Devon test drives a popular Toyota crossover (Used)

The Toyota Rav-4 was popular for a reason. If you wanted a to save a few miles on the gallon the four-cylinder was standard and very good one at that. Those who wanted power could opt for a silk smooth six-cylinder with sports car-like acceleration. With the new Rav-4 has Toyota lost that momentum by not offering the class rare six-cylinder engine?

The 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 175hp will satisfy most buyers needs. It's smooth and offers a good turn of pace when needed. Owners of the previous generation six-cylinder will be disappointed to learn that engine didn't carry over into this generation.

On the road the Rav-4 is smooth and comfortable which is great for a compact crossover, but those who want a little fun behind the wheel won't find it here. Steering feedback is completely numb and any idea of spirited driving is thrown out the window by the softly sprung suspension which is aimed more towards comfort. One thing the Rav-4 is good for is ferrying the family around and is quite easy to drive around town too thanks to light steering.

It isn't hard getting comfortable behind the wheel. All the controls and dials are within easy reach of the driver's hand and the infotaiment system offers a no nonsense layout. Much of the controls and dials feel upscale like you'd expect and overall quality is top notch too just the way a Toyota is supposed to feel.

LE trim adds a back-up camera, eco/sport mode for the ransmission and auto-off headlights. XLE trim adds auto climate control, roof rails and a premium audio system with navigation. Top of the range Limited trim adds 8-way adjustable driver's seat, keyless start system and a power liftgate.

The Rav-4 may not be the most engaging to drive and it may not wow you with its styling. The one thing that it does well is offer comfort for five with plenty of space to ferry the family around and is the most comfortable to drive as daily commuter car. It may not be a jack of all trade like the previous generation, but it still is a great option for those who want a no nonsense compact crossover.

Likes: Decent running costs, comfortable to drive and live with. Plenty of features for the money.

Dislikes: Not very engaging to drive as some rivals.

XLE trim is the pick of the range. It offers all you'll really need with the Rav-4 without being overly expensive. Too bad you'll still have to pay extra for all-wheel-drive on all forms. But it's not really needed though.

Devon test drives a Mitsubishi Outlander

The Mitsubishi Outlander has a lot to prove in a heavily competitive crossover segment. There are some heavy hitters from Ford, Nissan and Toyota. Does Mitsubishi have what it takes to lure buyers away? Or is it all too late to save the ailing brand?

ES and SE trims both only come with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder which produces 166hp. The SE trim offers optional all-wheel-drive. While the top of the range GT offers a 3-liter six-cylinder producing 244hp. It’s nice that Mitsubishi offers the six-cylinder but we question if it is really needed. Unless you are looking at the more spec’d up versions of the Escape and Rogue, the SE trim is the pick of the range. It comes with just enough kit without being too expensive and offers all-wheel-drive optional.

The Outlander just doesn’t feel as composed to drive as a Ford Escape. The ride comfort however isn’t as firm as the Escape. But ride is too easily upset over some road surfaces, which causes the ride to feel bouncy especially at higher speeds on the highway. At least there’s plenty of grip, but the steering doesn’t really weight up at highway speeds. At least road and wind noise are well suppressed and you won’t really hear much from the engines at relaxed speeds.

There’s plenty of space for passengers to get comfortable. Drivers won’t struggle to find a comfortable seating position. All but the third row seat which is best left for children. With the third row seat folded down the boot space opens up and offers plenty of space. The dashboard is somewhat easy to navigate through. We dislike the fiddly to operate touch screen display which is too distracting to use on the go.

The ES trim comes with auto-off headlights, keyless entry, power windows and a hill start assist. Our favorite trim SE comes with climate control, alloy wheels, touch screen display with rearview camera, keyless start and an eco-mode switch. Top of the range GT trim adds HID headlights, all-wheel-drive and Sirius-XM satellite radio.

The Outlander is priced competitively among its keen rivals like the Ford Escape and Nissan Rogue.  Even though you get more kit than both vehicles, we think you’re better off picking one of the two. Running costs with the Outlander should be average but resale value should be a bit of a worry. Reliability is above average though.

The Outlander is a great option for those who want something with good value for the money. However the Outlander just isn’t as polished as its keen rivals and resale isn’t great. But if you want something a little different from its rivals and you really want seven seats at a discount this is your best option.

Likes: Seven seat crossover at a reasonable price, running costs with four-cylinder are decent. The kit level is very impressive at this price range

Dislikes: Resale value is questionable. Exterior design is on the bland side. This is not the halo car Mitsubishi desperately needs.

Devon’s Choice: SE trim offers optional all-wheel-drive, and comes standard with alloy wheels, keyless start and a rearview camera. It’s the only trim that makes the most sense without over paying for the GT trim.