part-time AWD system and a full-time one, basically.
 
All you have to do is manage the throttle carefully. My Sienna has torque steer if you aren't careful, so generally I wait until the it's aimed straight before really punching it.

#98 of 115 Re: edmunds wrapup [ateixeira] by cbmorton

Dec 28, 2007 (11:22 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 28, 2007 9:00 am)
Note that Edmunds' comments refer to the FWD model. The AWD RAV4 is less prone to torque steer - I only notice it when nailing the pedal at speed, when it's running in mostly FWD mode. In daily driving it's a non-issue.

#99 of 115 Another XT drive by kurtamaxxxguy

Dec 29, 2007 (12:28 am)

this '07 had 48 miles on it, no clunks in the driveline, and less of (but still some) hesitations when accelerating (about a second or so). The salesperson riding shotgun explains the AWD weight was responsible for some of the lag. There was no huge turbo surge. Amazing how two XT's could be so different.
It felt very substantial, with absolutely no torque steer no matter what I or salesrep did. Although the roads were wet, I noted no brake pulsing or loss of traction on any of the wheels.
 
How do the seats differ from H6 to XT? Narrower? Larger bolsters? Subaru only says the XT has "performance" seats.

#100 of 115 ---was '08, sorry--- by kurtamaxxxguy

Dec 30, 2007 (11:00 am)

...as it had telescoping steering.

#101 of 115 Re: Another XT drive [kurtamaxxxguy] by ateixeira

Dec 31, 2007 (4:34 pm)

Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Dec 29, 2007 12:28 am)
You should buy that exact car. Seriously.
 
Some cars just seem to be blueprinted, i.e. built perfectly to specs.

#102 of 115 The RAV4 leaves Subie in its dust by kurtamaxxxguy

Jan 01, 2008 (6:44 pm)

Drove a RAV4 Limited V6 AWD today. Edmunds was right about this one - the engine almost seems too powerful for the chassis (some torque steer, for sure) and there was some hesitation from the 5 speed auto (about a second or so ..vs.. less from my existing Maxx).
 
But:
It easily out-responded all the Outbacks I have driven - almost felt like it was going to run away with itself at times. The fact that RAV4's V6 engine uses regular gas is another plus. A minus is the RAV4's throttle's hair-triggerish, like the Outback in sportsharp, but all the time.
 
You sit higher in the RAV4, and the leather seats are perforated like the LL.BEAN (the XT has solid leather seats). The seats seem a bit firmer. The RAV4 interior trim's not quite as nice as Outback, but ok. There's more interior room for passengers, with a little less for cargo unless seats are folded down. The rear cargo cover was almost a copy of that used in the Subaru. Most glaring cheapness in RAV4 was mouse-fur headliner.
 
I couldn't test the AWD (dry weather for a change, but was impressed the RAV4 could be locked on demand, and had various features to help with hills. It's not quite as sophisicated as Subarus, but for slow speeds such as driving on really bad roads I suspect there won't be much noticeable difference.
 
A Frankenstein project might be an Outback with a toyota V6 engine...

Messages Page 11 of 13

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