# Car folks….Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-5 ?? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2015, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-folks-honda-cr-v-nissan-rogue-mazda-cx-5/723524 "2015-06-26T11:27:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2015, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-folks-honda-cr-v-nissan-rogue-mazda-cx-5/723524/21 "2015-06-27T12:48:52Z")
I have a 2009 Nissan Rogue. Love it. It’s peppy and comfortable. I was debating between it and the Honda and the Nissan won over because it was more comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-folks-honda-cr-v-nissan-rogue-mazda-cx-5/723524/22 "2015-06-27T13:55:16Z")
Check to see how much of a PIA it is to change headlight bulbs. In some cars, buying a new car is easier. ---
**Author:** ![Critical\_Mass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Critical\_Mass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical_Mass)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-folks-honda-cr-v-nissan-rogue-mazda-cx-5/723524/23 "2015-06-27T18:01:08Z")
My girlfriend was in the crossover market last year. I test drove the Honda, Nissan, a Hyundai Santa Fe, and a Mazda CX7 Sport (used, 2011 model with about 30,000 miles). We liked to Honda, but the Mazda was far and away the best driver of the bunch. Comfortable and peppy. We bought the Mazda. A year on, the Mazda is not great on gas. There has been warranty work done on the front differential leaking gear oil (back to the dealer this weekend because it’s leaking gear oil again). Would we purchase the Mazda again after having it for a year? Probably. It is a very nice SUV and with AWD, it’s good in the winter. But I think we’ll also consider some more expensive models such as the Lexus or Audi next time around. ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-folks-honda-cr-v-nissan-rogue-mazda-cx-5/723524/24 "2015-06-28T09:49:09Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I’d take a look at a Subaru Forester before deciding. They may become your first choice after looking. I do like the Subaru choices, just the dealer is 17 extra miles, one way, and in the wrong direction. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-folks-honda-cr-v-nissan-rogue-mazda-cx-5/723524/25 "2015-06-30T01:24:05Z")
My wife has a 2011 CRV. My only issue is relatively lack of power - not a problem unless your driving situation sometimes requires you to accelerate quickly like a merge into heavy traffic. If price was not an issue I’d buy the Accura RDX, the same body as the CRV with the six cylinder like an Accord that can shut down up to three cylinders. ---
**Author:** ![Cowboy8467](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Cowboy8467](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowboy8467)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-folks-honda-cr-v-nissan-rogue-mazda-cx-5/723524/26 "2015-06-30T14:25:02Z")
Another vote for the CX-5. I have a 2014 Touring model and it has given me 10,000 problem free miles. I do like the fact that it isn’t a CVT transmission like my wife’s Rogue, plus they’ve also fixed the annoying bluetooth issues that were plaguing them early on. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-folks-honda-cr-v-nissan-rogue-mazda-cx-5/723524/27 "2015-06-30T14:35:40Z")
> [@davida03801](#): > > I do like the Subaru choices, just the dealer is 17 extra miles, one way, and in the wrong direction. This made me giggle a little because my nearest Subaru dealer is 180 miles away…17 miles is 15 minutes drive? It may be worth your while just to take one for a test drive and see what you think, and then go for lunch somewhere; make a date out of it…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-folks-honda-cr-v-nissan-rogue-mazda-cx-5/723524/28 "2015-06-30T16:46:56Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > My wife has owned 2 CRV’s and liked them both. She has a Subaru Crosstrek now and prefers it to the Hondas. I’d seriously consider looking at Subarus if there’s a dealer in your area. IMHO, their AWD system is unbeatable and they typically have a lower MSRP that the other models that you mentioned. The Subaru AWD system is certainly unbeatable in the price range. The problem is that making an AWD system that works with a normal FWD-style layout with the engine mounted sideways (transverse) without completely killing fuel economy requires making a lot of compromises. So the systems in the CR-V, Rav4, etc are either reactive (i.e. they only send power to the rear axle after the fronts slip) and/or can only sent a small amount of power to the rear. Subaru’s funny flat-4 (and occasional 6) engines are short enough that they can be mounted front-to-back like a truck (longitudinally), which means they don’t have that problem and can run close to 50/50 front to rear power most of the time. (That’s what the “symmetrical AWD” badge they use these days means) What that all means is something like a CR-V or Rav4 might be able to get you unstuck or out of your driveway, but driving down the road they’re pretty similar to any other FWD car in terms of handling on snow and ice. Subarus, on the other hand, are genuinely good at it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-folks-honda-cr-v-nissan-rogue-mazda-cx-5/723524.md?page=1)