The Best and Worst Hondas and Toyotas to Buy

it all started back in the early 1970s it was a time of bell bottoms roller skates and Carol King and then the oil crisis started and America saw new EPA emission standards this shifted the American Consumer demand to fuel efficient cars it was in this very climate that Honda debuted the Civic 1973. it was a Sub-Compact car initially offered as a three-door hatchback on sedan it was small efficient humble the market was ripe for a car like that and Honda sold almost 33 000 Civics in its first year meanwhile that same year Toyota sold almost 117 000 Corollas almost three and a half times more than Honda that's because the Toyota Corolla had already entered the U.S market several years prior in fact the Corolla was already in its second generation a year later Toyota introduced the third generation Corolla it came in five different trims ranging from a two-door hardtop to a five-door Wagon at that time most car maker were fitting exhaust Cadillacs pie with tighter emission standards but Honda found a better way to address it in 1975 Honda started equipping the Civic with the compound Vortex controlled combustion engine the cvcc engine delivered cleaner and more complete combustion than met the new standards without requiring a catalytic converter in fact the EPA ranked the Honda Civic as number one in their list of most fuel-efficient cars you can see the impact the cvcc engine had because that your Civic sales jumped more than double compared to the previous year now was the early 1980s and America would see mullets Neons and the second generation Civic this generation Civic are larger and new body styles included the four-door sedan special fuel economy Trend to boost gas mileage and a sport s trim which was a hint of the Civic SI model soon to come during the same time oil prices were skyrocketing Toyota launched their fourth generation Corolla and included the line up with a diesel engine overall this generation had excellent fuel economy while carrying an upscale field the car was larger than the previous generation and came with a coil spring design that replaced the leaf spring rear suspension soon after civic's third generation arrived it was bigger sportier had better fuel economy new body styles got added including the Civic CRX a fastback coupe with two seats the Civic SI hatchback and the Civic wagon which became known as the tall boy due to its extra height and larger rear window during this generation the popular D series engine was introduced and also Honda started building the Civic on U.S soil in Ohio meanwhile Toyota started changing some of its Corolla models from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive this generation was boxier with harder lines Toyota also introduced the famous Corolla GTS with the double overhead cam engine producing a whopping 112 horsepower this generation was considered one of the most popular with 3.3 Millions being produced worldwide as the 80s were ending America saw the fourth generation Civic it came with sharp new looks a new engine family and larger wheelbase one of the most important changes was the addition of double Wishbone suspension for the front and rear which gave the Civic much better handling in the meantime Toyota widened the Corolla by an inch made the exterior more contemporary and stylish and discontinued the coupe by this time all Corolla models were now front wheel drive the early 1990s brought the fifth generation Civic with a variable valve timing engine also known as VTEC America saw the two-door four-seater Civic Coupe and the new Del Sol model it was a two-seed coupe with a removable roof to give it an appearance similar to a convertible Honda also focused on safety issues adding passenger side airbags to all Civic models and optional anti-lock brakes meanwhile during this time the Toyota Corolla became bigger heavier sporty and more aerodynamic than before this this is when the Corolla started growing from a subcompact to a compact category and becoming more like the car that we know today this generation saw the Corolla come in six different engine variations ranging from a 1.3 liter to a 2-liter diesel engine the latter part of the 1990s saw the sixth generation Civic this generation included a fully revised Engine with 106 horsepower and low emissions ratings Honda also introduced a natural gas powered Civic and America finally got its hand on the Civic SI which had debuted in Japan three years earlier the generation also saw the High Rev VTEC dual overhead cam 1.6 liter also known as the popular 160 horsepower B16 engine this all coincided with the 8th generation Corolla which was now being built in California Toyota wanted to prioritize safety and save energy they reduced the car's weight by adding New Impact absorption steering column SRS airbags and emergency locking seat belts the only body style offered in the U.S was a sedan powered by 120 horsepower 1.8 liter engine with a three or four speed automatic or a five-speed manual then the New Millennium started Honda entered the ERA with its seventh generation Civic it was a dramatic redesign Honda replaced the double Wishbone front suspension with McPherson struts and the car's interior became more spacious this is the generation when the Civic Grew From A subcompact to a compact car America also saw the release of the first Civic Hybrid and a special edition package for both the sedan and Coupe during this time Toyota was focusing on performance and quality they launched the 9th generation Corolla which was designed to appeal to a broader audience it was based on the larger Corolla Altus with this 1.8 liter engine but with more power 130 horsepower Toyota also debuted the sporty XRS version with 170 horsepower the latter part of the 2000s saw the 8th generation Civic which won many awards the Civic became heavier as Honda started using different platforms for the coupe and sedan to give different driving Dynamics the first Civic SI sedan arrived and leather upholstery finally appeared as an option for the first time in the model's history the natural gas GX also returned for 2006. it burned clean but it was also slower had less trunk space it was heavier in weight and in price meanwhile the 10th Generation Corolla underwent a design overhaul both inside and out the focus of this generation was technology cabin space and performance major visual changes included a new interior design front grille and bumpers by 2012 Honda was on its ninth generation Civic there were many Tech upgrades and modern features that were uncommon in a compact car the 2015 Honda Civic gave buyers more options with the new SE trim level as well as impressive gas mileage up to 41 miles per gallon on a highway and 31 miles per gallon in the city this all overlapped with the 11th generation Corolla Toyota modernac is the Corolla which is definitely more sleek and Trend the largest change in the e170 model was the car size it's wheelbase being about four inches larger soon after Americans saw the 10th Generation this generation saw the first turbocharged Civic including the performance model of the Civic SI with 205 horsepower turbocharged 1.5 liter four-cylinder also the 306 horsepower turbocharged Civic Type R the Civic R set a lap time record making it the fastest front-wheel drive car in Nurburgring the 2021 Civic is the last of this generation and America awaits to see the new generation of the 2022 model right now the Toyota Corolla is in its 12th generation and is built on the Toyota new Global architecture platform this current generation saw the first Corolla hybrid and did you know that the Toyota Corolla is the number one best-selling car in the world to date some 50 million units have been sold globally over its 55-year lifespan Honda and Toyota both have high quality reliability ratings and are known for longevity so if you're shopping for a pre-owned model which ones are worth considering and which one should you avoid let's start with a Honda Civic if you're looking for a pre-owned Honda Civic a few models worth considering include the 2014 model that model receive very few customer complaints and most were minor the 2012 Civic also got a few complaints mainly around seats being uncomfortable also the 8th generation Civics including the 06 to 11 models are a good bet in general it's worth noting that the Civic that gets stolen the most is the 1998 so that's an indication of its value it's a classic and fans love the durable hatches while thieves value it for aftermarket parts on the other hand if it's high in the listerado theft maybe you should think of something else so now which Civic models are the least reliable I recommend avoiding the 2001 Civic and let me tell you why first that model had the most volume of customer complaints of all Civics the most severe issue was transmission problems anywhere from the transmission flipping failing to engage jerking or popping out of gear some drivers face loss of power while driving and it's not just that Honda issued some 27 recalls for that particular month in fact some 6 million units were recalled due to serious problem with the driver's side airbag with sharp metal fragments would fly towards the driver when airbags deployed later Honda also recalled 3 million Civics from that model due to similar issues with the passenger side airbags the 2016 Civic has also seen some issues there are reports of the air conditioning units stopped working up to 36 000 miles Honda's unlimited warranty should cover the condenser repair but some drivers reported it's still malfunctioned even after several repairs that model also had wires that were made from a soy based coating which evidently attracts rats and mice that I could chew on them which leads to electrical issues caused to replace the damaged wires and cores can be eight to nine hundred dollars as far as the Toyota Corolla is concerned the 9th generation 2003 to 2008 Corolla are a good bet in terms of excellent gas mileage 28 to 37 miles per gallon in the City affordability and overall reliability if you're solely wanting the best fuel economy then you want to consider the 11th generation starting with the 2014 Corolla which has the best gas mileage of 30 to 40 miles per gallon so what Corolla models are the least reliable the 2002 Corolla reportedly is the worst and many deem it look longer the most common problem was the engineering oil which isn't dangerous per sect but it's an expensive problem to have fixing a cost of average about 2 600 out another complaint was that the airbags would fail to deploy the 2009 Corolla received the most number of customer complaints it had more severe issues than the 2002 model including issues around speed control and steering this led to 100 crashes and Toyota issued a recall to address it another issue was that the airbags either didn't deploy or would explode if they deployed some 40 people were injured due to this the 2014 Corolla also received reports of failed airbags and there are many injuries and one death as a result but no recalls have been issued yet most of the complaints for this model was that the the radio stopped working even as low as 50 000 miles and this can be expensive to fix averaging about thirteen hundred did you know that the Honda Accord was originally based on the Civic initially Honda wanted a larger quieted more powerful and comfortable car than the Civic that's why they made the cord hatchback in 1976 as a simple three-door hatchback with 68 horsepower it was Honda's test shot a year later they started producing the sedan Edition the car was equipped with a 1.6 liter gasoline engine soon after came the 1.8 liter engine it was fuel efficient so it sold very well during the oil crisis years meanwhile Toyota was working on the Celica Camry in turn the Celica Camry shared some of its parts with the Toyota Carina although Toyota redesigned the Carina by extending its front end and adding styling elements reminiscent of the Celica Supra like the t-bar grill the idea for the Toyota Camry actually emerged from the Celica cam the solid Camry isn't strictly the first generation of Camry but more like its predecessor Honda in the meantime was experiencing strong sales in the U.S this LED Honda to build a factory in Marysville Ohio in 1982 to assemble the Accord in fact the second generation Accord is not worthy because it was assembled in the Marysville plant in fact the Accord became the first Japanese car to be produced on U.S soil the car came available in sedan and hatchback form that same year 1982 Toyota made the Camry its own independent lineup with the V10 series and this officially started the Camry Accord race the first Camry was a compact car when it first came out not the mid-size wide body that we see today Toyota exported the Camry to Australia Europe and North America in 1983. the front wheel drive model was offered in sedan and hatchback bodies and was equipped with a 1.8 and 2 liter inline 4 engine to us today in it looks so basic boxy and rectangular but at that time you'd hardly know that decades later it would grow to become more sleet Island next Honda released the third generation Accord they redesigned the sedan and hatchback and added a coupe version it had pop-up headlights and four corner double Wishbone suspensions during that period Toyota markets their second generation Camry or v20 series starting in 1987. the wheelbase was the same as the first generation but the car was not longer wider and had a larger trunk so more interior space Toyota offered the Camry also in the wagon body and discontinued the hatchback configuration it came with the same engine as before and also later came with an option for a 2.5 liter V6 engine in the meantime Honda changed its mind on the headlights of the fourth generation Accord they replaced the pop-up headlights for fixed ones the Accords of this area were lower wider more spacious and the Accord came to be classified in the mid-size sedan class Honda soon Nicks the hatchback version and started offering a wagon configuration in the U.S by then the basic model came with 125 horsepower 2.2 liter single overhead cam 4-cylinder engine meanwhile Toyota introduces the third generation Camry in 1992 and boy was it different than a previous generation for the first time the American Camry had a different configuration than other Market versions this is when Camry jumped the line from compact class to midsize it was six inches longer two inches wider than before the body was noticeably rounder less angular the sedan and wagon versions offered two new more powerful engines a 2.2 liter four-cylinder and a three liter V6 Toyota also launched the two-door Camry Coupe for sporty fans next Honda broke ground with their fifth generation Honda Accord the air introduced two huge Milestones it was the first Accord to come with VTEC known as variable valve timing and lift this was a game changer if you missed my video on VTEC check it out it's in this area that Honda also started offering the V6 engine option for the Accord Toyota then introduced the fourth generation Camry in 1997. you can see Toyota really prioritized American Consumer taste and needs because Toyota had their Michigan engineering facility designed half the car's developments this car looked sharper was larger in size than before yet was also lighter and less expensive and for the first time ever Camry became the best-selling car in the U.S during this time Toyota discontinued the wagon version in the U.S Coupe version took a short break in production but re-emerged with the Camry Solara which came as a two-door coupe and later the four-seater convertible option next Honda killed the wagon configuration with its sixth generation Accord this generation came with the option for a more powerful 135 horsepower 2.3 liter four-cylinder engine and a 200 horsepower 3-liter V6 engine Toyota in the meantime started their fifth generation Camry in 2002. Camry sedan got a design overhaul longer wheelbase taller height more legroom back the Camry also got a larger base engine 2.4 liter four-cylinder with 157 horsepower later it also came with a 3.3 liter V6 engine as an option Honda continued to increase power output with the Seventh Generation Accord the model year 2005 was notable for the first hybridized Accord but fuel economy was mediocre and the car did not do so well then Toyota came with their sixth generation Camry in 2007 Toyota gave the camera the option for a 3.5 liter with 268 horsepower now that was a serious power upgrade Toyota now sold more Camrys than ever before this generation also saw the discontinuation of the Camry Solara Coupe and convertible in the launch of the first Camry Hybrid Honda then gave a noticeable facelift with the 8th generation Honda Accord it was sportier than the previous generation and came with a 286 horsepower V6 the Seventh Generation Camry came in 2012 till 2017. they offered no manual transmission option the lack of excitement moved Toyota to do some refreshes on its 2015 year model where Toyota changed every exterior part except the roof but performance was relatively similar to before since the same engine carried over from the previous generation in the meantime Honda kicked off its ninth generation Accord by debuting the CVT transmission Honda also introduced the new Accord sports model it was offered with dual exhaust Outlets sportier wheels and a standard six-speed manual transmission and that brings us to the present the latest Camrys on the road the 8th generation xv70 Toyota gave it a sportier facelift and Vibe last year Toyota added the 2020 Camry TRD model it has a race car look and firmer suspension 301 horsepower 3.5 liter V6 engine the latest generation 2019 Toyota Camry remains one of the most impressive value-laden cars available they say owners can expect this car to retain about 60 percent of its value after three years today the latest Honda Accords are in the 10th Generation Honda kicked off this generation Accord by debuting the CVT transmission Honda Nix the coupe style and V6 engine option and instead we started seeing the basic 1 0.5 liter VTEC Turbo four-cylinder engine and the optional 2-liter VTEC Turbo four-cylinder the Accord Hybrid went on sale the following year both the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry have both been very strong Rivals but there are definitely better model years than others and certain model years have received consumer complaints worth considering so if you're buying a used accord or used Camry what model year should you consider and which one should you avoid for the Camry in general the current generation since 2011 has been mostly Problem free for most owners the year 2014 especially has the least amount of complaints some sources say that the year 2016 is a good option with a good blend of safety technology and value but according to consumer complaints there are three Camry models to be careful about it's the Camry model years 2007 2008 and 2009. those years have a known engine defect which manifests itself as burning oil and can lead to engine failure the year 2002 also had engine issues the largest complaint for that model year was strip head bolts as far as Honda Accord is concerned the best used Accords are from the model Years 2013 2015 2017 and 2019. the model a year with the most overall complaints is 2008 the most reported problem for the 2008 Honda Accord was premature breakware consumers also complained about excessive oil consumption and uncomfortable seats but that's not the worst year the worst model year for the Accord was 2003 not by number of complaints but higher repair costs and more problems at lower mileage many of the 2003 Accords had transmission problems that year also received complaints for its V6 engine issue no car is perfect but overall both cars have a proven track record and strong reputation for reliability fuel economy and customer satisfaction that's why they're the top sellers in America did you know that the Toyota Camry outsold every other sedan in the U.S for 18 years in fact it's the best-selling passenger car in America an average Camry's lifespan is between 200 000 and 300 000 miles so assuming you drive 15 000 miles a year that means the car can last 15 to 20 years and still be in good condition if you service it regularly the latest generation Camry is much more popular than Generations prior wondering how many miles a Honda Accord can last and a cord also has the potential to last that long if it's cared for properly even if you buy a used model Consumer Reports has claimed that a court is one of the most likely car to be able to last long like that they say a well-maintained Toyota Highlander can run up to 300 000 miles so if you drive an average of 15 to 20 000 miles a year then this means your Highlander could last you some 15 to 20 years in fact almost 19 percent of owners hold on to their Highlanders for at least 15 years so let's say you bought one when your son was an infant well it'll last for most of his childhood Youth and teens up until he's ready to use it for his first car for college the Highlander's longevity comes as no surprise since Toyota has a long-standing reputation for Dependable cars if you haven't seen my video on why Toyota's are so reliable check it out it was 2001. at that time most large SUVs in the U.S we're truck based Toyota already had the Forerunner in the U.S market a mid-sized SUV based on the truck with a full frame they also had the RAV4 but it was just the compact crossover now Toyota wanted something in between so Toyota started building a new line at the Toyota Miata plant in Fukuoka Japan they were creating the first Highlander it said on a modified Camry platform the unibody structure and four-wheel independent suspension the Highlander was well received in the U.S and Toyota sold almost 87 000 units in its first year not bad for a brand new line of vehicles Honda had also been eyeing the US market they too already had a compact crossover in the U.S market the CRV saw just a couple years after the Highlanders launched Honda two introduced a mid-size crossover the Honda Pilot pilot was designed specifically for North American Market in mind the original pilot was built at the Honda plant in Ontario Canada it shared the same platform with the Acura MDX had three rows of C seats and claimed that it could fit up to eight people in its first year Honda sold 52 000 pilots in America just over half of the Highlanders first year sales Honda Pilot didn't start off as strong as Island which already had had stock but a few years later in 2005 pilot overtook the Highlander in sales 143 000 Pilots versus 137 000 Highlanders or so it seems at first glance but if you dig a bit you will see that Toyota have been keeping business in 2005. Toyota introduced the Highlander Hybrid version the world's first seven passenger hybrid SUV if you'll include the Highlander Hybrid sales numbers well then you see that the Highlander actually won over the pilot that year not long after Toyota released the second generation Highlander it was still based on the Camry platform but it was bigger and more powerful than the first generation it was almost three inches taller four inches longer three inches better and had an extra inch worn ground clearance some people said it looked a bit more like a station wagon Toyota replaced the four-cylinder engine with a V6 initially although the four-cylinder engine did return the following year so Honda followed suit Honda moved its manufacturing from Ontario Canada to Alabama where the second generation Pilots were born this generation was larger and came with a v6i VTEC engine redesigned the headlights of other new features the vehicle had limited off-road capability and could Wade through 19 inches of water but during this time America was in a crisis turmoil had started a few years back when the U.S housing bubble burst that an excessive risk taking by Banks contributed bringing that Global financial crisis and the Great Recession this led to the automotive industry crisis in the U.S from 2008 to 2010 Rising fuel costs discouraged consumers from purchasing SUVs and pickups with low fuel economy vehicle sales took a nose net including that of the Toyota Highlander and the Honda Pilot 2009 was the hardest hit for both models it was a tumultuous and unpredictable time bear towards the tail end of the crisis the pilot took the Highlanders total sales in 2010 and 2011 and not just in combustion engine sales but also including the Highlander Hybrid sales eventually the crisis passed famine was over and it was time to Feast the Highlander pulled forward and gained ground again in 2012 the Highlander exceeded the Pilot's sales and that's not even including that's hybrid sales Toyota then beefed up the Highlander introduced a third generation this crossover was almost three inches longer and a half inch wider than the previous model it now said eight passengers not seven the grill grew larger that this generation was bigger and Bolder conveyed that they were back in business meanwhile Panda 2 launched its third generation pilot it was sleeker smoother and less boxy this generation pilot was larger than the previous one yet it weighed 300 pounds less had less noise vibration and less harshness the new exterior shape also meant better aerodynamics because it reduced drag area by 10 percent in recent years Toyota recognize eyes that is consumer based was primarily families they wanted to expand their customer base and also capture the young active buyers in mature empty nesters to appeal to these additional slices of the market they fully redesigned and streamlined the Highlander for its fourth generation and upgraded it with more power and cargos in fact 2020 Highlanders interestingly were the only vehicle in the Toyota family to receive a redesign that year you can see Toyota's new strategy for the 2020 Highland which looks more modern youthful stylish this new generation is also larger in size this time 2.5 inches longer in length and 2.4 inches wider in the wheelbase and more cargo space yet it weighs 225 pounds less than its predecessor this current generation is built on the Toyota new Global architecture which makes extensive use of high strength steel this gives the vehicle a stiffer unibody structure while also decreasing its weight the new platform also has independent strut front multi-link rear suspension which means better vehicle Dynamics if you people know that the 2020 Highlander was manufactured exclusively in the U.S the Toyota's plant in Princeton Indiana contrast that to versions which were built in multiple locations including the U.S Japan and China meanwhile the current Honda Pilot is at the tail end of the third generation the 2021 pilot currently boasts more passenger space and leg room than a Highlander it is however near any end of its life cycle industry expectation is that Honda is due to kick off a new generation pilot the rumor on the street is that Honda will debut the 2022 pilot later this year and thereby unveil the start of the fourth generation so you can see why anticipation is high for the upcoming redesign so what are the Highlander and Pilot's position in the U.S these days well last year Toyota sold more than 212 000 units and that's not including their hybrid sales compare that the Honda which sold almost 124 000 Pilots so just 58 percent of Toyota's value as far as hybrids go interestingly enough the Honda Pilot still doesn't offer a hybrid version yet the Toyota Highlander is still in with a type in fact it's worth noting that the Highlander's hybrid sales jump nearly five times last year in 2019 Toyota sold over 10 000 Highlander hybrids but a year later in 2020 they sold more than 48 000 hybrids so if you're buying a used model which ones are worth considering which one should you avoid let's start with the Toyota Highlander the Highlander is one of the most reliable mid-size crossovers on the market it's remained pretty consistent with high reliability rankings with Consumer Reports so overall you can't go wrong with buying a used one for the Toyota Highlander a few good years to consider include the 2007 model which had the least number of complaints and even then the issues were minor also the 2017 and 2018 Highlanders are worth considering since they also have only minor issues nevertheless even the best of cars have the good and bad years so as far as used Highlanders are concerned it's probably best to avoid 2001 to 2005 model years those years had the most engine and brake problems the 2003 Highlander was reportedly the worst year in terms of having costliest repairs usually at 125 000 miles the engine block bolts give way due to strip threads in the engine and this isn't a cheap fix it's a severe problem and not all mechanics are willing to fix it so many owners are forced to replace the entire engine the cost to fix it was around 3 300 out as far as brake problems the average cost to address was around five to six hundred dollars also nhtsa reported four crashes and injuries due to break prop the 2008 Highlander had the most number of recalls 13 and fast also probably good to reconsider the 2019 Highland it didn't have many complaints but a few were reported to nhdsa largely due to the fuel system engines and brakes also avoid the 2015 Highlander because it received the most customer complaints the most comical plates include an uncomfortable front seats and also wind noise when the vehicle is going over 25 miles an hour which evidently was caused by the oversized side mirrors another complaint was about the navigation screen freezing and rebooting what about used Honda Pilots well the 2005 15 pilot is reportedly a good year worth considering that year stood out reliability ratings affordability and comfort in fact the 2015 model had the highest reliability rating compared to all Pilots since 2005. that said there were three nhtsa safety recalls in that model all having to do with potential issues with the airbags it's wise to confirm that the auto dealer already addressed these actions just use your VIN number and call up the dealer they can tell you if it's been fixed or not the 2008 pilot is another good year to consider it had an impressively low number of complaints but which pilot model should you avoid the models that receive the most customer complaints included the 2003-2005 and 2016. the 2003 pilot received the very most complaints compared to other cars its worst complaint was around transmission failure which caused an average of three thousand dollars to repair and also ignition switch problems in the early 1990s Toyota wanted to make a vehicle that combined light off-road capabilities of an SUV with the Comforts of a standard passenger car and so they did in 1994 Toyota introduced the RAV4 you can see their Vision reflected in the name because RAV4 was an acronym for recreational activity vehicle with four-wheel drive although later they changed it to robust accurate vehicle four-wheel drive anyway it was the first and only compact crossover in the U.S market you could say that the RAV4 created a brand new genre and category in the car industry the RAV4 first generation debuted in America in 1996 with a 2-liter 120 horsepower inline four engine the next year 1997 they introduced the all-electric RAV4 with nickel metal hydrid batteries of course being the first to Market gave rev for a head start Honda followed suits soon after by introducing the CRV in 1997. the name CRV stood for compact recreational vehicle originally it came in one trim level known as crvl LX which included a hideaway picnic table it had a 2-liter inline four-cylinder engine that output 126 horsepower and 133 pound-feet of torque so power output was comparable with the RAV4 just a year later CRV surprised America by surpassing the Rev foreign sales and it wasn't just by a stone's throw but more like Leaps and Bounds CRV sales in 1998 was over 100 000 unit where the RAV4 sold only about 67 000 units that year Toyota realized they needed to keep things Fresh So the second generation RAV4 came with more power under its Hood 148 horsepower and 142 pound foot of torque but it didn't help them gain much ground in sales CRV was still way ahead in the meantime the second generation CRV got a full redesign it was based on the 7th generation honda civic and powered by the k24a1 engine the new CRV retained the fuel economy of the previous model because of the I VTEC System American versions of the new engine produced 160 horsepower and 140 pound feet of torque this prompted Toyota to make dramatic changes for the 06 Rav4 Toyota introduced the RAV4 with a V6 engine with a 3.5 liter unit with 269 horsepower the US version of the RAV4 also grew by 14 inches that's more than a foot RAV4 also came with a third row seating this made the crossover more practical for American audiences and America Loved These dramatic changes in fact wrap for sale doubled from almost 71 000 units in 2005 to over 152 000 units in 2006 but it was still lagging behind CRV and sales in the meantime Honda redesigned their CRV starting with the 07 model year the CRV Nix the Folding picnic table feature and manual transmission this generation CRV also saw softer smoother lines with the new horizontal slat type Chrome roll and redesigned bumpers Honda also moved the spare tire under the floor then for the fourth generation honda upgraded the CRV to Output 185 horsepower with the 2015 model your Honda offered the CRV with the CVT continuously variable transmission and improved suspension this moved Toyota to re-strategize and so Toyota went back to basics they backtracked and reversed the features that didn't succeed in the previous generation they dropped the V6 option from the RAV4 the next the third row they shortened the car length by about two inches and height by one inch then they fattened the width a bit and deleted the signature gate mounted spare tire feature and instead hid the tire under the floor they replaced the single hinge lift gate door with the traditional door that's hinged at the top they also upgraded the four speed to a new six-speed automatic the RAV4 was less fun but more practical now 2015 was a significant year because RAV4 got a facelift and also saw dramatic increase in safety ratings rare 4 started gaining major ground in sales that year and the gross trajectory continued after the Toyota introduced the RAV4 hybrid with the 2016 model it shared the same gas electric powertrain as a Lexus NX 300H it was more powerful than the standard RAV4 2017 was a huge milestone for the RAV4 because it made an incredible comeback in sales the RAV4 outsold the CRV for the first time in decades this was the turning point in the Toyota Honda race and the RAV4 has held its ground ever since you can see Honda's reaction in its fifth generation the CRV became more masculine than previous generations it was bigger had sharper lines and looked more aggressive it grew an inch taller and its wheelbase was 1.6 inches long so more space and comfort for passengers for the 2020 model year Honda introduced the CRV hybrid variant in America Honda had already been selling it in Europe and China a year prior but now Honda brought it to the U.S market in the meantime Toyota launched the RAV4 fifth generation it was boxier and more rugged it said on Toyota's new Global architecture tnga which improved the ride quality and handling for the 2021 model year Toyota unveiled the RAV4 prime a plug-in hybrid variant that can travel 42 miles on electricity along so for more than two decades the RAV4 and CRV have been neck to neck and power looks and features they have a lot more in common than differences today they're still at it the Toyota RAV4 is the fourth best-selling vehicle in America last year they sold 430 000 units compare that to the Honda CRV which is the fifth best-selling car in America they sold more than 330 000 units last year if you're looking for a brand new crossover and want to compare these two 2021 models here's a quick rundown in terms of base price both started around 25 to 26 000 although the Rev Forest price is slightly higher if you're interested in reliability ratings JD Parr gave the Rev for an average score whereas a CRV earned an above average rating both cars offer a three-year 36 000 mile basic warranty and a five-year sixty Thousand Mile powertrain warrant both vehicles offer great fuel economy for its class but the RAV4 is a slight edge here although it's really a close call between these two let's talk about seats both crossovers have five passenger seats the CRV offers a bit more leg room for the back seat passengers both come standard with gloss upholstery but you can upgrade the CRV with real leather whereas the RAV4 only offers synthetic leather both offer heated front seats but the RAV4 can be upgraded with ventilated front seats and heated rear outboard seats in terms of cargo space both vehicles are above average for their class so it's a lot here that said the CRV offers a bit more cargo value if you want acceleration the RAV4 has a leg up it is a 2.5 liter inline four that outputs 203 horsepower compare that with crv's 1.5 liter turbo 4 with 190 horsepower as far as the interior quality style both are practical and of good quality but the CRV looks more upscale because it uses soft material on most surfaces while the ramp 4 has some hard plastics if you're looking to buy a used RAV4 or CRV which model year should you consider and which one should you avoid as far as the Toyota RAV4 is concerned the 2017 and 2018 model years are a good bet in general both models rated well for reliability performance comfort and styling there has been a few complaints about the 2018 model like paint issues miners steering issues and brake problems but General is still a Very Good Year the least reliable RAV4 the model Year's 2001 2002 2007 and 2008 the 2008 model was the worst due to higher repair costs the most common problem with the used draft 4 is excessive oil consumption at a hundred thousand miles average cost to address this was around 3 300 out another common issue was problem shift and eventual transmission failure around 112 000 miles average cost to address this was about 2600 out in fact customer complaints LED Toyota to change its powertrain warranty from five years 60 000 miles to 10 years a hundred and fifty thousand miles for both the transmission and ECM if you're looking at used Honda CRVs reliable model years include 2005 2006 and 2016. complaints about these models were quite minimal and those years were reported to be reliable overall and provide good handling minor issues were only about the ride being a little stiffer than other model years some people complained about the noise level but that seems to be across the board for CRVs in general but all in all these are reliable model years if you want to use CRV the least reliable CRV models are between 2007 and 2011. those received the most complaints including tires wearing unevenly door lock issue and failing AC compressors because the shaft was too thin and it would snap off in particular the 2010 and 2011 models received complaints around oil consumption problems due to faulty piston rings 2010 also saw recalls for problems around the airbag electrical system and transmission control modules the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV both have a reputation for reliability it's no surprise why they're so popular there are formidable competitors for good reason but now you tell me what you think about the Toyota RAV4 or the Honda CRV which do you think is better comment below and share your 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Channel: Scotty Kilmer

Views: 266,935

Keywords: auto, auto repair, car, car diy, car repair, cars, diy, how to, mechanic, repair, scotty kilmer, car review, toyota rav4, honda crv, toyota rav4 review, honda cr-v, car advice, honda crv review, rav4 vs crv, new rav4, honda review, crv review, honda crv vs toyota rav4, car buying, car comparison, new car review, which is better, toyota camry, toyota corolla, honda civic, honda accord, honda, toyota, honda vs toyota, toyota or honda, camry vs accord, corolla vs civic

Id: Lx9EVbGyArk

Length: 39min 48sec (2388 seconds)

Published: Thu Mar 23 2023