Camry or Rav4 for 18 year old

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you hit a person with your vehicle while driving, you're 2-3 times more likely to kill them if you're driving an SUV (even a "small" SUV like the RAV4) than if you're driving a sedan (like the Camry).

My understanding is that this is true of SUVs built on on truck platforms but less so for those like the RAV4 that are built on unibody car platforms; in fact, the RAV4 is now built on the same platform as the Camry (although previously it was smaller and shared a platform with the Corolla): https://www.businessinsider.com/toyota-rav4-2019-suv-review-photos-2019-4

Here’s one study showing that the risk of death to passengers in other cars is lower when hit by a unibody-construction car than a body-on-frame SUV: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24821629

RAVs are better than Suburbans or giant pick-up trucks. But all of those flat-front, high-hood vehicles are dangerous, and the newer RAVs (flatter front, higher hood) are more dangerous than the older ones. If they hit you, you'll go under the vehicle, instead of onto the hood like with a sedan. And depending on how tall you are (i.e., if you're a small child or someone using a wheelchair), the driver might not even be able to see you over the hood.

[Anonymous]

Both are good. I had a camry for 14 yrs and finally sold it and got a Honda CRV (similar to the Rav4). DH has a Rav4. So, I'm pretty well-versed in them.

FWIW, the Camry is about 12-13 inches LONGER than the Rav4 or CRV. I loved my Camry, BUT, I now love my CRV and what it offers in terms of height. The Camry has a ton of trunk space, but, it is probably going to be harder to park b/c of the extra 12" length. If your kid is in a town/city where parking is tight, that may make a difference.

[Anonymous]

To add on...

Rav4s and CRVs are NOT "compact" vehicles. 15 yrs ago, they were smallish. But, they are quite spacious without being gas-guzzling monsters (like Navigator and the like).

I get 30mpg on my CRV. Rav4 is the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both are good. I had a camry for 14 yrs and finally sold it and got a Honda CRV (similar to the Rav4). DH has a Rav4. So, I'm pretty well-versed in them.

FWIW, the Camry is about 12-13 inches LONGER than the Rav4 or CRV. I loved my Camry, BUT, I now love my CRV and what it offers in terms of height. The Camry has a ton of trunk space, but, it is probably going to be harder to park b/c of the extra 12" length. If your kid is in a town/city where parking is tight, that may make a difference.

Thank you
This was helpful

[Anonymous]

Either one. We looked at both for our college kid and after test driving them he preferred the Camry. So that's what we got.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would get a car not an suv for an 18yo. They handle very differently. PLus you want the veh he is least likely to show off in.

RAV 4 is a crossover built on a car platform, not a truck platform like a true SUV (e.g., Tahoe). It handles pretty much like a car.

[Anonymous]

I think either is fine, but I tend to lean toward sedans for young drivers. (And judging by the sheer number of Camrys and Accords I see in my kids' high school and college parking lots, many parents feel this way!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both are good. I had a camry for 14 yrs and finally sold it and got a Honda CRV (similar to the Rav4). DH has a Rav4. So, I'm pretty well-versed in them.

FWIW, the Camry is about 12-13 inches LONGER than the Rav4 or CRV. I loved my Camry, BUT, I now love my CRV and what it offers in terms of height. The Camry has a ton of trunk space, but, it is probably going to be harder to park b/c of the extra 12" length. If your kid is in a town/city where parking is tight, that may make a difference.

Thank you
This was helpful

Both RAV4 and Camry are excellence choices.

Just bought a new RAV4 for my DS to drive back and forth between home and GMU. He loves it. I was about to purchase a Camry for my DD but DW has decided that DD will drive DW's 2019 Lexus IS350 and I will buy DW a 2020 Camry.