2021: Outback XT versus Rav4 Hybrid versus Kia Sorento

One bit of advice - DO NOT RELY ON TECHNOLOGY to help you be a better driver. What happens if and/or when it fails?
Driving is not "easy". You need to stay alert and on top of what you're doing at ALL times. Far too many people aren't these days.

As far as vehicle choice - my brother bought a RAV4 hybrid and loves it for it's fuel economy. I have no idea on driver aids.

Kia no idea/experience although Kia's resale values don't seem to be too great in comparison to Toyota and Subaru.

As to Subaru - their Eyesight package is ok. I owned a '16 Legacy which is one generation older. Eyesight is/was completely vision based so in heavy/medium snow and rain it would completely shut down. Cruise control wouldn't even work - was a giant pain.

vkizzle wrote: ↑ A hybrid would be the better choice for long road trips.

Hybrids excel when urban/city driving, not on the highway. You'd hardly see any difference between a hybrid vs regular version on a road trip/highway driving.

Outback XT will have the best AWD system out of all of those by far, so it will be a lot better in the snow. It is also the most powerful and quickest out of the three. Sorento will be the biggest in terms of interior space out of the three and RAV4 hybrid obviously the most fuel efficient.

All fine choices OP. Test each one and pick the one you like best. Happy car shopping.

I'd probably take a hard look at the Sorento X-Line(? I don't see a SX). Kia seems to have upped their game overall and their adaptive cruise is supposed to be one of the better systems. Of course, like others say, there are questions about reliability (2021 is a re-design) and resale value seems to be questionable although I've never followed Korean car prices.

I wasn't able to test drive the RAV4 in November as they are very popular and the local dealer didn't have any. The wait time for a car can vary by area, but I'm guessing there isn't much wiggle room in pricing. I was interested in the Venza, but 3-6 month wait and price wasn't negotiable in Quebec.

The top end Outback has a giant touch screen that controls everything - including your heated seats. I've seen on reviews that people are not happy since it's hard to operate with gloves. Starting your car in the winter, and then fussing through the display to find your heated seats and climate controls is stupid. The lower trims have plenty of buttons though. Theoretically you can do this through your phone and start the car remotely but I don't want to install an app that controls my car remotely.

I'm sure all of the cars are capable in winter driving when you budget good winter tires. I've been very happy with Nokian tires for at least a decade now, except for the Hakka 7's. Maybe it was just my luck/where I was living/weather but I kept getting flats on them and the traction never excelled. I'm very happy with my Hakka R3s now.

Snow? Road trips? Subaru is the easy choice here.

I personally prefer the RAV4 for reasons of comfort, reliability, and safety.

Hmm. Do I want to potentially replace an incredibly expensive battery (both from a $ and environmental perspective?).

No. Plus, you can disable the auto start stop module now on the Outback with a 3rd party add on for about $100 and 30 minutes of labour. I'd take the Outback anyday, even though the 2020+ year models have that large stupid infotainment screen now out of the 90s.

rmleider wrote: ↑ I'm an amateur in snow driving, so one that makes it easiest is important.

Be very careful if you get the Outback, it'll have so much grip to get going that you won't realize how slippery the road is until you try to turn or stop.

jzmtl wrote: ↑ Be very careful if you get the Outback, it'll have so much grip to get going that you won't realize how slippery the road is until you try to turn or stop.

I thought grip just was from tires

rmleider wrote: ↑ I thought grip just was from tires

It is, but the Outback will have a planted feeling making it very easy to feel overconfident.

Rav4 easily here. Kia and Subaru are a tier below.

oilerfan89 wrote: ↑ Rav4 easily here. Kia and Subaru are a tier below.

The oilers are a tier below :P, Subaru would be a clear winner in the snow. Somehow this is a third thread in a row where the same story comes up, but with the 18" of snow recently I drove around a new Toyota RAV4 on a super snowed up residential road, parked my car, helped dig/push the guy out of the same snow I drove through 4x already this day.....then got back into my Forester and carried on home. Some of these AWD systems are a joke. Spinning 4 wheels in one spot doesn't help the car move, nor would not providing enough torque to the wheels that don't spin to actually get you out.

oilerfan89 wrote: ↑ Rav4 easily here. Kia and Subaru are a tier below.

Definitely not when it comes to handling. The RAV4 consistently fails the moose test, the Plug in hybrid most recently failed while the regular car failed last year. To my shock the old Kia Sorento a vehicle where I have little opinion on its handling and despite being bigger, heavier and older...does better. If you want your RAV4 to handle more safely, supposedly you will have to ask your Toyota dealer to reprogram the VSC...but I highly doubt this message came over to North America, thus I wouldn't be surprised if you asked and they have no idea what you're on about. Unfortunately North American tests focus on crashing and I don't know how many RAV4 owners here know of how poorly this car handles, it seems the only Europeans test safety with regards to handling.

I've said good things about the new Corolla and the Camry because it was warranted, neither is super amazing but I've driven them and found them reasonably good. I've always said the RAV4 was one of Toyota's worst new model particularly for its handling, always felt its handling was bad, always wondered if driving a sports car daily has made me be overly harsh on normal cars...turns out I was actually too nice.

oilerfan89 wrote: ↑ Rav4 easily here. Kia and Subaru are a tier below.

only on RFD

Which is cheapest?

eblend wrote: ↑ The oilers are a tier below :P, Subaru would be a clear winner in the snow. Somehow this is a third thread in a row where the same story comes up, but with the 18" of snow recently I drove around a new Toyota RAV4 on a super snowed up residential road, parked my car, helped dig/push the guy out of the same snow I drove through 4x already this day.....then got back into my Forester and carried on home. Some of these AWD systems are a joke. Spinning 4 wheels in one spot doesn't help the car move, nor would not providing enough torque to the wheels that don't spin to actually get you out.

I don't understand. You say you were driving your new rav4, got out to help someone, and then got back into your forester?

rmleider wrote: ↑ I don't understand. You say you were driving your new rav4, got out to help someone, and then got back into your forester?

Read again, I drove AROUND a new Toyota Rav4, helped him get out, then carried on. He was trying to get out from residential road and ended up diagonally across into oncoming traffic, so I drove around the side through fresh undisturbed powder, parked, and got my shovel to dig him out and push it. Since there have pushed out 3 more cars, none were AWD though, my neighbors RWD mercedes, a Sienna and just this morning a Toyota Yaris (no idea where this guy thinks he is going in FWD small car like that on all seasons)