Small SUV needed; advice?

[ATex7239]

Mazda is currently offering 1.9% for 60 months financing on the CX-50. We could keep most of our money working for us, and perhaps, she'll soon be in a position to take over the payments herself.

I think this is smart. I know many BITOGERS are against debt but I think it can be done intelligently like this. I’d rather pay the bank a few points in interest and keep my money working for me at a much greater rate of return.

Just be cautious of being on the hook of the entire term. I know several folks who helped adult children out and got stuck with the entirety of the loan. Not suggesting that will happen just saying I have seen it happen before.

 

[vwmaniaman]

We have a 2014 Mazda CX5 and a 2012 Mazda 5. I'll vote for the Mazda every time. Reliable as a stone. No issues with either one.

 

[mco30mco]

I can firmly recommend the 2.0 ecoboost and the hybrid. I have owned both in multiple years and are trouble free.
Now I would never recommend the tiny ecoboost 1.5. I know they are better now but still would say 2.0 all day. Great engine! I’ve had it in a fusion, escape, maverick, and edge. All great!
I can only tell you what I have experienced.

 

[rstcso]

I can firmly recommend the 2.0 ecoboost and the hybrid. I have owned both in multiple years and are trouble free.
Now I would never recommend the tiny ecoboost 1.5. I know they are better now but still would say 2.0 all day. Great engine! I’ve had it in a fusion, escape, maverick, and edge. All great!
I can only tell you what I have experienced.

I appreciate your input. My wife recently had a Ford Escape as a rental and cursed it the entire time. Then again, she was driving with her sister in the passenger seat and her cursing may have actually been directed toward her and not the car.

 

[rstcso]

Just be cautious of being on the hook of the entire term. I know several folks who helped adult children out and got stuck with the entirety of the loan. Not suggesting that will happen just saying I have seen it happen before.

You're correct in planning for this contingency. It's a scenario my wife and I have talked about, We certainly hope it won't take our daughter five years to get on her feet!

 

[Propflux01]

We have a 2014 Mazda CX5 and a 2012 Mazda 5. I'll vote for the Mazda every time. Reliable as a stone. No issues with either one.

My 2024 Mazda CX5 has been dead reliable as well. 2.5L, 6 speed tranny. Most people I know trade them because they are a bit smaller than similar SUVs. Not because of reliability issues.

 

[zzyzzx]

The Mazda has cylinder deactivation. The Honda has a CVT. I'd test drive the Rav4 and Ford Escape.

 

[MParr]

.

 

[MParr]

The Mazda has cylinder deactivation. The Honda has a CVT. I'd test drive the Rav4 and Ford Escape.

I second that opinion.
FYI: The FWD Chevy Equinox has a CVT. The AWD version has a traditional automatic transmission.

 

[duck__dodgers]

2025 Mazda CX5 has no cylinder de-activation because supply chain.

And Mszda's deactivation is light years ahead of the others in terms of reliability for anyone looking at a used one (assuming good oil change history).

 

[Glenda W.]

Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. Lots cheaper than Toyondas and way better warranty.

View attachment 290513
Redondo Mitsubishi

I see more and more of these everyday. Great for someone on a budget.

 

[duck__dodgers]

>>>Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. Lots cheaper than Toyondas and way better warranty.

OP's part of Texas might not near a Mitsu dealer. And even in many parts of Texas, driving a country mile takes a lot longer than it used too.

 

[crashz]

Lots of good advice here. So I'll throw my 2 cent in as well. As a previous owner of two CRVs and having family (aunt and MIL) with RAV4s, I will say this, the RAV4 is the most reliable, least fun car to drive. The CRV is a close second on both points. Doubt you can go wrong with either.

 

[lovcom]

Because when he says things that we know as being patently false - like the oil - we have to wonder about everything he says.

He is just a YouTube click baiter like the rest in the end - portraying himself as the expert on everything.

He is an expert on all things Toyota, and he is certified (very hard to achieve)...why not give him more credit? ALL humans are wrong, sometimes, right? Is the Car Care Nut bad if he has a few "bad" opinions?

 

[lovcom]

Yes but he says stuff like you must use 0w-16 because Toyota engineered the engine to only work on that. When 5 minutes of research tells you that’s patently incorrect. Then he portrays himself as the expert on these same things.

I have no problem with opinions or speculation but that’s not what he conveys.

But it is true. The Rav4's engine is engineered for 0w-16, even if you can use heavier oils in other countries. The Rav4 engine controls the flow of oil and coolant based on many sensors, may factors. So a 0w-16 at 180F might be more viscous than a 5w-30 at the same temp in a less sophisticated engine. This engine is dynamic in every sense of the word. I have a 2021 Rav4 Hybrid, and I only use 0w-16 because the Car Nut and Toyota know more about this engine than you and I put together.

 

[SC Maintenance]

But it is true. The Rav4's engine is engineered for 0w-16, even if you can use heavier oils in other countries. The Rav4 engine controls the flow of oil and coolant based on many sensors, may factors. So a 0w-16 at 180F might be more viscous than a 5w-30 at the same temp in a less sophisticated engine. This engine is dynamic in every sense of the word. I have a 2021 Rav4 Hybrid, and I only use 0w-16 because the Car Nut and Toyota know more about this engine than you and I put together.

How does the 5w-30 or 0w-16 know what engine it’s in and control its own viscosity somehow?

Car care nut has gotten basic things wrong that are documented directly in the service manual - like exactly what the control algorithm does. Toyota club did a deep dive on it also directly with documents and test data Toyota provided. The actual control sequence is available in the public domain. It controls oil pressure based on engine rpm and load - not what oil is in it.

If car care nut is going to present himself as an expert and representing Toyota he should either be sure or don’t say it.

 

[lovcom]

How does the 5w-30 or 0w-16 know what engine it’s in and control its own viscosity somehow?

Car care nut has gotten basic things wrong that are documented directly in the service manual - like exactly what the control algorithm does. Toyota club did a deep dive on it also directly with documents and test data Toyota provided. The actual control sequence is available in the public domain. It controls oil pressure based on engine rpm and load - not what oil is in it.

If car care nut is going to present himself as an expert and representing Toyota he should either be sure or don’t say it.

Like I said, we are all wrong sometimes, and yes, so is the car nut.

I will not pretend to know the technical details of the Rav4 2019-2026 engine, but I do know it has sensors all over the place, so it does not have to know the oil weight, but rather depends on sensor inputs. The engine computer can regulate coolant flow, direction, and oil flow too, and works with the hybrid system to know when to rev, for how long, when to decouple...I firmly believe that 0w-16 is not too light for this engine, and because of the dynamic nature of this engine (sensors, computers, oil and coolant plumbing), it can work well with nearly all grades of oil, the world over.

The Car Nut sees far, far more Rav4s that you or I and if 0w-16 is fine with him, and Toyota, then it should be fine with all Rav4 owners.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Like I said, we are all wrong sometimes, and yes, so is the car nut.

I will not pretend to know the technical details of the Rav4 2019-2026 engine, but I do know it has sensors all over the place, so it does not have to know the oil weight, but rather depends on sensor inputs. The engine computer can regulate coolant flow, direction, and oil flow too, and works with the hybrid system to know when to rev, for how long, when to decouple...I firmly believe that 0w-16 is not too light for this engine, and because of the dynamic nature of this engine (sensors, computers, oil and coolant plumbing), it can work well with nearly all grades of oil, the world over.

The Car Nut sees far, far more Rav4s that you or I and if 0w-16 is fine with him, and Toyota, then it should be fine with all Rav4 owners.

I have run 16, 20 and 30 weights in mine. I am sure there all fine. But that’s not the point, or his only error.

 

[lovcom]

I have run 16, 20 and 30 weights in mine. I am sure there all fine. But that’s not the point, or his only error.

Look it the Car Nut a different way: consider the complex stuff that he gets right.

I don't take information at face value from any YouTuber. Most are mostly wrong, but sometimes right, and a few are mostly right, but sometimes wrong...just like us posters on BITOG .

 

[SC Maintenance]

Look it the Car Nut a different way: consider the complex stuff that he gets right.

I don't take information at face value from any YouTuber. Most are mostly wrong, but sometimes right, and a few are mostly right, but sometimes wrong...just like us posters on BITOG .

If he gets the basics I already know wrong, then why should anyone trust his other stuff there not sure about? That’s the point.