What a mess they have compared to the CX-5:
An engine block recall
Kinda puts things into perspective and also makes me a little skeptical of this Mazda-Toyota partnership.
More like masked it. Highly doubt a 'software' fix is going to fix it.
Regarding "masking" the problem, I'm not enough of a gear-head to agree or disagree. But how do you "mask" such a thing? The rocker arm either stays on or it doesn't...there's no turning up the stereo and singing loudly when it falls off.
What problem might still exists? I'm sure we would all like to see a physical attachment point for the rocker arm, but if Mazda has arrived at the proper oil pressure to keep it attached under "all" circumstances. I guess time will tell. Perhaps there still are rare conditions under which it might fall away...they obviously failed to foresee everything the first time around. I don't know.
IMO, people need to get over complaining about the Mazda infotainment. It’s intuitive but can be slow. This is a car, not a computer for playing video games.
Once I see frequent and consistent posts about failed 2018+ engines, then I'll worry.
At this point there seems to be no more likelihood a 2.5L CD engine will fail then the previous 2.5L non-CD.
I really dislike the styling on the RAV. This is not a vehicle you look back at when you park it. And the new Avalon is one of the worst looking designs on the road currently... yes, even in TRD spec!
That’s why Toyota is the best as long as quality and reliability wise. Toyota and Lexus have been ranked mostly no. 1 and no. 2 consistently in past 30+ years on Consumer Reports’ reliability ranking, while Mazda’s is up and down, recently went no.12 in 2017.Bad news for Mazda, latest CR pegs Mazda as 4th in reliability for 2020, Subaru leaped to 3rd.
That’s why Toyota is the best as long as quality and reliability wise. Toyota and Lexus have been ranked mostly no. 1 and no. 2 consistently in past 30+ years on Consumer Reports’ reliability ranking, while Mazda’s is up and down, recently went no.12 in 2017.
Actually we should feel lucky that the design team for Toyota is clueless and most of their products are ugly. If Toyota vehicles are half decent on looks like Mazda, then Toyota’s sales would be even better than right now!Easy to hold the reliability crown when there isn't a lot that changes.
IMO, the difference in reliability between 1st place and 4th place isn't big to me. With regard to quality, I think Mazda is doing well in that fight, at least based on the newer gen interiors. They are generally quieter and less squeak-prone than much of the competition. When comparing the CX-5 and the RAV4, the -5 is quieter, offers a better interior, handles better, etc.
Looks are subjective, but I'm just not a fan of some of the RAV4's design cues. For example, that silver RAV4 that Chocolate posted above. What's the black strip on the C-pillar doing there, and why isn't it angled to align with the top window edge? Why are the plastic fender arches separated from the rest of the body cladding by 2 inches? Why are they still using steel wheels and hubcaps?
I have past the time of getting a good-looking cars, reliability is the most important thing to me now.
Actually we should feel lucky that the design team for Toyota is clueless and most of their products are ugly. If Toyota vehicles are half decent on looks like Mazda, then Toyota’s sales would be even better than right now!
I have past the time of getting a good-looking cars, reliability is the most important thing to me now.
The CX-5 checked both of those boxes for me.
I bought my first brand new car (actually it was a truck) when I was in my mid 30s. Before then it was used, and always for cash. The most I ever paid was $1,000 for a '76 Pontiac Grand Prix Limited Edition: 400 in³ 4 barrel/Turbo 400 tranny, t-tops, electric velour bucket seats. I loved that car.I have past the time of getting a good-looking cars, reliability is the most important thing to me now.
I can’t agree with you on the claim that same drivetrains have been used by Toyota for many years to keep up the reliability. Toyota is one of the first providing a very reliability hybrid drivetrain. They put their first turbo engine on their Lexus NX which has been problem-free. Further, Toyota came out new Dynamic Force 2.0L / 2.5L which has the best thermal efficiency among all ICEs, including Mazda’s SkyActiv-G’s, on the market. The new 8-speed step transmission used on most new Toyota’s are also more advanced and efficient than Mazda’s SkyActiv-Drive 6-speed automatic.I totally agree, and Toyota would deserve those sales. But I think the polarizing styling is just a way for them to show that they are "changing", at least on the outside. It's a way to continue using the same well-performing drivetrains. It's smart from a business perspective, just a shame that they can't design an exterior that isn't so polarizing (like the Avalon, or any Lexus with the spindle grille).
Surfing on autotrader for Rav4's in my area I discovered something funky....confirmed with taking a walk in my company's parking lot with some new Rav4s.....they have halogens. Even worse yet halogen reflectors. The previous gen rav4s had projectors at least.
All the new Rav4 have LED reflectors as standard. If you opt for the RAV4 hybrid model, it uses LED projectors.