Help Us Help Our Daughter - Rav 4, CR-V, CX-5/50, or Other?

[addyguy]

New?
Wait a bit for the 2026 CX-5; slight redesign that made it bigger and probable better for people hauling.

 

[rstcso]

New?
Wait a bit for the 2026 CX-5; slight redesign that made it bigger and probable better for people hauling.

Thanks, but she needs a car now/soon.

 

[maineiac]

Unfortunately, 2015 was the first year that Honda put a CVT in the CR-V. However, Honda's CVT has not been problematic like Nissan's. If the OP wants to avoid all CVTs, the CR-V is off the list.

Nothing unfortunate about it - the Honda CVT has proven to be extremely reliable. Have you owned one or are you just another lazyboy 2nd string QB?

I am fully aware that the ’15 CRV has a CVT (as does our ’21 CRV) - I bought one . And no, the OP said he “doesn’t like” small turbos or CVTs, not that he wanted to “avoid all CVTs”.

Just trying to bring some perspective to a buying decision based on his general criteria of a “new, reliable car”.

 

[maineiac]

All I can say is I am averaging between 45 and 49 MPG with my 2023 Rav4 Hybrid XSE. That is with the air conditioning on full blast, being in sport mode 90% of the time and running 0W20 weight oil.

…and the RAV4 XSE Hybrid has a CVT (using a planetary gearset) which has proven to be extremely reliable. Great car!

 

[SC Maintenance]

Hard to go wrong with a RAV4 new. If you hate it in 2 years it’s still worth almost what you paid. We’re very happy with ours.

However be careful how you title it. The ex might want half if the divorce isn’t final. Ask her divorce attorney first.

 

[rstcso]

However be careful how you title it. The ex might want half if the divorce isn’t final. Ask her divorce attorney first.

Thank you for pointing this out. This is the conversation my wife and I have been having. Can get really messy. I'm also concerned the house will need to be sold when finalized, so the money we've paid on the mortgage will end up being half his. But for now, it's one less thing for her to worry about.

 

[Furious]

While Toyota reliability and quality has been starting to take a turn for the worse they are still arguably the most reliable options you can buy brand new especially in regards to engines and transmissions.

Following Toyota I would say Honda.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Thank you for pointing this out. This is the conversation my wife and I have been having. Can get really messy. I'm also concerned the house will need to be sold when finalized, so the money we've paid on the mortgage will end up being half his. But for now, it's one less thing for her to worry about.

Different situation but my 23 year old daughter - who has her own car and lives elsewhere - is listed as a driver on my policies. You could look into titling it to yourself. List it as “garaged” at her house. Call your insurance company - they should know the particulars.

 

[Nukeman7]

Nothing unfortunate about it - the Honda CVT has proven to be extremely reliable.

That's pretty much aligned with what I said in Post #12: "Honda's CVT has not been problematic...".

Have you owned one or are you just another lazyboy 2nd string QB?

My FIL has owned a 2015 CR-V Touring model with the venerable K24 since new and I have done all of the maintenance on the vehicle since Day 1, so throwing out pejoratives here is a bit condescending.

I am fully aware that the ’15 CRV has a CVT (as does our ’21 CRV) - I bought one . And no, the OP said he “doesn’t like” small turbos or CVTs, not that he wanted to “avoid all CVTs”.
Just trying to bring some perspective to a buying decision based on his general criteria of a “new, reliable car”.

Unless he opts for a hybrid version, all new CR-Vs will have the 1.5 liter turbo motor and a CVT. As I interpret it, that's a double whammy in the OP's book.

 

[ATex7239]

Thank you for pointing this out. This is the conversation my wife and I have been having. Can get really messy. I'm also concerned the house will need to be sold when finalized, so the money we've paid on the mortgage will end up being half his. But for now, it's one less thing for her to worry about.

Might be a good idea to look into a lease until the divorce is finalized. He cannot go after that as part of the assets. In three years hopefully it will be done and over with and y'all can reassess her financial/car situation.

 

[oilstudent24]

On the RAV4 non hybrid, I would look into the 8 speed transmission reliability. There has been a number of reported failures under 100000 miles in Highlander/Sienna/Tacomas I believe if it’s the same transmission.

 

[rstcso]

Unless he opts for a hybrid version, all new CR-Vs will have the 1.5 liter turbo motor and a CVT. As I interpret it, that's a double whammy in the OP's book.

All previous CR-Vs owned by us or daughter have not had any long block engine or CVT failures. It's just a preference, not a deal-breaker.

Might be a good idea to look into a lease until the divorce is finalized. He cannot go after that as part of the assets. In three years hopefully it will be done and over with and y'all can reassess her financial/car situation.

Good option for many, but she's working three jobs which takes her south of Austin to Georgetown, so she's putting on a ton of miles.

 

[I<3oil]

Our oldest daughter is going through a divorce, has two kids, and working three jobs. We're not rich, but have been helping her by paying her mortgage so she can stay in her house and the kids can continue going to their schools. (Her husband has done her really dirty)

She's driving an older model CR-V with almost 200k miles on it. Unfortunately, it's been mostly in the shop the past couple of months for one thing or another. The other morning I drove it back to the shop with it having the same problem, and it felt like a rolling death trap (maybe a bit overdramatic). Besides the issue it was going back to the shop for, there's a pronounced clunking from the left front, mainly when braking and going over bumps, and the shocks are completely worn (front left may very well be shock-related). Counting this car, her past two have been CR-Vs. The first was ours and we gave it to her at 100k and it held together for over 250k miles before she bought this one used. It's on its last leg at 200k without throwing a bunch more money at it.

We want to buy her a new, reliable car. I like the idea of a naturally aspirated engine and conventional transmission, which the CX-5 and Rav 4 offer, but the CR-Vs have served her good for a long time. I just don't like the smaller turbo and CVT tranny. Due to cost to buy, we want to go no higher than a mid-trim model.

Comparing models on Edmunds, the CR-V and Rav 4 has a slightly lower 5-year, cost-per-mile average than the CX-5, but I think part of that is the CX-5 has a higher depreciation.

Anyway... If you were trying to help a loved one with a new vehicle that was going to be reliable, relatively low cost to own, and carrying your grandkids, what would you buy?

I'm open to other model suggestions. Thank you.

Mazda

 

[Dgzrt]

Thank you for pointing this out. This is the conversation my wife and I have been having. Can get really messy. I'm also concerned the house will need to be sold when finalized, so the money we've paid on the mortgage will end up being half his. But for now, it's one less thing for her to worry about.

In Wisconsin you can sell a car registered to you for a dollar to a Son or Daughter. Actually I think you can gift it to them .

That’s exactly what I did for the daughter who got divorced. I did wait until the final hearing was over .

 

[MParr]

Rav-4
The Mazda has cylinder deactivation.

 

[rstcso]

In Wisconsin you can sell a car registered to you for a dollar to a Son or Daughter. Actually I think you can gift it to them .

That’s exactly what I did for the daughter who got divorced. I did wait until the final hearing was over .

Yes, we gifted a 2018 CR-V to our daughter in Madison. Texas has a similar program.

Rav-4
The Mazda has cylinder deactivation.

So does the Pilot we just bought. I'm not sure how to eliminate all potential problem areas.

 

[researcher]

Yes, we gifted a 2018 CR-V to our daughter in Madison. Texas has a similar program.


So does the Pilot we just bought. I'm not sure how to eliminate all potential problem areas.

I think with the Pilot you can get a wiring harness adapter that cancels the cylinder deactivation. On the Mazda no such thing exists.