As a Honda devotee, I have to admit that I prefer RAV-4 over CR-V. It looks better, at least to me, not hundreds of thousands who snapped CR-V’s over RAV. The engine improvement is welcome, although previous was not a slouch. I am miffed by 4 speed slush box, although it was moving trucklette lovely and shifts were unperceived. Still the sticker was stating 4 speed overdrive, when in fact it was “underdrive” with 1.04 ratio. Mileage was a tick bellow CR-V – surprising considering that RC-V 5 speed was “highly” overdrive (actually even 4th is overdrive in CR-V). Which was testament to Toyota mill.

ooh, a new 2.5l engine? I bet you this will be the new engine for the camry, scion tc, scion xb, etc.

and returning better mpg in a chassis like that, that’s impressive. I hope this engine carries over to the scion tc and other cars! i like the scion tc, but it’s mpg/power verge on nonimpressive.

neptronix, I would try the car for fit and comfort. Mileage is deceptive. If you get Tc with manual, you can get much better mileage then posted: engine is very torque and you can shift earlier then manual recommends, hence better mileage. With automatic transmission: it is what it is.

no, the tc is very comfortable but i keep hearing that it’s hard to break into the 30’s on the highway with the manual and that’s one reason why i didn’t get it.. i do a lot of highway and my ‘95 integra gets in the low 30’s and i’m ok. I liked everything about the tc though.

i’m sure mileage is good in the city but the highway rpm’s are friggin’ nuts. I forget what it was.. 4000rpm at 70-75mph or something? it’s like they took the camry transmission and just added a nutty final drive rather than redoing the gearing.

i hope they get it right with the next gen.

also the new rav4 actually looks good compared to the last.. right on toyota.

this is stupid. yje edge and vue R better

Too bad the deletion of the so effective rear tire was not deployed in the entire range.

neptronix, my neighbor has tC. He claimed low-mid 30’s on highway (we don’t have highways – mostly congestion).

I drove Vue – better is very relative word. Basically Daewoo does not make cars/trucklettes better then Toyota. It is heavier by 700 lbs and drives like ’70s LTD III station wagon. If this is definition of better – grab it. There are tons of them at each and every Saturn dealer

ktulu learn to spell/write properly and keep your biased opinions to yourself.

RAV-4 is a nice vehicle. I’m not in the market for this class, but I’d pick it over the current CR-V.

i don’t think daewoo builds the vue, dude.
All i know is that it has a honda v6 engine in it, earning instant respect in my eyes.

okay, i’m wrong. the 4 cylinder is a gm.. they do offer two 6 cylinder motors. i think they still have the honda motor.. it would be the 3.5l if so.

omg, 3825lbs base model with a 4 cylinder engine. sad!

You know, this may sound funky, but it looks like they took a page out of Chevrolet’s design pamphlet with the grill (for the white/beige RAV4).

xyunya- I would say the VUE is more peppy than the RAV4, or pretty much about anything in it’s class. Fuel economy isn’t too great, and the interior isn’t anything to brag about, it’s nice, but other than that not the greatest GM could have thought up. The Edge would be my personal choice, but your going to be paying a lot more for gas, but for a much better vehicle with A LOT of character.

^^ oh yea, a much better vehicle that is more expensive, only comes with a thirsty V6, has less trim options, and unproven reliability and resale. sure i’d buy it on those premises.

Why don’t they toss out the diaper-like rear spare throughout the line? The Limited looks good.

Why don’t they just toss out the diaper-like rear spare throughout the whole line? The Limited looks good.

My bad.

LOL the guy who see’s the vue as better

still FUGLY

Dated design. That’s the thing with Jap cars, they get old fast.

Not as dated as the Escape, for example.
On paper, the best in class, an C&D has stated it is a better buy than CRV.
Even though it has more power, towing, cargo room, passenger room, and safety features than the Honda, the drivability i definitely a step, or two below.
It is noisy, and rides roughly, especially with the V6.
Basically, it is the least drivable Toyota. The Yaris drves better!
XM, Rear camera, and better EPA should keep them moving briskly.
Hopefully sme suspension adjustments make the mid-gen update.
DrFill

Wow, they managed to make it even uglier.
Give me a Saturn Vue anyday.

Americanidiot- I think you’ll be the fourth or fifth person to be accused of being tripleonefive. I’m calling you out!

IN other words though, the Edge is also a much larger vehicle. It’s a much quicker vehicle, that has a much better transmission and engine than the RAV4. Even though it’s about 10 inches longer, 3 inches wider and has a 10 inch longer wheelbase, it only gets two to three miles per gallon less city-highway compared to the V-6 RAV4.

I think it’d be best to compare the RAV4 to the Escape though. The Escape gets better fuel economy any way you look at it, better suspension system and in most motoring magazines opinions, a better four wheel drive system with locking rear. About the same size as the RAV4 too, and you can get it in a hybrid, which is also the fastest at recouping costs for any hybrid in the industry.

But hey, go drive one. I’ve driven the Escape, nice little vehicle from Ford. Probably their best “small” offering in the states currently, although Focus is really great too.

I don’t remember when Toyota gave up on a manual transmission for the RAV4, but I know they used to at least offer it on the 4 bangers at some point. Sure they’re all pretend off-roaders now, but I guess driving a stick doesn’t involve rocks anymore unless you slam it into the curb in a parking lot.

AmericanIdiot (1115?), I’m not defending ktulu but this site is LOADED with biased opinions. The first four words of the first post are, “As a Honda devotee.” You didn’t call xyunya out on that. I’m assuming it’s because you are a foreign vehicle devotee also. You sound a little “biased” yourself. I’m curious what the message is that you are trying to impart with your screen name.

is this the first toyota in canada, let alone lexus that has integrated light signals in the side mirrors?! :O

I agree that the RAV4 looks TONS better without the external spare.. pity you have to buy the $30K model to delete it!

neptronix, the last “real” plastic clad Vue had option for Honda engine. The current one is actually rebadged Daewoo. It weighs 4200 lbs and I have not seen it with 4 cylinder motor. I test drove with V6 and 4 cylinder RAV even with 166 hp motor can run circles around it. Not to mention the handling as good as middle of last century.

Dr. Fill, congrats – it was very objective, albeit harsh for RAV write-up. I test drove Sport RAV-4 with 4 & 6 cylinders. 4 cylinders feels better, 6 generates ton of torque and puts a lot of heft into the front. Yes CR-V more car-like, but not that much more. As far as value: CR-V takes it hands down. Option for option CR-V EX was at least 2 large cheaper with slightly better mileage and handling (but much uglier in my book).

johnnycanuck, never mind “row by hand” option. You should try diesel in Europe with 6 speed manual. Only 130-140 ponies, but torque of powerful V6 with no added weight and torque that you can control (that why its called manual). The cost is a different story: up there with Audi.

At least it looks a little better than the last model. Still not a fan of these though, except for the V-6 engine option, which is nice in this class.

still not aqn looker but it is looking better

The V6 is a great engine, but too much power for the chassis. I noticed especially on the highway that the chassis was constantly fighting to keep the car on the road when you goosed the throttle. The 4-cylinder is a better choice here imo. It looks good with the spare tire delete, that’s for sure!

The Vue is a joke. It’s ridiculously heavy, expensive, has the second worst cargo room for its class has a snout only a mother could love. Plus Saturn quality/reliabiltity haven’t exactly been something to praise lately.

I’d buy a Subaru Forester X/T if I were buying in this class.

looks like I ticked off some domestic humpers aye? what else is new?

anyway you`ve made your stupidity rather apparent by first comparing the edge to a smaller rav4 and then backtracking to the escape jjayc08. I’m calling you out as an idiot.

Wow. Hey, their both in the same segment, and the Edge was already mentioned. Nice way to back out of an argument then, buddy.

xyunya- No, the Daewoo version is a rebadged VUE. You’ve got it backwards.

The Ford Escape has 6-speed automatics with both the 4 and 6 cylinder engines. A ‘new’ 4-speed automatic Toyota??? Someone in foward programs needs to be fired, yesterday.

AmericanIdiot, assuming I was lumped into your “domestic humpers” name calling, I once again point out the bias in YOUR opinions. You are not only an idiot but also clearly a hypocrite. Remember on August 6 (comment 7) when you wrote “keep your biased opinions to yourself”? This is twice in four days under one story that you’ve done this. I think you’re the humper and you hump imports.