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SUVs Crossover SUV Comparison
7120 messages, Last post on Nov 06, 2009 at 8:28 AM
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Replying to: azerafan (Aug 31, 2008 5:53 pm) All the Santa Fe needs is a more fuel efficient drivetrain and it would have made my short list for sure. For us gas mileage was high on our list and that knocked it out, but there's not much else to complain about. Warranty is a plus. In Brazil Hyundai sells these for more than $90,000 USD and people happily pay that much, so it's a great value with USA pricing. Just get a gas card that has rebates. The RAV4 has arguably the best powertrain, at least on paper. I like the 2GR-FE engine enough that I bought a Sienna with that mill. The transmission is only good, though, not great, with no manual controls. I found visibility was poor while backing up. You can get one without the spare on the tailgate, but that forces in to the miserable Run Flats that give Sienna owners nightmares. Plus - that tail gate still opens the wrong way, blocking any curb side loading. This is pure cost cutting because it's the correct way in their home market. Best engine but I was shopping for a complete vehicle, not just a great V6. Forester was our choice. Right away people will say the 4EAT is a con, but honestly, it's better than our Sienna's automatic, plus SportShift gives you manual control. It is smaller than the Santa Fe and RAV4. Visibility is best in class, and so is mileage for the 4 banger. The XT is very quick but prefers premium fuel, and while it's technically not required I think you should just get the base engine if you really want a low fuel bill. PZEV is an option and you gain 5hp, plus you can actually still get a manual transmission, the only 1 of the 3 that offers one, with the base engine. Bottom line - I felt the Forester is the best compact crossover, period. RAV4 and Santa Fe both try to act big, or at least mid-sized, offering tiny little 3rd rows, but in all honestly if you really need 3 rows you'll be better served by the bigger crossovers often discussed here (CX9, Lambdas, etc.) |
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Replying to: volkov (Sep 02, 2008 9:39 am) Forester X gets 20/26 Rav4 - 6 gets 19/26 Forester XT 19/24 " The point is that you get the fuel economy with the performance in the V6 Rav4. Getting a 4-banger in the sluggish Forrester makes you feel cheated on fuel economy compared to the V6 Rav4.
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Replying to: coldcranker (Sep 02, 2008 11:13 am) The RAV4 V6 will have plenty of reserve power, so if the buyer plans to haul a big payload or tow a trailer, it will be the better choice. We have that exact same V6 in our van.
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Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 02, 2008 11:28 am)
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Replying to: coldcranker (Sep 02, 2008 11:33 am) It's other parts of the vehicle that I had issues with. Poor rear visibility. Look at the massive D-pillar, and high rear window. Wrong-way rear gate blocks the curb (duh!). Spare on the rear blocks the view even more, and even for 2009 to get rid of those you have to accept an even bigger problem - run-flats. This poor guy is the latest victim: http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ee93e3c/8568 The RAV4's interior is also half a step behind the others in its class, and well behind the Sienna IMHO. Plus when you evaluate the handling, body roll, AWD system, etc, that's where Subaru really wins. Who was it, Lotus? One of those exotic brands is building a new car and they are using the 2GR-FE V6 engine. That's no surprise. In the RAV4, it's a great engine looking for a better host vehicle.
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Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 02, 2008 11:43 am)
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Replying to: coldcranker (Sep 02, 2008 12:24 pm) Toyota simply puts a priority on isolation and comfort. Period. The job of the suspension is to absorb bumps and keep the vehicle on its intended path, quietly. Isolation is a priority over feedback, so the steering is novacaine-numb. I like my Sienna but I'll admit, the steering has less feedback than my Nintendo Wii Remote. Seriously. None. Some critics say it's too light, that's actuall not true - it is well weighted. It's just not connected, the feel. Like you operate a joystick or a video game, one without the force feedback feature. This is good in some ways - you don't feel jolts, speed bumps, irregularities in the road. This can reduce fatigue. Your passengers nap peacefully in quiet comfort. Ok, what do you trade-off for that quiet isolation? Feel and feedback. You can't tell when the tires are about to break traction, they just do, then the intrusive traction control nanny raises the red flag and ends the party. There will be no exceeding this limit, and we're not going to tell you where it is, nor when you are getting close.  That's the best way I can put it. Funny thing is, ultimately they do handle well, albeit with more lean. Grip is fine. It's just you have no feedback to know what the tires are doing. True for the brakes as well, even for the throttle-by-wire for that matter. That's just how Toyotas are. Isolated. Basically think BMW-style feedback, where you can see the limits coming, even feel the texture of the road, then think the exact opposite. That's Toyota. Note that in the C&D comparo the Sienna actually matched the lateral grip of the Odyssey, but read the text of the article and you'd never know. Sorry if my explanation is hard to understand. A Toyota can be driven fast, perhaps even just as fast as car B, but it will not really reward you with driving fun the way a (insert your favorite car here) will. So, why did I get one? Because the Sienna is a phenomenal vehicle for the other 7 passengers. Plus you don't drive your family vehicle the way you'd drive a BMW.
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Replying to: ateixeira (Aug 29, 2008 4:53 pm) The lease price I got was exactly the same as the 6cyl rav. Actually one quote I got was substantially lower but the reviews for this dealership are very negative so I have a feeling they won't honor that quote: 36 month lease/ 15k miles $0 down / $337 which includes tax. The other quote I got seems more realistic: $0 down / $339+ tax Does that price seem fair? I'm in the Denver area. thanks!
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Replying to: tigerlily3 (Sep 02, 2008 7:48 pm) |
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Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 02, 2008 1:09 pm) Sorry if my explanation is hard to understand. A Toyota can be driven fast, perhaps even just as fast as car B, but it will not really reward you with driving fun the way a (insert your favorite car here) will. So, why did I get one? Because the Sienna is a phenomenal vehicle for the other 7 passengers. Plus you don't drive your family vehicle the way you'd drive a BMW. For those who only have one vehicle, the Odyssey is a good compromise. It doesn't ride as quietly as the Toyota or as smoothly either, but instead, its a lot like a big Accord; a benefit to many (especially me, an Accord driver  ). How many miles do you have on the 'yota now, a-t? |
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