[katekebo]

roughride,

Congratulations.
Don't feel bad - you're not the only one who found the RAV to be so disappointing to get it rid of it within the first year.

The RAV has never been a stellar performer in the Toyota family. Although the RAV was the first compact CUV ever, the CR-V quickly took the first place and remains the leader of the category.

Even reliability-wise the RAV has been one of the worst performer among other Toyotas.

 

[katekebo]

Also have to remember to compare apples to apples. The Rav competes with the Forester not the Outback. Outback is considered a higher end vehicle and should ride better.

Your comment is absolutely spot on and highlights one of the main issues with the RAV - the RAV is overpriced.

Here are MSRPs (mid-tier version, AWD, 2015 MY):
RAV4 XLE AWD - $27,525
Forester Premium - $25,945
Outback Premium - $27,845

The RAV is supposed to compete against the Forester, but is priced closer to the Outback. Plain and simple - the RAV is overpriced. If Toyota priced the RAV competitively to the Forester, the RAV would actually represent a decent value. But the RAV simply isn't worth the price Toyota is asking for it.

If you compare the RAV side-by-side vs. the Forester there is no way you can justify the $1500 price premium, especially considering that the Forester has better AWD system, decent ground clearance, more towing capability, better fuel economy and better crash test ratings. Both offer comparable comfort, passenger and cargo space. The Forester is everything the RAV is and more - for less money. Or, for the same amount of money as for the RAV, you can get an Outback which, as you pointed out, is a higher-class vehicle.

 

[katekebo]

For instance, both the RAV and the Forester scored the same on the crash test ratings, receiving the highest scores: 5 "Goods" (including the small overlap which has now passed). The "front crash protection" was rated n/a for the RAV and "Superior" for the Forester. However, that rating ONLY applies to those Foresters with pricey OPTIONAL equipment.

Wrong.

Both RAV and Forester score equal in IIHS ranking but Forester scores higher in NHTSA, JNCAP and EuroNCAP tests. So if you look at the results from all four testing bodies, Forester scores better. Moreover, IIHS is a non-governmental body that "advises" the insurance industry (and does a lot of publicity), while NHTSA, JNCAP and EuroNCAP are official governmental institutions which ultimately decide which cars are allowed on the streets or not. IIHS scores are very vague (intended for the general uneducated public), while NHTSA, JNCAP and EuroNCAP provide much more precise numeric score (if you take the time to read the details).

Some people watch and episode of "House" and think that makes them medical doctors and experts. So take some time to educated yourself before you make another statement that only shows how little you know about cars and crash tests.

 

[katekebo]

So, the Forester scored higher in the NHTSA test, did it?

Yes, it did, see details below

 

[katekebo]

I intentionally mentioned IIHS, because in the past, you kept crying about the RAV failing the new small overlap crash test the first year it was tested, but now passes with flying colors. Funny how you conveniently never mention that. It's also funny that you kept citing something from an organization (IIHS) in order to bash the RAV and now you claim that you don't put much stock into their results. Say what? Make up your mind; you're too easy,

So, the Forester scored higher in the NHTSA test, did it? Do you even bother to check before spewing things as "fact?" Both the RAV and Forester had identical NHTSA scores: Overall 5 stars, Frontal Crash 4, Side Crash 5, and Rollover 4.

You're the one who should do some research before you post so you won't look so foolish. Now go try to make peace with your discontinued Venza and get over your obsession with the RAV.

Rav: 2015 Toyota Rav4 SUV FWD Later Release | Safercar -- NHTSA

Forester: 2015 Subaru Forester SUV AWD | Safercar -- NHTSA

Again, you're only looking at the surface. Before answering, download the detailed reports (they are less than 200 pages each) and understand the DETAILS. The Subaru has better injury indices than the RAV. And even if you are too lazy to read (or can't understand) the detailed reports, there is a difference on the front web page - Subaru's Driver's Frontal Test score is 5 stars, while RAV's is 4. Passenger score is 4 stars for both.

Forester front test (driver/passenger): 5/4 stars
RAV front test (driver/passenger): 4/4 stars
Screenshots attached

If you spent more that 30 sec reading the NHTSA page you should have noticed it. Not a big difference, but a difference nevertheless.

So either you have an eyesight problem or you are deliberately distorting information. Or you don't understand the difference between 4 and 5 (maybe using your fingers to count stars could help). You should really pay more attention to the DETAILS before making a fool of yourself.

The reason I mentioned IIHS in my earlier posts is because it is appalling and shameful for Toyota to launch a new model that fails a crash test more than two years after the test protocol has been published. The fact that Toyota scored POOR in the small overlap test in 2013 is simply inexcusable and shows negligence on part of Toyota. IIHS published the test protocol in 2011 and started to implement the test in 2012. Yet Toyota launched a new model in 2013 with total disregard for the new test, and only reacted after media uproar about this failure. They fixed Camry and Prius almost immediately because of these are their flagship models, but took a year to fix the RAV - apparently RAV buyers' lives are not worth as much as Camry and Prius buyers' lives.

The changes required to improve the small overlap score are very simple. Even such maligned company as Fiat-Chrysler was able to modify an ancient model like the Dodge Avenger to be ready for the test, yet the mighty and "perfect" Toyota simply ignored the problem and only reacted after it became front-page news and Consumer Reports withdrew their "recommended" rating on most Toyota models.