Toyota Rav-4 vs. Honda CR-V

[Grouseman]

The wife has a minivan that gets about 21mpg. It has alot of room she doesn't need. I want her to trade, sell, etc that beast and get either the Rav-4 or Cr-v.
Which has the most room? Best gas mileage, etc

We have owned Hondas before and they are very reliable.
Which do you own? What are the good and bad on each?
I have not seen these two side by side but it appears the CR-V is somewhat larger.
We do not need 4 wheel drive in this SUV.

Thanks
Grouseman

 

[KLF]

I just went thru this same debate. My GF really wanted a RAV, so I started looking and comparing. I am a hard-core Toyota fanatic, but I actually liked the CR-V a little better. They seemed to have more room inside, that's for sure. Both are very reliable and well made.

BTW, I didn't like how small they both were, I ended up getting a Highlander. I really wanted a V6, and wanted more towing capacity. I know, the RAV is now available in a V6 and is a little larger, but I was looking at used, I don't buy anything new.

 

[93561Cruiser]

What are the good and bad on each?
I have not seen these two side by side but it appears the CR-V is somewhat larger.
We do not need 4 wheel drive in this SUV.

We benchmarked these two vehicles last week at work. The RAV4 is a little larger and does come with a V6 while the CRV has only the 2.4 I4.

The RAV4 base suspension tune is soft with a very nonlinear steering response. Not very satisfying to drive The RAV4 Sport model is a little better but the ride quality is poor. In typical Toyota fashion they over control the rebound and call it a sport model. The 3.5 V6 engine that's available in the RAV4 is really sweet, but there goes the gas mileage. The interior has been cost reduced quite a bit but Toyota did a good job of making it look like there is some money in it.

The CRV is very well tuned, much better than previous CRV's. The balance between ride and handling is very good and the power train is wonderful. The CRV engine doesn't feel too underpowered and the transmission is wonderful. Very quick shifts without any shift shock. The interior is very nice and the fit and finish is great for that class. It has a very solid feel that the RAV4 doesn't have.

Make sure you drive both before deciding. They have very different characters, you probably won't like them both.

 

[Zack1978]

Are you going new or used? All I can say is that the ex-gf has an 03 RAV, and I hate EVERYTHING about! I think I can actually run faster than it, and that is not saying much! It is loud, slow, bad in snow even with 4wd and good tires, and it just looks cheap inside. I hate it !

Zack