OT: 2015 Toyota RAV4? Yay or Nay?

[PennSt8er]

Someone who follows the auto industry very closely....

But, hey - you don't have to acknowledge what I stated, but it would be hard to go against what Car&Driver, Autoweek, Motor Trend, and pretty much all the other automotive publications have stated about the CX-5 and the RAV-4, much less the Mazda6 vs. the Camry, the Mazda3 vs. the Corolla, etc.- if you don't care to drive them back to back.

Toyota is widely considered the beige brand.

The only real downside to the CX-5 is that it doesn't have as much power as some of the other choices, but the typical buyers of compact CUVs aren't looking for the equivalent of an SRT.

Another option (probably too late for OP) would be the Nissan Qashquai (might change the name for the NA market) - which is Nissan's Euro compact CUV (so a little smaller and little nicer inside than the Rogue) which they will be bringing over to the US in the not too distant future.

Not too late for the OP. Still about a week away from hitting the showrooms. Keep it coming. I'm learning a ton here. Thanks.

 

[rudedude]

A coworker was looking to trade her RAV4 in on a new model. She looked at the CRV and RAV4 and asked my opinion... "Did you check out the Mazda CX5?", "No", "I recommend checking it out before you pull the trigger and spend an extra 5 - 7 thousand on the Honda or Toyota."

2 weeks later she pulls up in a brand new CX5.

After having driven all three I asked her opinion and why she chose the Mazda.

1. Exterior Styling
2. Gas Mileage - Mazda beat both CRV and RAV4
3. Fuel Range
4. Interior Styling
5. Comfort
6. Ride Quality
7. Pep and Handling

She just felt overall the CX5 was by far and away the BEST model she test drove. Her and fiancé actually went back to the Honda and Toyota dealers to retest the CRV and RAV4 to ensure they weren't selling themselves short. Here in MD we don't get enough really bad weather to justify buying extra wheels and snow tires. Never had an issue with good treaded all-seasons on any of my AWD vehicles... key is knowing how to drive in the snow, and what to do when your tires are no longer making contact with the road surface.

An extra $5,000-$7,000 for the Honda? Comparable models of the CR-V & CX-5 are within the same range. The CR-V EX also gets you heated seats, a moonroof, fog lights that are not part of the same model as the CX-5. You have to go with an extra package to get a moonroof on the Mazda.

 

[RobBliz]

Anyone own one of these? I need to buy a new car soon. Need AWD too. Thanks.

Do you have balls? Yay or Nay?

 

[NJPSU]

How does the reliability of the Mazda CX 5 stack up against the Toyota RAV4 or the Honda CRV?

 

[PennSt8er]

Do you have balls? Yay or Nay?

Yep. 2. Thanks for asking.

 

[massimoManca II]

How does the reliability of the Mazda CX 5 stack up against the Toyota RAV4 or the Honda CRV?

As a Honda owner, and former Mazda owner, there is absolutely no fall-off with Mazda when comparing to Honda or Toyota... In fact - my Honda is showing signs of sketchy long-term quality issues now that it's a month away from being paid off (A/C issues.... Tire-Pressure monitor / sensor failure.... already had to replace the HVAC fan switch)... Mazda has been a go-to brand for those in-the-know for many many years... I agree 100% with a prior remark (by Katatonic, perhaps) that Toyota is the "beige" brand... Honda has been cheapening their offerings for years and it shows... the lustre is off Honda and Toyota, in part because most other automakers have caught up

 

[rudedude]

We have 2 Hondas and they both have well over 100,000 miles and have had no major repair issues to this point in time. But a Honda, drive it for years.

 

[PennSt8er]

We have 2 Hondas and they both have well over 100,000 miles and have had no major repair issues to this point in time. But a Honda, drive it for years.

So I love Honda. But I won't buy a car that has a nav/radio that is all touch screen. Had one in an older car and it was so distracting.

 

[lionroar88]

So I love Honda. But I won't buy a car that has a nav/radio that is all touch screen. Had one in an older car and it was so distracting.

You're name wouldn't by chance be Doug would it?

 

[massimoManca II]

So I love Honda. But I won't buy a car that has a nav/radio that is all touch screen. Had one in an older car and it was so distracting.

Agree 100000%. Touch screens do not belong on automotive control panels...
For nav i am better off plopping my $ 120 TomTom on the dash instead of being hosed by the mfr

 

[lionroar88]

MMII that is what I thought till I rearended another car and had the Garmin endup in the backseat! Never again will I mount something to my windscreen.

 

[PennSt8er]

Quick update to close the loop. Buying my CX-5 Grand Touring with Tech package today. Thanks for all the huge help here. Test drove lots of cars including the RAV4 (hated hated hated the interior styling), HRV (hated the touch screen radio interface and the lack of lumbar support and electric seats and it's small), and the Forester (boxy and noisy).

Mazda dominates all of these and has some touch points that remind me of my old Audi.

 

[Blueblood4eva]

Quick update to close the loop. Buying my CX-5 Grand Touring with Tech package today. Thanks for all the huge help here. Test drove lots of cars including the RAV4 (hated hated hated the interior styling), HRV (hated the touch screen radio interface and the lack of lumbar support and electric seats and it's small), and the Forester (boxy and noisy).

Mazda dominates all of these and has some touch points that remind me of my old Audi.

Congratulations and best of luck. My daughter decided on the exact same configuration earlier this month and we can't wipe the grin off of her face. It is gorgeous.