The New Rav4,.... A Must If You Carry A Hairbrush And A Banana....

[silly sausage]

http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/toyota/rav4/suv/video#video

[anchorman]

Secret storage under the boot? Its where the spare wheel should be, young "motoring expert".

[Hoovie]

Secret storage under the boot? Its where the spare wheel should be, young "motoring expert".

Maybe that is the problem? The Toyota GB marketing people don't know about it as it is 'secret' and so don't think there is room for a spare?

[philip42h]

All in all another pretty rubbish review full of factual errors and half-truths ... we could probably spend several 'happy' hours cataloguing the errors ... ;)

But at the end of the day, it is similar to all the others I have seen - the motoring press really don't rate the new RAV and nearly every other 'SUV' on the market today fairs better - cheaper, faster, more engaging to drive, better equipped, better more powerful / more frugal engines - the list goes on. It's quite annoying but didn't stop me buying one though ... :D

[Hoovie]

The only way to own a car that gets the best reviews would be to buy a VW Golf. Doesn't matter how good or bad the Golf actually is, it always gets the top marks. Something to do with VW Marketing budget and fancy hotels and freebies for the 'experts' maybe? ;)

[Dippy]

I thought I'd seen that banana somewhere. What does she have with bananas?

http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/honda/cr_v/suv/video#video

Anyway, she says the CRV ride is not as exciting as an X3. So perhaps they just have to put a certain number of negative things in each review.

I wondered about starting a new thread, but didn't have the nerve and I may dare to ask it here - why get a new RAV4 over a new CRV? Genuine question, as that might be the choice I have now. I haven't yet checked the prices, but it seems the top model CRV has a lot more toys than the RAV. I can't work out whether it has more, less, or same boot space (depends on which review I read), and whether it is quieter on road or not (again depends). If anyone seriously looked into it and made their decision, please let me know. (I'm not interested in brands, looks, or exciting drives.)

[silly sausage]

I seem to recall that at launch an EX spec CRV was in the region of 32k which seems a bit steep ! I believe the latest CRV has a revised all wheel drive system but the earlier ones (pre 2012) weren't at all good in poor weather which is where the Rav excels. I have always seen the CRV as less of a utility vehicle than the Rav, a slightly 'softer roader'.

[philip42h]

This is probably the wrong forum to ask that question - rather too many RAV fans here - and as we've seen you can't trust the reviews. I bought another RAV 'cos the last RAV I had was the best car I've ever owned (I think) - so that really comes down to brand loyalty. If one did a truly objective feature by feature assessment between the RAV and the CRV I doubt there's much between them - their respective marketing departments have pretty much snuffed out any unique character in favour of delivering a "mass market SUV" so simple bias is probably your best guide. Drive both and put your money where your heart is ... :)

[Big Kev]

Just for fun, I specced up both, Dippy, on line wan night, and could not believe how much more expensive the Honda was, and have always found them least price flexible face to face. OFFICIAL.........there are some utterly stonking deals on yonder Ravs, but ye need to find a good dealer. I could actually be driving an Invincible 4.4 for less monthly outlay than my current 4.3.5, albeit it would not be "interest free". Like Oor Charlie, many people are looking for late and run oot Ravs I was assured last week at Mr. T.

[Dippy]

Thanks for the quick replies :) Aside from the price, which I'll get quotes for, I'm primarily interested in sound insulation at speed, and boot space. If they seem similar, it'll come down to toys. It was going to be a RAV as it has keyless entry and start, and reclining rear seats, which are fantastic, but now I see the CRV has them too. Last time the RAV won as it was notably quieter at speed, and the extra 27hp helped. Latter has gone too.

[anchorman]

I can tell you that my mate has a 62 plate CRV and he is on the brink of binning it. For him it is the rattles that drive him nuts. I would actually sort them out but he is having a little war with the dealer who refuses to accept they exist. If I'm honest I prefer the dash than the new RAV but you cannot beat a 4.4 for fit and finish. I have been in several and never heard one single rattle, squeak or tick.

[GreyRacer]

I've never been in or driven the Honda so can't comment on them apart from I don't like the way it looks. We've owned four RAVs now from the first time they were released and what I can say is the 4.4 is by a very long way the best of them all yet. I thought changing would only spruce things up a bit, but no, this 4.4 is far better than I expected and a whole few rungs up the ladder than our 4.3.5 was. I am very much enjoying driving it I take the keys now before my Celica. The Sport button switched on is mandatory and over the first 3,500 miles we've averaged 40 mpg. 4 more than the last one. And I just love listening to the DAB while sitting in the very comfy and supportive sports seats.

[DjRav]

The CRV is boring.

Dave

(Sorry, it is)

[firemac]

IMHO, Honda build the best bikes in the world, bar none, but their car engines are just, well, boring. I've had a couple and, yes, they were brilliantly engineered, very efficient but always made me think of sewing machines.

[Hoovie]

.... And I just love listening to the DAB ......

Can you use the DAB everywhere? I have generally given up on my DAB in the car around the country roads in the Borders and it only seems to pick up a constantly good signal in the bigger towns, so if yours works fine, maybe it is my ariel is not good enough rather thn the transmittions?

[GreyRacer]

Hi Hoovie, generally the DAB is working not bad. Ok in around my village. Thing I noticed is that it takes a time for the signal to be aquired and locked on so you think there is nothing there.

[Dippy]

"Boring"? I'll bear that in mind, but we have a 300hp two seater for fun.
Rattles have never bothered me, though ive heard of others rejecting cars over them. it must be because my first car was an Escort-based fiberglass kit for 4 yrs. the only time it didn't rattle was when I parked it two streets away :)

"this 4.4 is far better than I expected and a whole few rungs up the ladder than our 4.3.5 was"

As I have a 4.3.1 (?), this is encouraging to hear :)

Sorry if I appear fussy, but this is the last tax-free car I can buy (if I'm allowed it!), which means it will be the last car I buy - car tax in Portugal is punitive. So what I buy should last 10 years!

Anyway, it does sound, like someone said earlier, that there is actually not much tangible difference between them...

Will just have to book a test drive of both :)

[firemac]

"Boring"? I'll bear that in mind, but we have a 300hp two seater for fun.

Rattles have never bothered me, though ive heard of others rejecting cars over them. it must be because my first car was an Escort-based fiberglass kit for 4 yrs. the only time it didn't rattle was when I parked it two streets away :)

Yes, I know it sounds perverse especially when you consider Honda's F1 & Moto GP reputations. Their bike engines are brilliant - the V4 with gear-driven cams in the VFR is an engineering work of art and makes the most gorgeous noise. But their car engines, especially their Vtec's, although technically fantastic, have always seemed to have been sanitized and left with no character, if you get my meaning.

I test drove a previous gen CRV a couple of months back & I have to say that the build quality, unsurprisingly, was superb but the feel of the engine was .... boring.

[Plutus]

I drove the latest CRv when it first came out (4.4 was not launched then).

I'm an auto fan and the 5 speed auto box made the engine feel like a dog.

I could not live with it.

Other than that I thought it was well specced and comfortable, but expensive.

It had a spare wheel and HID headlights!

I prefer the looks of the CRv to the 4.4.

at the time I felt the Tiguan was best for an auto option.

[firemac]

I drove the latest CRv when it first came out (4.4 was not launched then).

I'm an auto fan and the 5 speed auto box made the engine feel like a dog.

I could not live with it.

Other than that I thought it was well specced and comfortable, but expensive.

It had a spare wheel and HID headlights!

I prefer the looks of the CRv to the 4.4.

at the time I felt the Tiguan was best for an auto option.

The Tiguan does get some good write-ups but I couldn't bring myself to buy a VAG product. i once had to run a Passat while my own car was off the road for major surgery and it was the most miserable driving experience I've ever had. I hated the thing. Then my daughter bought a new Q3 and I thought, "that might be nice", until I got into - it is probably the most cramped vehicle on earth, especially once you put a child seat in the back.

It's no doubt irrational to condemn all their cars because of that but there you are..........

[anchorman]

I drove the latest CRv when it first came out (4.4 was not launched then).

I'm an auto fan and the 5 speed auto box made the engine feel like a dog.

I could not live with it.

Other than that I thought it was well specced and comfortable, but expensive.

It had a spare wheel and HID headlights!

I prefer the looks of the CRv to the 4.4.

at the time I felt the Tiguan was best for an auto option.

The Tiguan does get some good write-ups but I couldn't bring myself to buy a VAG product. i once had to run a Passat while my own car was off the road for major surgery and it was the most miserable driving experience I've ever had. I hated the thing. Then my daughter bought a new Q3 and I thought, "that might be nice", until I got into - it is probably the most cramped vehicle on earth, especially once you put a child seat in the back.

It's no doubt irrational to condemn all their cars because of that but there you are..........

I feel the same although I really like the look and sometimes mistake one coming the other way for a RAV. Its just that over the years I have come across so many people that are at their wits end with various VW product and they have had me scratching my head a few times too. It doesn't mean I wouldn't have one but I'm wary of it.

[silly sausage]

VW reliability certainly doesn't seem to be what it was when the old 1.9 tdi engine was in it's heyday, the 2 litre diesel along with the dsg gearbox aren't bomb proof like the earlier cars. IMHO the Tiguans biggest let down is the loading height at the back, it must be due for a facelift shortly.

The Kia Sportage seems to be selling in big numbers, I've seen an awful lot about recently, are they on BOGOF or is there a special discount code in the Weetabix box ?

[Big Kev]

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, Paul min.......keep it up.

Just caught sight of that video again t'other day, where the wummin with hands full approaches back of the Ford Kuga, and appears to kick it up the airse to get the tailgate to open. Apparently not shown in Glasgow or Liverpool........wonder why.......

[firemac]

VW reliability certainly doesn't seem to be what it was when the old 1.9 tdi engine was in it's heyday, the 2 litre diesel along with the dsg gearbox aren't bomb proof like the earlier cars. IMHO the Tiguans biggest let down is the loading height at the back, it must be due for a facelift shortly.

The Kia Sportage seems to be selling in big numbers, I've seen an awful lot about recently, are they on BOGOF or is there a special discount code in the Weetabix box ?

Kia's 7-year warranty ia a big draw for the Which? magazine crowd although I'm reliably informed that it ain't all it's cracked up to be, especially the last 2 years which are apparently down to the goodwill of the dealer network (great, as long as business is on the up?).

I have to admit that it is a funky looking thing and you can't deny that Kia/Hyundai are busting their proverbials in the areas of reliability & build quality in order to overtake the !Removed! & Germans. Nevertheless, having sat in one I didn't bother with a test drive since it was akin to the black hole of Kolkata (very PC, me!) in there; those narrowed side windows plus privacy glass do nothing for interior ambience.

[silly sausage]

Thanks Kev ! I'm but a novice in the company of such Stalwarts as yourself, however I accept your compliment...... with humility. For all the constructive criticism we preach, the Koreans are taking a huge share of the SUV segment and as Jim says they're clearly working hard to match the competition, it will be interesting to see how they stand the test of time and what the residuals are like. 'Honest John' rates them and he knows everything