We are in the market for a new car. Will probably go to Atlanta shopping for one in the next week or two. My main concerns are decent power and acceleration(4 cylinder), a quiet ride and good handling. We are not interested in all the fancy dodads, just the basics. We think we have narrowed our search to Honda CR-V, Subaru Outback or Forester, Toyota Rav4 or Kia Sorrento. Would love to hear from owners of these vehicles or those with experience with them. Thanks in advance for your help.

We purchased a 2019 Subaru Outback. Happy with the price and the dealership was great, no hassles. Didn't want all the eye sight stuff but it's all standard. I think it will work out great for us.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: florida boy,

I have a 2011 Sorento and I'm very happy with it. 68k miles with no issues or warranty work on it. It's the first year they were made in the new plant in Georgia. If you have questions just email me at the address in my profile.

Jim

I really like my daughters 2019 crosstrek premium. I have been it's primary driver till she gets her license. If you are looking at the out the others, the crosstrek is a nice option.

Can't say that I've had any experience with those, but keep in mind if there is an option (Satellite Radio, UConnect, Navigation, etc...) that you want and it is not on your perspective new ride, you should be able to install it later in your spare time.

I'm driving my late wife's 2011 Rav4 (4cyl) with 83,000+ miles...it still gets 28-29 MPG and has been a mechanically perfect vehicle so far...just oil changes and regular maintenance... My sister had a Subaru Outback that she absolutely loved and it had been a great vehicle for her...she has a Kia now and misses the Subaru (I think it's just more of a "I liked A more than B sorta thing"... But that's normal...personally, I too liked the Outback better than the Kia as a passenger)

Wait until 2020 for the new Outback.

It's being built on the new Subaru Global Platform, which is stiffer than the current unibody platform.

I have a 2012 Outback with 135,000 miles on it. High ownership satisfaction so far. I plan on keeping mine until 2022, at least.

When I was looking a year ago, I test drove a CR-V, Sorrento, and Rav4, the Sorrento was the best of that group, but I ended up buying a 2018 Tiguan which made the rest of them look pale. The VW was also marginally less expensive than the others, but I wasn't primarily shopping on price. WRT the Outback, my wife drives one, and I didn't want to be driving a newer model of "her car." The VW is clearly better built than the Subaru.

My wife drives a Subaru Legacy Ltd, my daughter drives a Crosstrek, and I just bought a Subaru STI. The legacy has decent power and handles quite well. It does have some fancy toys but you could buy the non Ltd model. The daughter loves the Crosstrek. Nothing fancy but solid as hell. The STI is a beast. Really fast for a 4 banger (turbo) and handles really well. I really like Subaru quality. I think you would like the Outback or Forester quality wise. My question is do you really need AWD living in Georgia? We pay a bit of a premium for that in Utah due to our winters.

I test drove the ‘18 Outback. I didn’t notice much difference between my ‘15 Legacy (which had a 6) and the 4 cyl Outback I drove. It did get better mileage than my Legacy. I decided I would wait for the 2020 remodel Outback. I ended up getting a 4cyl BMW. Now I wish I got a 6. I’m waiting to see what engine options are available with the 2020 Outback.

my moms on her 2nd RAV4, I drive her alot, so I get some wheel time in it, both of them were trouble free and I drive a Lexus GS350 F sport, I can tell u the RAV 4 has good build quality.

quote:

Originally posted by florida boy:
We are in the market for a new car. Will probably go to Atlanta shopping for one in the next week or two. My main concerns are decent power and acceleration(4 cylinder), a quiet ride and good handling. We are not interested in all the fancy dodads, just the basics. We think we have narrowed our search to Honda CR-V, Subaru Outback or Forester, Toyota Rav4 or Kia Sorrento. Would love to hear from owners of these vehicles or those with experience with them. Thanks in advance for your help.

I don't know much about the Subaru vehicles but I can say that the CRV and RAV4 are not similar to the Sorrento. The Sorrento is more inline with the Toyota Highlander or Honda Pilot with them having a 3rd row. If you're looking at the Kia/Hyundai equal of the CRV and RAV4, that would be the Kia Sportage or Hyundai Tucson.

Very different vehicles, IME.

We picked up a VW GTI. Plenty of room, 6 year warranty and relatively inexpensive at under 25K. This is my daughters first car so simple DCT, LSD, great brakes. Only thing we don’t like is the tires - all season.

We cross shopped the outback and Honda, for reasons mentioned we went with VW ...which was not on our list when we started.

We have Foresters and are happy with them but we do drive in snow a lot. Any on your list would be fine but for us, Kias had poor visibility. That may have changed since.

quote:

Originally posted by DSgrouse:
I really like my daughters 2019 crosstrek premium. I have been it's primary driver till she gets her license. If you are looking at the out the others, the crosstrek is a nice option.

I just bought a Subaru Crossttek. I love it. But it’s pickup isn’t awesome. However it’s better than the reviews imply. Handling is awesome but it’s a bit squirrelly if you hit a pothole at 80 on a curve.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
Wait until 2020 for the new Outback.

It's being built on the new Subaru Global Platform, which is stiffer than the current unibody platform.

This. The 2020 Outback will also be offered with a turbo in the XT trim, if you want extra power and acceleration on your 4 cylinder engone.

Love my 15 Forester touring!!!

My wife drives a 2019 Kia Sorento SXL V6 and it is a great vehicle. Decent power and we got 30 mpg on the highway yesterday on our day trip. We're really happy with it. We bought it because of the warranty.

The new 4 cylinder cars are nothing like they were years ago.

Our 2012 Camry has decent pep to it. The HP on it is 175. My old 96 Mustang GT had 225hp with a V8. Cars have come a long way in the last few years.

Bought a 2017 Outback with the 2.5L engine. Really happy with the car and the engine provides enough power 99% of the time. Once in a while I wish that there were a little more there, that I had bought the 3.6L.
I was in the dealership Thursday getting it serviced and spoke with the salesperson. He said that the 3.6L engine was going away in 2020 in the Outback and that they were going to start using the new Ascent engine in it, a 2.4L Turbo.
I guess that goes along with the new platform.

There's nothing on your list that is a poor choice, so it comes down to the one you like the best. I'm partial to Toyotas, so if it where me that's the way I would lean. Honda and Subaru would not be far behind. Have zero experience with the Kia's but they do have a great warranty and people seem to like them.