CRV or Rav4?

[random006]

Another, equally annoying problem with swing out doors is their direction of swing relative to the curb.  If you happen to be parked on the side of the road opposite to that of the swing (i.e. swing toward the road), no problem.  If on the other hand, the door swings open toward the curb, then you have to:

1)  add an extra amount of parking room to get around said open door when loading or unloading packages
2)  accept that you might be at least partially exposing you and/or your packages to oncoming traffic.

Given the above PLUS all the other reasons stated, I'll take a hatch configuration any day.

[Leviathan]

Tastes great/less filling....

Hatch all the way 

[sparky]

Another, equally annoying problem with swing out doors is their direction of swing relative to the curb.  If you happen to be parked on the side of the road opposite to that of the swing (i.e. swing toward the road), no problem.  If on the other hand, the door swings open toward the curb, then you have to:

1)  add an extra amount of parking room to get around said open door when loading or unloading packages
2)  accept that you might be at least partially exposing you and/or your packages to oncoming traffic.

Given the above PLUS all the other reasons stated, I'll take a hatch configuration any day.

I can't remember ever loading or unloading anything at the curb. Typically I will load in a parking lot and unload in my driveway, rendering the direction of swing, up, left or right, irrelevant. To each his own, I guess, but I just hate having to put everything down to close the hatch or make a separate trip back to the car to do so, when I could have just bumped a swinging gate shut with a light hip check. This might never have occurred to me if I hadn't gone straight from a handy swinging tailgate to an annoying hatch.

[ovr50]

I have had both. Prefer hatch.

[initial_D]

So safe to say a Hatcher is the preference? 

Tastes great/less filling....

Hatch all the way 

Definitely not Less Filling ... 

[IceAndFire]

My parents are looking at these vehicles.  They seem to like the CR-V more than the RAV4.  There was a feeling of having a bit more space in the RAV4 in places that mattered most to them than in the RAV.  But both seemed good.

That said they are interested in the Subaru Forrester as well.  Its worth a look although its usually not on everyones lists at the beginning.  No word yet on how good the new Chevy Equinox is in practice but by the numbers and in the photos it looks REALLY good.

[Ontariodriver]

I can't believe after reading this thread no one mention the RAV4 clone. The Hyundai Santa fa.

I like Honda's much more than Toyota's. I really like the CRV design and I really like Honda engines. They are usually as big as they need to be.   

[Shnak]

That's a good point... the Santa Fe starts at $22k these days... That's with the 2.7L and FWD, but still, you get a lot for the money IMO!

[random006]

Another, equally annoying problem with swing out doors is their direction of swing relative to the curb.  If you happen to be parked on the side of the road opposite to that of the swing (i.e. swing toward the road), no problem.  If on the other hand, the door swings open toward the curb, then you have to:

1)  add an extra amount of parking room to get around said open door when loading or unloading packages
2)  accept that you might be at least partially exposing you and/or your packages to oncoming traffic.

Given the above PLUS all the other reasons stated, I'll take a hatch configuration any day.

I can't remember ever loading or unloading anything at the curb. Typically I will load in a parking lot and unload in my driveway, rendering the direction of swing, up, left or right, irrelevant. To each his own, I guess, but I just hate having to put everything down to close the hatch or make a separate trip back to the car to do so, when I could have just bumped a swinging gate shut with a light hip check. This might never have occurred to me if I hadn't gone straight from a handy swinging tailgate to an annoying hatch.

Well, this isn't about you, is it?  It's about the average case.  Many people have to park on the street, having no driveway or garage of their own.  People visit other people, sometimes for the express purpose of dropping off or picking up stuff.  Parking lots are not found in front of everyone's doorstep.  People need to load and unload quite a bit of stuff on many occasions in their lives (vacations, trips home from shopping, moving,...).

In all those cases and others that I surely have left off, a swing gate would be at a disadvantage compared to a hatch for the reasons I have already mentioned in the post you quote.

[Spheric]

Would you consider the 4 cylinder non-turbo version of the Mazda CX-7 (due out in September) ? It will come in both AWD and FWD configurations and should be in the same price segment as RAV4 / CRV etc.

[wing]

Why do u exist exactly?  Warning: more trolling will result in banning.  Thanks.

[mmret]

Why do u exist exactly?

[random006]

Why do u exist exactly?  Warning: more trolling will result in banning.  Thanks.

Why, to act as an object lesson in how NOT to behave, of course!

I just love the "ignore" button.

[Jaeger]

RAV4 - only gripe is the swing out door in the back, would prefer hatch. 

For the life of me, I can't understand why anyone would prefer an overhead hatch to a side-hinged tailgate. The swing-out door can be closed with your butt -- no need to lay down the armload of groceries or gear you've just taken out of the cargo area. The outside-mounted spare tire saves space inside. And if you have to change a tire you don't have to unpack all your stuff and lay it on the road to get at the spare. Having owned both, I can't think of a single signiificant advantage to the overhead hatch. The hatch was one of the few things I didn't like about my X-Trail.

I much prefer a hatch.  If someone is parked behind you, you can't even open your beloved swing-out door.

That said, I recently drove a RAV-4 for a week as a rental and came away very impressed.  As others have mentioned, the availability of a strong, smooth V6 would tip the scales for me over a CRV.

As for interior quality - my sister drives a CRV and I have both a passenger in and driver of her vehicle several times.  How anyone could claim significantly better interior quality for the RAV is beyond me.  It's a push.  Both are good.

Jaeger

[Greg B.]

Why does this thread exist. Both vehicles are second rate and poor choices. Equinox is the smart choice. Sante Fe is cheap because the Korean government subsidizes Hyundai.

Why do u exist exactly?  Warning: more trolling will result in banning.  Thanks.

I dunno, Wing, it sounds like a legitimate point to me. Spending nearly $40K on either of those models seems rather futile when there are alternatives of either a new, highly regarded Equinox or a very competitive and well-priced Santa Fe.

I know he has a bad track record but other people are posting pictures of scantily clad women here and not being criticized.

On second thought, never mind that last point... 

[rrocket]

I know he has a bad track record but other people are posting pictures of scantily clad women here and not being criticized.

On second thought, never mind that last point... 

Yea...No kidding....

[Leviathan]

Tastes great