RVR owner and Mitsubishi fan here. We have a 2012 RVR with CVT and AWD with the 2.0L motor. One of the best features of the RVR is the adjustable drive mode from 2wd, 4wd auto, and 4wd lock. The recent snow storm demonstrated the sure-footedness of the awd system; we have General AT2 tires on it right now. On OEM tires, we get around 12km/L, AT2 around 10km/L.

I would spring for the 2.4L motor for a but more power and torque when going up mountain passes. The 2.0L is sufficient around town and going to Whistler. Stock brakes arent that good since it weighs more compared to a Lancer. I'm planning to upgrade to better rotors, pads, and fluid. Most engine/brake parts are shared with the Lancer.

For your uses OP, it can sit 5 people but the middle person will be cramped. The interior is basic but acceptable as an appliance vehicle. Heated cloth seats are comfy but lack bolstering. The trunk is of decent size, you should have no issues in storing a stroller.

I would look for the earlier models as they were built in Japan. You can probably get one for cheap since they are a couple years old already.

Overall, OP, if you can't/don't want to get a bigger CUV/SUV, then the RVR is most capable off road/trail vehicle out of the subcompact CUV segment.

+1 for CX-5

so i drove my wife's HR-V around yesterday

Christ...the D mode was slow as all hell. It's probably great for city driving but i just can't.

The redeeming quality is the sport mode using the paddles. You'll definitely feel the difference right away and it's really the only way to drive the car. It's too bad the 2017 didn't come with a turbo engine...I'm assuming the next gen HR-V's will follow the civics and put turbo's on the higher trims.

Because the HR-V follows the Fit, I don't think a turbo will be going in anytime soon.

might be a little bigger (and expensive) than you want, but the new CR-V seems to be very well reviewed

lots of good info here...

found out Kia is not AWD, so it's no longer on the list..

Mazda CX-5 / Honda HRV seem to be the front runners. I will also look into the Hyundai Tuscan.

Any thoughts on the Nissan Rouge? I know the older rogue model had a huge blind spot according one my neighbours. Murano is too big for me.



For the guys that own CX 5 or HR-V ... what trim levels do you own? How's the comfort and features? Has Mazda implemented the dead man's pedal for the accel. on all it's models? CX-3 was the first to have it. It felt good on the foot.
For what it's worth, I'll be going from a Mazda 3 GT - so sunroof, heat seats, HID's, rain sense wipers, auto headlights, fogs, 17" rims, sports mode.

PS if any Honda, Mazda, Hyundai sales reps reading this. Feel free to PM me. Not looking to be forced into purchase but you can count on my sale when I'm ready.

I have the 2015 GS trim, I think everybody will agree on the 2.5L over the 2.0L anyways :)

I also test drove the Rav4 but did not like the rear seats, found them much less comfortable than the CX5.

Personally, I'd go for the Mazda CX-5 but check out Kia again. The Sportgage comes with AWD.

My dad has it in GT trim. It's not going to win any drag races by any means but it's no slouch either especially for a 4 banger. I tried out a RAV4 with my dad, driven a Tuscon, Rogue and CR-V and the CX-5 felt the best all around and probably had the most sporty feel to it. We kind of looked at the CX-3 but shut that idea down right away after seeing the interior room lol. Only thing I wish it had were paddle shifters but my dad didn't care about it :lol

The 2016.5 GT has Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert on top of the features you just listed with your Mazda 3 GT if that makes any difference.

Another CUV I suggest is the NX200T but that's $$$ compared to what we've been discussing in this thread so far lol

Having driven part of our road trip down to Portland in a friends new RAV4, previous gen CR-V (not the one that just came out), CX-3 / CX-5 , Sportage, and Rogue (I work for Nissan), I would go with the CX-5. Pony up the extra $ for the 5 and you won't regret it.

If I was in the market for a new CUV/SUV, it's the car I would buy.

My wife picked up the HR-V EX-L with navi which is pretty much the highest option available. It's great for her so far, comfortable and pretty cozy.
Comes with pretty much everything, AWD, has heated seats but no cooled seats, fogs, wiper de-icer, auto lights, heated mirrors, power dimming rearview mirror, forward collision warning, lane departure warning and the honda lane watch camera.
One odd thing i noticed was that Canadian HR-Vs did NOT come with any TPMS which is pretty surprising in this day and age.

Imo though, if you're coming from a 3GT you'll probably find the HR-V lacking in terms of power. As I've said previously, D is depressingly slow and it pretty much needs to be driven in sport paddle mode outside of city traffic. Paddles are fun and does give the car more power but even then it only has decent power compared to the CX-5 which will have more oomph.

The CX-5 and HR-V are in different classes, if you can get them in around the same price, I would spring the CX-5 no questions asked. The new Rogue is comparatively larger than the rest of the market because they offer 3rd row seating. Nissan is bringing out a Rogue Sport soon to sit in between the Juke and regular Rogue in sizing.

And since you already have a Mazda, you can get a rate reduction if you finance/lease with them I think.

Any reason why Subaru is not in the running?

These compact CUVs get really expensive really quickly lol

I see you mention a dog some where, make sure you get the car have leather seat and opt for it.

Subaru not in the running because maintenance is exp.

leather with a dog? won't it get punctured or have chance of? I plan to keep the dog in the trunk/hatch area.

I liked the way the CX-5 drove. Agree that it is the most sporty.

Although the drive is not as good the we went with the CRV because it feels a lot more spacious.

My family LOVES our Rav4 Sport! Highly recommend it.

Is it that much more than other brands? Only service every 10k kms as per dealer.

just curious. are there any CUV's sized like a CRV/CX-5 that have an optional additional 2 bench seats to make it "7 seats"?

i heard RAV4 and rogue had that option but maybe not in canada?

Glow, you starting a daycare? Lol

Anything that size, with additional 2 seats are pretty useless. Pretty sure the Kia Rondo had that option.

Can't think of any, don't recall the RAV4 having that option.

You use seat cover/Hammock to protect the seat if letting the dog seat in front but no matter where you put the dog, dog hair get stuck in cloth seat and its next to impossible to remove all from a cloth seat.

nah, just thinking could be useful in a pinch for short trips or whatever. i thought some had the option that take up the storage when in use without having to go up to the next class.

[I also say a CX-5 best value and tech around :D

I've driven my parents FWD 2012 Tucson a fair amount and I like it (for what it is). Comfy in the front and the back, lots of room, feels solid on the highway. They've put quite a bit of mileage on it (including moving across the country) and never had a problem aside from needing to do the brakes to pass an OOP (they were fine but the shop was picky).

Come check out the cx-5 in person and test drive :)
I'm at signature mazda Richmond