Used Car - Toyota vs VW

Joined
Feb 16, 2005
Messages
920
Location
Scituate MA
Looking at some used cars for wife. She likes RAV4 or VW Taos/Tiguan. Don't tell me to get something else...That's what SHE likes...

In terms of reliability would I lean towards Toyota? I have had good luck with Camry. I don't know much
about VW...I remember many years ago they weren't great but I'm out of it now. I understand a lot of variables
with previous maintenance. Just chatting here...
 
I would choose the Rav 4 or Tiquan for my own personal ownership. I'd leave Taos back in New Mexico.
 
If you're a reliability worry wort, you will prefer the RAV4. I don't like the Taos. Comfort and the driving experience means more to me than reliability, so she should choose the one she prefers after a test drive. Make sure it's a test drive including some high speed freeway driving.
 
I rented a 2023 Tiguan and a 2019 RAV4 non-hybrid. The Tiguan felt underpowered and didn’t get great mileage. The RAV4 got excellent mileage despite being a larger car and it had more usable power. The power difference was definitely noticeable 0-60; it felt like roughly 1-1.5 seconds slower on the VW.

I also own a 2020 RAV4 hybrid now and have not had to do any work on it; I’m at 98K miles. I’d personally lean toward the Toyotas and if you can afford it, get the hybrid. They are more powerful, quieter, smoother, get better mileage, and overall maintenance is significantly cheaper than on the non-hybrid. To put it in perspective, I’ll be due for new brake pads at roughly 350-400K at the vehicles usage rate.
 
I rented a 2023 Tiguan and a 2019 RAV4 non-hybrid. The Tiguan felt underpowered and didn’t get great mileage. The RAV4 got excellent mileage despite being a larger car and it had more usable power. The power difference was definitely noticeable 0-60; it felt like roughly 1-1.5 seconds slower on the VW.

I also own a 2020 RAV4 hybrid now and have not had to do any work on it; I’m at 98K miles. I’d personally lean toward the Toyotas and if you can afford it, get the hybrid. They are more powerful, quieter, smoother, get better mileage, and overall maintenance is significantly cheaper than on the non-hybrid. To put it in perspective, I’ll be due for new brake pads at roughly 350-400K at the vehicles usage rate.

I'd buy a RAV4 Hybrid over a Tiguan.
 
VWs can be good cars for people passionate about them.

Some further investigation is in order, is the VW "cute"?
 
My two VWs have been essentially trouble free. The Passat had to have the dipstick tube replaced as it loosened up. I have just over 100,000 combined miles on these with care-free driving. My next vehicle will be a Tiguan gasser.
 
Back
Top