Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV, Honda CRV ... Best SUV for Traveling Salesman (vehicle, 2010)

[family first]

Alright folks, I may start looking for a used suv to replace the current suv and need some help. The SUV will average 40 K miles a year and therefore some of the points of concern are these: Good gas mileage, reliability, awd or 4x4 system for winter driving, comfort for a person 6' tall, nice handling vehicle. The 3 I mentioned in the heading are only three I have thought about, but I am open to any other makes and models you have had experience with. If you can, please tell me the car, (make, year, motor and seat configurations). I usually hang on to cars until the "wheels fall off", so the cars must be solid!!! I do haul around some supplies for the job but can fold down rear seats for this purpose.

Thanks

[sunsprit]

As a independent manufacturer's rep traveling 40-60,000 miles per year in the Rocky Mountain States, I use Subaru Outback wagons. My first was a 1995, which is still in service as my wife's daily transport car with 250,000 miles on it (albeit with a replaced engine for less money than overhauling the original), a 1998 that I sold with 200,000 miles on it (I'd done the head gaskets and the car was excellent), and my current 2001 Outback Limited Edition with 128,000 miles on it.

All of these cars were purchased with around 100,000 miles on them, so pretty much at rock bottom prices but able to deliver a lot of low cost miles for my purposes. I do all of my own work on them, so that keeps the costs down, too. Aftermarket parts have been readily available and inexpensive, and consumables are reasonable in cost (tires, batteries, etc).

My prior cars were MB Diesels ... which were excellent overall, but getting a bit long in the tooth and not anywhere near as capable for inclement conditions here. Then switched to late 1970's Audi 4000CS Quattro's ... wonderful cars, but Audi quit building cars to that marketplace of high 20's fuel economy, excellent AWD systems, great heaters and A/C units. All bought with 100K on the odo and none retired with less than 300K on them. So, after the Audi's ... the Subie's.

If the Outback Wagon is comfortable for you, I'd take it over the Forester ... I prefer the lower profile in our windy driving conditions. I like the larger rear area for traveling supplies and sales materials storage, too. Fuel economy is essentially the same, and I prefer the road manners of the Outback wagon to the Forester.

All of your choices are sound vehicles, but my experience has been with the Subie's and I've been highly satisfied with them.

[johna01374]

My GF has a 2010 Forester with around 80K miles on it so far without a single hickup. She's in the medical field and drive a a hundred or more miles a day. We love the car and wouldn't trade it for anything else. We considered all the small SUV's and didn't care for anything except the FJ until we went to Subaru.

We drove the Legacy Outback, Impreza Outback then the Forester. She decided on the Forester because of it's more upright box shape. I have no doubt the car will run well in excess of 250K without major issues.

[frankgn87]

all three are fine vehicles but Id choose the Rav and the CRV over the sube

[TheViking85]

Price range?

[bmwguydc]

If winter driving is a key issue, then of the vehicles on the list, I would look no further than Subaru. Honda's and Toyota use AWD systems that divert power to the rear wheels when slip is detected on the CRV and RAV4, respectively. They handle as FWD vehicles most of the time, whereas with the Subaru, the AWD is permanently engaged. As such, I would say that the Honda and Toyota can certainly handle roads that have been traveled in snow, but the Subaru is much more capable when dealing with unplowed roads. I have never had an issue with a car-based vehicle in snow that was made by Volvo, either, and know plenty of people with Subarus as a winter car in the Northeast. Volvos can be finicky, so I might not recommend one for your use as it will get a lot of mileage, and while not unreliable, repairs can take longer in some areas because of parts, and finding the right mechanic. Subaru is much more of a mainstream vehicle in that regard, in line with Honda and Toyota.

Both the RAV4 and the CR-V are very good vehicles, but I tend to prefer the interior of the CR-V. I have known people who have had CR-Vs that get oil changes/maintenance "when they remembered," which is not on Honda's schedule, and the vehicles never left the particular owner stranded. Fuel economy is very good with these vehicles, and while the Subaru's is not abysmal, it does have a penalty for the full-time AWD system.

The only thing that I do not like on these vehicles is the lack of factory-installed HID headlights. I understand that the price would jump by making it standard over the halogen, but the lack of an option, even an expensive option, would give pause if the vehicle needs to be driven at night on dark roads. Perhaps I have been spoiled by HIDs, but I do notice the difference when driving a vehicle without them.

[frankgn87]

The awd systems in the Honda and Toyota are excellent, you can be assured of that. We have a Rav and the 4wd system works perfectly to get us thru everything every winter in the NE has to dish out. The fwd to 4wd is instant the slippage occurs so that its 4wd when you need it instantly and fwd when you don't to give us 30 mpg on the highway.. something the Subaru cannot achieve. Neighbor has an outback and hes happy to get 25 on the highway he says

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by frankgn87

The awd systems in the Honda and Toyota are excellent, you can be assured of that. We have a Rav and the 4wd system works perfectly to get us thru everything every winter in the NE has to dish out. The fwd to 4wd is instant the slippage occurs so that its 4wd when you need it instantly and fwd when you don't to give us 30 mpg on the highway.. something the Subaru cannot achieve. Neighbor has an outback and hes happy to get 25 on the highway he says

Somehow my Subie's get 30 mpg, and my wife gets 32-33 mpg in her 1995 Legacy Wagon with the 2.2 motor.

The key to this is to be driving the speed limits with real gasoline rather than hotfooting the car around ... or using ethanol gasoline. If you can't get real gasoline in your area, then everybody gets the same fuel penalty ....

[TheViking85]

Originally Posted by frankgn87

The awd systems in the Honda and Toyota are excellent, you can be assured of that. We have a Rav and the 4wd system works perfectly to get us thru everything every winter in the NE has to dish out. The fwd to 4wd is instant the slippage occurs so that its 4wd when you need it instantly and fwd when you don't to give us 30 mpg on the highway.. something the Subaru cannot achieve. Neighbor has an outback and hes happy to get 25 on the highway he says

I'm getting 31 Mpg highway with the cruise control engaged at 75 Mph, true it's the mildly lighter Impreza, but the engine is the same and unless wind resistance plays a huge role, I fail to see how there should be a 6-7 MPG difference.

[Pilgrim21784]

For all around driving satisfaction, I vote for a RAV4 V6. Your other choices are fine vehicles but I preferred the V6 RAV over my previous RAV4 4 cylinder, Foresters (2) and CRVs I test drove.

The real world MPG difference between the 4 and 6 is minor and you will appreciate it greatly in passing and hilly areas. Its just a much more pleasant vehicle to drive.

A Hyundai Santa Fe V6 might also be a contender worth looking at, I've heard good things about them but lack personal experience.