Never thought I would be grateful for the cross cvt.
Consumer reports says pass on rav 4 one reason what I was saying about handling..
Based on our road test of the RAV4, ride quality is one of its lows. It absorbs bumps and ruts reasonably well, but you can feel some cracks in the road and expansion joints in the cabin, which will abruptly pitch. The current generation’s ride quality took a step backward compared to past models. Now, it’s jumpy even on certain pavement surfaces.
Common Toyota RAV4 issues include engine oil consumption and leaks, water pump failure, and transmission problems such as harsh shifting and failures. Other reported problems include electrical system failures, particularly in hybrid models, infotainment connectivity issues, and issues with power liftgates.
Engine and drivetrain
- Oil consumption and leaks: Some RAV4 engines are prone to excessive oil consumption and leaks.
- Water pump failure: Water pump failures have been reported across many model years.
- Transmission problems: Transmission issues are common, with specific problems varying by model year. Some older models have suffered from harsh shifts and ECU failures, while newer 8-speed transmissions have been linked to whining and bearing issue
And the "new rav 4" it gets worse 2026, to my knowledge didn't fix the issues plus no more gas only rav 4's, only hybrid. Which takes the old base MSRP from 29.9k to 31.9k. There is nothing resembling the reasons why I have been a rav 4 fan and owner in new rav 4s, it's a hard pass fellas.
On the other hand, the Cross has no known issues but for lag with the cvt, which I had also noted in my test drive.
Man it's so important to test drive those vehicles and pay attention, once you sign it it's too late. We were so sure we were going to buy that rav 4, the best selling vehicle in the USA has went to hell!
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