What to buy? RAV4, Highlander, or other

My wife has decided to replace her CX5 after owning it for seven years and 136K miles. It has been an okay vehicle but we have put some money into it the last few years so she’s open to a change. So far, the RAV4 and Highlander hybrids are on her list to test drive.

Those of you who own the RAV4 or Highlander, what have your ownership experiences been? Good, bad, issues?

Any other non Toyota SUV recommendations or experiences are also welcome.

 

I have a 19 rav4 and it’s been great

 

My wife’s 2019 Rav4 Adventure.

Liked it so much I bought a 2020 XSE Hybrid as a commuter. They’re fantastic little vehicles. We truly enjoy them. Given the choice 100% go for the hybrid though. Gets significantly better gas mileage and it’s quite a bit quicker. Research the Rav4 prime if you really want to get crazy they’re even faster and allow 40-ish miles all electric. Long story short Toyota SUV’s are fantastic. Not sure it’s relevant but my XSE was made in Japan my wife’s made in Canada I believe. Quality on both is excellent. Only other recommendation if you don’t mind wagons the new non-turbo’ed Subaru Outback’s are excellent as well. With quite a bit more room, at least than the Rav.

 

Great info! Thanks for your perspective.

Nice canoes. Kevlar? What setup are you running for the rack system?

 

Thanks, yes they are Kevlar boats, well technically mine is Basalt Inegra, my wife’s is Kevlar. I see you’re from the ADKs they’re made by Hornbeck boats up in your neck of the woods. Sadly Pete passed last year but his son in law is still running the company.

Racks are the Yakima Timberline towers with Jetstream bars. Those towers should only be needed with the Adventure or the TRD Ravs though since they have different racks.

Good luck!

 

My wife has a 2019 Rav4 Limited. The only thing we really like about the car is the gas mileage. Everything else is just OK (nothing special). You mentioned "Hybrid", so not sure if they are comparable to what I know.

Little story to add though. We "first" purchased a 2019 Rav4 Adventure AWD and fully loaded. Toyota launched new technology AWD transmission for this year body style. We started having trouble after only 1500 miles. At first, the dealer would not recognize the issue. I had to open a ticket with corporate to get them to look at the problem. They finally admitted that Toyota already knew that they had a design problem with the new transmission. But did not have a solution for repair. After 3 months of ownership, the dealer finally scheduled a repair. Toyotas solution to the problem only lessoned the issues. And 3 days after the repair we could still hear and feel the same issues. Regrettably, and after arguing with many representatives of Toyota, we took the Adventure back to the dealer and traded it for the Limited we have today.

You said: Rav4, Highlander or Other. We will never own another Toyota again. So I vote OTHER
https://www.rav4world.com/threads/rear-driveline-disconnect-reconnect-noise.296069/

 

I thought I recognized them. We do a lot of hiking and camping in the ADKs and have seen them on car racks. A friend has two similarly built canoes (can’t remember who built them) and after trying them out... WOW. My wife and I have been kicking around getting rid of our current canoe and kayaks to upgrade.

 

Owned a 2016 and 2018 Highlander(Picking up DCLB tomorrow) Also own a 16 and 17 RAV4... RAV4 cheaper and as a big guy the ride of the hinglander (not to mention power) is noticable, seats hige difference in comfort for long rides...did boston to rochester tons of times in highlander.. couldnt imagine doing that in Rav4 yet my wife and kid love the RAV4, depends allot on what you are looking for yet if not money, i would go another Highlander all the way...

 

We have the Taco for hauling, but a little bigger SUV like the Highlander might be nice for extra cargo space.

 

The Adventure had the issue, but not the Limited? Good to know and research. Thanks!

 

How about a CR-V? I was going to say if a car could get the job done, then get a Corolla or a Civic.

 

The interesting thing about this is a simple fact. Only 1 Vote counts......your wife's

Went through this a couple years ago with LOML. We had planned to bestow the '02 Chevy Trailblazer to our daughter. So, LOML needed a ride. I suggested to look at RAV4 or Camry. Highlander was out of the cash budget. She ended by purchasing an '19 Honda CR-V, AWD.

Me, I don't like the it. Too many "nanny" and inconvenient gadgets. My thoughts don't matter. SHE IS HAPPY.

Fortunately, she purchased the lifetime Oil Change option. Every 3 months or 3 kmiles, I go to Honda for the oil change. I've crawled around the car looking for the oil filter.......haven't located it.....also don't really care...its the dealer problem.

 

Certainly worth considering. I had wanted a pack boat (what they are technically) but my wife was fully OPPOSED to a “canoe”. Well we happen to be up by lake George on a camping trip with some friends and we drove by a road sign for Olmsteadville 5 miles, and I said “hey, that’s where Hornbeck is” my wife wanted NOTHING to do with stopping. Well somehow I got my way, they have a pond on site and after a few hours of paddling and chatting and one mighty swipe of the CC we had two new boats and paddles. They paddle just like Kayaks, double bladed paddle a low seat but they are sooooooo light, wife’s is 15lbs and mine is 19lbs. Biggest thing she can take her boat by herself to paddle with her friends. That just wasn’t possible with any other boat we ever looked at. They’re small water boats but that’s what we wanted than for. Couldn’t more highly recommend, they’re honestly just great boats. Mine has accounted for a lot of Specks already too, since its easily carried to back country ponds for fishing. Happy to answer anything else you may want to know.

 

My wife drives a CRV and loves it. That said - we are likely newgrading to a RAV-4 this year or next. Giving the CRV to our daughter. Assuming vehicle availability improves!

 

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10169438-9999.pdf

there’s a TSB out for it. It’s only on the Adventure and limited due to a more advanced 4wd system. My wife’s is actually going in for replacement on our next vacation. Not a big deal she has 30k on hers it’s just an occasional noise.

 

We had two CRVs. I think the most recent was a mid 2000s model. They were both good vehicles, but for some reason my wife isn’t interested in a Honda.

 

I couldn’t believe how much easier our friend’s glided through the water compared to our kayaks. With those you could cover some water. I know I’d appreciate not having to load a heavy canoe or kayaks on the truck bed rack. It’s been years since I’ve done some serious paddling in the ADKs. I’ve been focusing on more on hiking. Just easier with kids. We’ll probably make the switch after the kids are gone in a few years.

Great photos!

 

Not sure about other models. If your interested in a model that has the AWD transmission, I would definitely investigate first.

 

I understand possible problems with new technology. My biggest issues was how Toyota handled the problems. First they denied that they even had a problem. After several weeks they recognized the problem and said that they didn't have a fix. Months later they issued the TSB for the problem. Then, the issues was still detectable after the problem was supposedly fixed? I paid close to $40K for that NEW vehicle. And I didn't want to risk further issues with the transmission OR the value of the vehicle taking a dump.

@Adk46er Wife had a 2006 Mazda6 and a 2012 Mazda6. She loved both of them. Stay with Mazda.