Considering getting a used RAV4 (09-12 depending on deal) for my daughter. Anyone own one? Good experience? Bad experience? I know it's a Toyota so it should be pretty solid, but we are primarily a Honda/Acura household. Daughter isn't a fan of the CRV and for whatever reason the used RAV4s out number the used CRVs by about 5:1 around here. Im a little gunshy of any of the American marques. Any others to consider?
Appreciate any thoughts or feedback.

 

My father bough a new '10 Rav4 because of a loss leader ad in a paper that the dealership didn't want to honor. Bought it for 18k OTD, basically zero options, but a dirt cheap price. He thought it was a solid car, but he got rid of it. He needs another CUV and is considering the '15.

So in summary, good experience, no issues with it.

 

The only thing wrong with the RAV4 is the inability to find an excuse to get rid of it in the future.

 

Seems like he did get a good deal on it. I've seen used 11 Sports for that kind of $$.

Thanks.

I have a coworker who has an 04 and it still runs like a champ @230K. Not sure if this one in an anomaly but not really comparable to what I'm looking for (09-12).

 

My wife has an '09 V6 4x4 Sport. I'm assuming your shopping for a 4 banger, but we've been really happy with ours so far. The V6's did have some transmission issues with whining, but I don't think it effected the 4 cylinders.

Here's a link to the thread I started for my wife's Rav if you wanted to peruse it...

https://acurazine.com/forums/car-tal...garage-877355/

 

Yes, primarily looking at an I4, but again for the right deal would move on a V6. As a college student she really doesn't need the extra fuel costs.

All that aside if she had it her way she would be driving an Avalanche................

 

Ah. Well I can only speak for the I4 on a rental car experience, which was excellent. It was an I4 4x4 and it had decent pick up and handled pretty much like a car. The MPG on the I4s is supposed to be damn impressive, even more than what their rated at, and of course the reliability is super high being a Toyota.

 

We had a first gen RAV4, the cartoony looking one, in bright blue. Manual trans. Fantastic car. Went 180K miles with nary a problem.

Can't speak of the current ones, excep that they look 10x better than the feminine rear of the CRV.

I always lust after the V6 Rav4, thinking a big motor in a small package has to be fun.

I don't know a single person in MA that wants an Avalanche. Interesting chick. All seem to want Prius or Electric cars.

 

LOL - @ cartoony

Again wouldn't completely rule out the V6, but not what I am looking for. Does seem to be a lot of HP for such a small vehicle.

Pretty sure there are far more Prius and electrics on the road in metro LA than Boston. At least that's what I have seen in the LA and San Diego areas........

Oh and she learned how to drive on our MDX, so although she likes the look of an Avalanche, she would be happiest driving an MDX. However that is not something I'm going to do for a college kid..............

 

I own an 06 rav 4cyl. Its a 2.4L and they went to a 2.5 in 2008 i believe. Mine is known to burn oil and it does. I top up once between changes. Its been great so far, mostly regular maintenance. We'll be getting rid of it soon for a minivan most likely (#3 on the way).
Ive never driven the v6 but thats a big engine for the car. The 4 has plenty of power and ive done several myrtle beach trips in it with the car jammed with 2 kids and gear.

 

If Toyota still made the 2011 RAV4 V6 Sport with the spare tire in the back (instead of the stupid run-flats), I'd be driving the RAV4 instead of my TL. I really loved that generation of the RAV4 V6, and not buying it at the time was one of my biggest regrets. Powerful, practical, sporty, and unpretentious. I extensively drove the RAV4 Sport in the Canadian Rockies in sub-zero weather, and it performed rock-solidly. The new RAV4 has been completely neutered and rendered impotent, not to mention lacking any kind of masculinity.

Yes, I would seriously get rid of my TL for that RAV4, if I could go back in time.

Now, I personally wouldn't buy a 4-cylinder RAV4, but I'd be happy to recommend it to someone's sister, the same way you'd recommend a Corolla.

 

My baby brother owns a RAV4 V6 Sport. He absolutely loves it and is not planning on getting rid of it anytime soon. Completely reliable. I'm not a Toyota fan in general but this CUV has been impressive.

 

Nissan Rogue wouldn't be a bad contender if you're not set on the RAV4.

 

Have they resolved the appalling small offset crash ratings?
I've always liked the Rav4, but that turned me off of them for a bit. Haven't looked into it since. And now, having 2 kids, it's too small for us.

 

Thanks for all the replies!!

Spoke to her again and now CRV is back on the table - She was having no part of the looks a few weeks ago, but now likes them.

So now RAV4 and CRV comments are welcome.

 

^ They are the two best selling compact SUVs for a reason. I don't think you could go wrong with either.

 

The Mazda CX-5 is also a good CUV. It has great rating online.

 

No, I know that and that is how I arrived at and am really only considering these two CUVs. As Azine is an enthusiast site with lots of general automotive knowledge and experience, I was just looking to tap into that.

 

I'd say buy whichever has the lowest miles for the price you want to pay. Between those two cars that's the only thing you can really pick and choose from.

 

IIRC, that generation sucked in crash tests. Like really bad.

 

I'd rather have the Mazda as well. Great looking CUV.

 

"That generation" being 09-12?? RAV4 or CRV??

 

I believe he means the current generation Rav4.
Terrible small offset frontal crash ratings. IIRC, the dash moved significantly enough that the airbag barely touched the driver & the dummy got a face full of A/C vent.

 

Everything I saw for the 2006-2011 gen Rav4 says it has a 4 star crash rating and good front overlap crash ratings. Don't know about the current gen.

 

I lived and worked around Beacon Hill.

Yeah tons of Prius/Electric stuff in LA.

Suprrised she wants an MDX> I would never want that in college. Its too big of a mommy mobile.


Why not get her a turbo RDX or a 4 RUnner ?

 

Define good and bad first.

RAV4 is good at what it does. Get you from point A to B miserably for a LONG LONG time.

I personally would get the newly facelifted CRV, it looks 10X better than RAV4 and it has the same engine as the almighty TLX!!

 

^^
You mean the engine that burns oil, all over the TSX forum?

Using the word "all mighty" and "TLX" in the same sentence ( Ireally wished you used red lettering ) is a travesty to the English language.

 

Red lettering is for noobs.

 

Like I said she learned how to drive on an MDX, so she wants what she knows. She's not thinking about the amount of gas it uses (she never bought any) how difficult is can be to park on campus or that it might be a "mommy mobile."

Hadn't thought of a turbo RDX or a 4Runner but both are likely more than we are really looking to spend and more than she needs. It can easily be argued that she doesn't need a RAV4 or a CRV, but that is what she is saying she wants (understanding the MDX, Avalanche, etc are not open for discussion so long as her parents are buying) and are trying to accommodate her.

 

then i would suggest to look for both RAV4 and CRV... pick whichever one you can find with the best condition with the lowest miles at the lowest price.

To me RAV4 and CRV are interchangeable.

 

4 banger to 4 banger yes. Rav4 V6 no.

 

I'd get the CX5. You can probably find a nice used Touring (mid level) at a good price. The '13 was slow. I think '14+ had a bigger motor

 

Here's a 2013 Rav4 small offset crash video. The dummy completely misses the airbag and hits its head on the dashboard, which has moved significantly in the crash:

 

The 2012 CR-V is even worse ... The door gets jarred open slightly and the door skin gets ripped off. Fortunately, the curtain airbags seem to do their job. The dummy's head still hits the dash though because of the steering column deformation.

 

^OP is looking at previous gen. Not that it'd make things any better.

 

I don't think either of those models are safe in any generation

 

I am looking at older models, but that's a little more than disconcerting!!!!

 

The bottom line is that you have to get a model that has side curtain airbags. That's just a must-have. Even the 2015 GTI, that gets a good on the small overlap had the dummy miss the fat part of the steering wheel airbag. It was the side curtains that helped protect the dummy's head.

You might be better off getting a Pilot with a few more miles rather than a CR-V or RAV4.

What's your budget?

 

I was originally thinking the budget was going to be about $12K, but based on what I have found locally, I'm likely to be closer to $14K and have found what I believe to be some really good deals in the $16K range. You know how it is when you go car shopping............
Ideally want to keep it in the $14K range because of TTT and then insurance on top of that.

 

FWIW a number of cars had issues with the small overlap test - it's only a year or two old and caught everyone off guard.

Can a CX-5 be had for OP's budget? Used CX-7 would be the direct competitor, but that's turbocharged (added complexity). I would add a Subaru Forester to the mix as well. Standard AWD.