Outback vs. Honda Cr-V

[cmgraves]

Before my misses and I became a single unit. I owned a 2000 Subaru outback, and she owned a 2005 Honda cr-v. Both amazing great cars. (i still have the hots for the Subaru) But, what car is overall better.

With that, both cars achieve very very close mpgs. the outback 25-26 mpg, the Honda, 23-25mpg. (i calculated ever fill-up). Both awd, and both very impressive with their abilities for off-road (ie gravel roads, icy conditions, and off-roading). The cr-v was better for off-road use, the outback better for winter driving. *cr-v better in deep snow

The Honda was better with higher clearance, and better performance.

The subi. had better mpg, and more comfortable for the long hauls. And felt more stable for highway driving. The seats folded flat in the back for a sleeping/storage space.(Honda did not)

Pricing is very close, but would say the subi., is cheaper up front, but the Honda holds its value better. Only if subi came out the diesel, life would be so much easier.

Maintenances and repair cost???? that might be the deciding factor.

Currently, my subi. hit an elk(show him whose the boss!), and we traded the honda for a 2006 tundra DC. so offroading and major use is on the toyota for us. Currently the 2nd vehicle is an 98 impreza, but does NOT secure a car seat rear facing securely for our 2 year old.
(and we are expecting)

Therefore, a 2nd vehicle (with the tundra in mind) reasoning will be based off of: (hopefully other family’s will coincide similarly so this thread will benefit others)

Absolute most:
Safety
car seat fitting and safely (rear facing)
is TOP priority, and the tundra does this for us, but the impreza does not.

other top factors for the 2nd vehicle include:
mileage
awd
cost
reliability
off-road ability
wear & tear cost
comfort

I am considering a 2004-05 forester XT, but am worried the mileage and the reliability would offset the extreme performance the XT offers. Perhaps a 2004+ outback that bypasses the head gasket problem. But again, a 2005 cr-v is very reliable, high mpg, very safe, great offroad, and is overall a great vechile.

Thoughts??

 

[Storz]

Subaru

 

[Maddmatt]

I don't have first hand experience with the CRV, other than having test driven a couple - and based on that and my 10 years with my Outback would vote Suby

In the test drive stage I found the Outback much more comfortable than the CRV (YMMV) and in fact picked the Outback over an identically priced Forester for the same reason - but again everybody is different. I'm 6' and 200lbs, and the driver's seat in my Outback is without question the most comfortable seat I've ever owned, with the possible exception of a '79 RX7 I owned in the 80's.

Our headgaskets did fail last year, and we were over time on the warranty (which Subaru extended to 8yr/100k for everybody who did the factory recommended coolant additive, which we did) but we were just under the mileage, @ about 93 or 94k. I suggested to the service manager that he call Subaru of America and take up our case - he did and we ended up being only $400 out of pocket - I'm pretty happy with that resolution.

It's been a great family car - starting when our first was just a couple months old - she's in 4th grade now and we have another in 1st - we've driven it all over Colorado - as far west as Jackson Hole, as far north as Ely MN and as far south as Tucson - A couple years ago we were driving through Northern New Mexico in what turned out to be one of the worst blizzards I've ever driven though (and I've been driving in the Colorado mountains since 1985) and our little Suby was absolutely unstoppable.

If I was shopping, I'd be looking at an '05-'09 Outback - I think they got too big with this newest generation -

None of that is really a vote against the CRV - just relating my positive family based experience with the Outback - after 10 years of ownership, knowing what I know now, I'd still buy it again.

Here's a picture from a multi-family camping trip last summer - the Outback is the official state car of Colorado:

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

I'm surprised you say the Honda holds a better value. Maybe a Civic does but a CRV over an Outback?

I vote Subaru.

 

[N8URE2]

I say subaru.
We owned an 04 outback, we traded it for an 03 CRV(because we could not flat tow the outback behind a motorhome). We still have the CRV and have added an 04 Audi Allroad.
In my opinion the outback AWD system is much better than the other 2. The Audi is more comfy and has more power, but the car feels heavy and the Quattro is not as seemless as the outback (I know you asked about outback vs CRV, but thought I'd throw in my experiance with the Audi as well).
My Suby was bought new and had 98K when we traded it for the CRV which had 69K and now has 112K. We had all the scheduled maintenance on the Suby done at a dealer and the only other thing we did was brakes and tires. We did not have a headgasket fail.
The Audi was bought with 90K and currently has 112K, we've done CV joints, timming belt, and tires.
The CRV is paid for and the Audi will be next month. After that we'll drive them till they won't go anymore and at that time I GUARANTEE my wife will have another Outback.

 

[shortbus4x4]

As a mechanic I would say Subaru. I have worked on both, Honda CRV's are good, the only weak link is the auto transmission. You have one go out and they are expensive and I have seen a few go out. Subarus seem pretty much bulletproof, they some issues but are very easy to work on compared to other new cars.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I would also favor the Suby.

The only advantage the CR-V seems to have is resale value. Well, if you buy used that diminished resale value is an advantage - you only lose out if you buy new. Certified pre-owned or late model used will save you thousands over new.

Also the CR-V is not a true AWD. It is FWD until the front wheels start slipping. AFAIK there is no way to "lock" the Honda into 4wd. The Suby on the other hand is true AWD, all the time.

Suby gives you the option of a manual transmission if you want one.

To me the interior of the CR-V felt more like a minivan, where the Suby feels more like a car. That's a personal preference thing, I suppose, but I prefer the Suby.

 

[4x4abc]

since one of your requirements is AWD - the CRV would not be a contender, it does not have AWD
in my book the CRV's automatic AWD is nothing more than a sophisticated 2WD system

now go ahead and scream at me

 

[Applejack]

Another vote for the SUBY! I have owned several and I love 'em, though no OB's
But I have a few friends that do and would like to add that if you get a Suby, avoid getting a auto. All 3 of my friends have had theirs replaced.
Subaru may have changed transmissions in the later years though. My friends have a '98 another has a '00 and another an '02 and they all had tranny problems.

 

[mountainpete]

I have a 2008 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport and have owned a 2005 Honda CR-V for many years, plus a friend owned a Subaru Outback so I've got some experience with those vehicles.

The CR-V was a good vehicle except for two items - fuel economy and power. The MPG was very poor for a small 4 cyl engine and with 4 occupants I found the engine to be quite underpowered on the highway. Hitting 25 MPG was almost impossible and we had it since new and serviced it well. But it was safe and generally roomy for a small SUV.

Lots of people are singing Outback praises so I will just agree that it is a good vehicle, although you should try loading it with child seats and gear before going too much further. The rear doors aren't the easiest to work with for some people.

However, I would like to offer another choice. A Hyundai Santa Fe. We sold our 05 CR-V late last year and purchased a 2010 Santa Fe. 275 HP V6, lots of room, great interior and smooth 6 speed auto. Plus, it actually has a 4WD lock button. Fuel economy is currently about the same as the CR-V, but with 100 more horse power and we only have about 3k miles on it. Warranty is also great and it's got all of the standard suite of safety features.

At one point in my life you would have never caught me purchasing a Hyundai. I did and I love the thing.

Pete

 

[cmgraves]

Hey everyone. thanks for all of the great information. I had a feeling more people would be for the subaru, but didn't realize it would a closeout. I guess that answer that question.

and the driver's seat in my Outback is without question the most comfortable seat I've ever owned

I totally forgot about this. I drove my outback for 14 hours non-stop ever week one summer. So comfy.....

and that picture brings back good memories since my outback was the same model and color as the blue. 4 subis. in one camp groud. nice!

Honda CRV's are good, the only weak link is the auto transmission.

good to know

Also the CR-V is not a true AWD. It is FWD until the front wheels start slipping

I thought subaru was the same in terms of awd will engage when front wheels slip. Seems like others agree on the fact that the cr-v is not a true awd, and I would believe that.

in my book the CRV's automatic AWD is nothing more than a sophisticated 2WD system

I will laugh though. the cr-v are sure are sophisticated. Especial the new ones!

if you get a Suby, avoid getting a auto. All 3 of my friends have had theirs replaced.
Subaru may have changed transmissions in the later years though. My friends have a '98 another has a '00 and another an '02 and they all had tranny problems.

Odd, my 2000 outback was an auto, and I treated it extremly hard, and it never felt slippage once. had 120K miles. but i will get a 5-speed, cause, its a 5-speed.

although you should try loading it with child seats and gear before going too much further.

that is probably the best advice I can take. thanks

I would agree the new Hyundai are not to shy away from and are great cars with high reviews. its the budget of 8K. and i think Hyundai was still getting their feet under them with those cars that are in that price range now. but thanks for sharing your experinces.

 

[4x4abc]

just watch these videos

(the Volvo has the same auto AWD systems as the CRV):
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De0RstOO_iY"]YouTube - Subaru Outback versus Volvo XC70[/ame]

this one compares the CRV directly to the Subaru:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OzK-oRPCbs&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - Subaru Symmetrical AWD vs. Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen[/ame]

 

[shortbus4x4]

Just watched the second video, pretty impressive ramp. It pretty much showed that Subaru knows how to build AWD cars that perform. Some of the other manufacturers still have some homework to do on their "AWD" cars.

 

[brngk]

Well, you have the Tundra DC so you are sorted in that regard. We're sort of in a similar situation (except no offroad car for us). We are both very tall, she's ~5'9 and I'm 6'5, and we've both always wanted a subaru for a variety of reasons, but when we finally went and sat in a 2001 forester and a 2002 outback, it became immediately clear that we were both very uncomfortable. You mention car seats, that's what decided this debate for my wife and I.

We also realized there was no chance we were fitting a rear facing car seat without making us even more uncomfortable. The dealer happened to also have a CRV on the lot (2002), and we were both immediately impressed how roomy that bloody thing was (I can see the "like a minivan" bit, but why is that so bad?), with basically the same amount of boot space as the forester we had just looked at. Plus, we would have to do a lot less bending over to cram the car seat in with the CRV.

Are either of these going to be good "expo" vehicles? Forest roads sure, but beyond that probably not. I'm not sure how the CRV would handle something like the white rim trail, but I did see some videos of an outback running that trail or at least portions thereof.

Finally, we realized that with work, life, and our first child on the way, the next few years are probably not going to involve extended back country trips, and for those few occasions that we do end up on a forest road, I'm sure the CRV will do just fine. Though in all fairness we beat our 1997 2WD Ford Escort all over Bajas back roads, and it did just fine.

On a final note, if you go for an outback stay away from 2001-2003, several friends of mine have had expensive head gasket issues.

Now if you excuse me, I'll go hide before the pitchforks come out.

Slightly unrelated, did anybody catch the review of the Skoda Yeti on Top Gear last week? I WANT. 5 spd manual, 4WD, locking diffs, and a turbo diesel. Plus room for 5 with ample ground clearance!!

 

[backcountrycruiser]

Having owned a bunch of subarus, and no hondas, I would say

Subaru...:wings: Ive never had any problems with the manual tranny's, some

of the origninal clutches lasted past 250k, others only till 190k. The subaru

awd is far superior in all of its forms and all years. Ive not had any problems

with the autos either, and the vast majority of people I know or associate

with havent either. Head gaskets in all years are really the only problem to

speak of. Easy job to do, some are more prone to it than others

(headgaskets). All the earlier motors are non interference, so if the timing belt

goes, no damage will occur to the engine. Later versions a lightly interference. I dont think you can say that

about any honda motor. A subaru is easy to work on in any aspect as well, if

you do your own work. Go over to ultimatesubaru.org and check out the

new gen section as well as the off road section. Ive been a member there

for years, its a great site.
Mike