So wife and I are suddenly in the car market due to the fact our until now very reliable Volvo is well… not. So that being said we’re in the market for a small SUV. All of them would fit our needs and all are in about the same price range (assuming looking at Touring edition CRV, Titanium Escape or Hybrid Crosstrek). We live in Boston and frequent very snowy places for family/skiing during the winter so any would be equipped with snow tires beyond the standard AWD. So if one is a total disaster in the snow/winter it would be nice to know…
Anyone been down this road recently? Offer a “hell no/yes” to any?
So wife and I are suddenly in the car market due to the fact our until now very reliable Volvo is well… not. So that being said we’re in the market for a small SUV. All of them would fit our needs and all are in about the same price range (assuming looking at Touring edition CRV, Titanium Escape or Hybrid Crosstrek). We live in Boston and frequent very snowy places for family/skiing during the winter so any would be equipped with snow tires beyond the standard AWD. So if one is a total disaster in the snow/winter it would be nice to know…
Anyone been down this road recently? Offer a “hell no/yes” to any?
Thanks!
I’ve spent the last week test driving the same market. Why have you ruled out the RAV4?
To me, it seems the Ford is insanely over priced, the Honda is the “latest and most up to date” with the RAV4 close behind.
The Mazda CX-5 was noticeably noisy and the Subaru lagging from a technology standpoint.
The Kia Sportage is a bit smaller but nice. Hard to compare apples to apples since the only thing in stock were the low tier models.
I’ll be interested to hear your final decision on this one… Especially on the Ford since I didn’t even test drive it due to the pricing scheme they have in place.
So wife and I are suddenly in the car market due to the fact our until now very reliable Volvo is well… not. So that being said we’re in the market for a small SUV. All of them would fit our needs and all are in about the same price range (assuming looking at Touring edition CRV, Titanium Escape or Hybrid Crosstrek). We live in Boston and frequent very snowy places for family/skiing during the winter so any would be equipped with snow tires beyond the standard AWD. So if one is a total disaster in the snow/winter it would be nice to know…
Anyone been down this road recently? Offer a “hell no/yes” to any?
Thanks!
Can’t speak to the other two but we’ve been really happy with our CRV. Have had it for 5 years, just regular maintenance stuff (ie nothing major outside of shitheads in the city stealing our catallitic converter etc). Of coarse we went from a Hyundai Elantra with a broken AC to the CRV so…well…you know.
Our situation:
Chicago
1 pre school kiddo
1 dog
frequent camping outside of the city but nothing terribly rugged
run racks on top for bikes/kayak etc but previously would just drop the front tire on my bike and it would fit in the back w/o any issues.
IMO it’s a great all around vehicle that is better suited for the city but can hack it in moderate outdoorsy conditions. Our next stop will likely be where we’ll be heading up to the actual mountains to camp/hike/fish etc at that point I think something like a Subaru Outback would be a better fit as I don’t think our CRV would hold up well (or rather I’d like to keep it for a while as a family vehicle so I’d rather not put it through that treatment).
A bonus to CRVs is they go forever. We’re at 80k miles now (bought used from Carmax at 20k miles) and am confident that she’ll be running well into the 200k range. Have a few old mechanic buddies who love/hate them. Love owning them but clients who have them don’t need to see them professionally too often.
Just bought a Crosstrek and liking it a lot. Handles very well (same wheel base as the Outback) and is a comfortable ride. This is my third Subaru as we also have a 2012 Outback and just retired our 2002 Outback. They are great in the snow and very durable as well as reliable.
My wife drives a 2014 Crosstrek and while I absolutely love the car, it is quite a bit smaller than the other two options you listed. I drive a Nissan Rogue, which is about the same size as the CR-V and the Escape, and the Crosstrek definitely has a lot less storage room in the rear than my Rogue. The passenger compartment is roomy enough, but the back is significantly smaller. I’m not sure if that makes a difference for you or not, but something to consider.
Crv will probably be the least expensive to own. I had looked at the Toyota and subaru. Honda will most likely get you better gas mileage, I’ve been able to get over 30 on trips with the AWD. No issue trekking up forest service roads or making my way through deep snow. Dogs, backpack gear it all works. Do get different tires. Stock tires don’t last. Can’t say on the latest and greatest model but I’ve not been disappointed with the prior model. Oh and able to get two tri bikes in the back with the seats down. I never mess with the roof rack anymore.
Looked at all of the options you are now and went with the CRV. Mileage is better, return on investment is better, ride is better. Ford is overpriced and seemed like a lot of road noise. For us is was between the Rav4 and the CRV but got a better deal on the CRV.
The 2015 CRV’s have good acceleration, electronic shifting is pretty seamless, great in the snow (I’m in Northwestern PA, over 100 inches of snow per year), and again, great gas mileage.
Crv was nice, until we got the subaru. I think it’s way nicer to drive, and it gets fairly decent mpg. Smaller cargo space. Golden retriever hates the way back.
Standard Crosstrek motor. A couple of bikes on top. 2 kids in the back. 2 adults in the front. A weeks worth of luggage/gear in the hatch. It struggled to do 50 MPH over Vail Pass. Pathetic.
Did you look at the new nissan rogue? They still make the old style ugly one.
I would definitely not get the ford. They are not going to be as reliable as the crv or subaru. I also second the rav4.
if we were to go new our 3 choices are
rav4
rogue
crv
I had a Ford Escape in the past, not the current model and I liked it.
I have a CRV now and I love it. The base model CRV is well equipped, and well priced. It drives well, cheap to run, good on gas.
Put a roof box on for camping and you’re set. When my current car dies I was tempted to buy another CRV, but I’m looking at the HRV instead.
Edited to add: Last Subaru I drove had a CVT and I didn’t like it at all. Suby’s are great cars, and generally have high customer satisfaction but it’s still the CRV for me.
You’re pretty much looking in the “can’t lose” category with the CRV, Rav4, Rouge, and crosstrek.
Some friends got a 2014 Rav4, they really like it. Good space, drives well, and it will run forever despite them neglecting maintenance. A neighbor just got the new Rouge. It’s nice looking, 3 rows inside if needed, great mileage on the highway. Hondas are good cars- nothing flashy, but it will run forever. As for the Subaru… I own a 7 y/o forester, like it a lot, but I can’t figure out what they’re doing with the cross trek. It IS a little underpowered, and the back is small. It’s a lifted Impreza that looks tough but has just one weakish engine option. You might be better served looking at the current Forester for a better comparison.
I was just cross-shopping the same vehicles a few weeks ago and I ended up with a 2016 Mazda CX-5. The 2016 is much quieter than the 2015 and has an improved interior (and infotainment). I traded in a 2002 Protege 5 that was bullet proof.
CX5 - The drivers “car” of the bunch. Premium feel in Grand Touring version (which I got with a bunch of safety features). The 2016 is getting glowing reviews - do a search.
CRV - Most interior space. Honda reliability - though I ruled out the CRV after fighting with Honda about various problems with my Odyssey (problems that everyone else I know that has one has also experienced). I also read some things about an idle vibration issue that scared me away.
Rogue - Good bang for your buck but didn’t appeal to me.
RAV4 - I doubt that you can go wrong with a RAV4. Option packages can get pricey.
Escape - The pricing is silly but you can get it heavily discounted right now. I ruled it out due to concerns with the offset frontal crash results and long term reliability of the Turbo charged engines (+ premium fuel). I even have Xplan pricing so I could have gotten a good deal.
Crosstrek - I like the look but reviews gave me the impression that it is really underpowered. I read that the hybrid really didn’t boost mpg that much. Where I live you have to be able to get up to 80mph fast to keep from being rear-ended so I ruled it out immediately.
Forester - base ‘meh’ but the Forester XT is pretty sick (engine wise). Unfortunately there is a lack of Subaru dealers where I live (FL) and the 2016’s with much needed tech improvements weren’t out yet.
We have an AWD CR-V and love it for hauling dog, bikes etc. As others have said its a fair bit larger than the subaru and I think totally worth the upsize. Handles great in snow (we’re in Ontario) and has plenty of power.