A question posed on r/askcarguys by someone needing a new car within a week sparked a round of honest answers…and I can say I agree with a good number of them. The OP wanted a compact or midsize SUV, preferably new, under 40 grand, with AWD for winters and long-haul reliability.
They were driving about 20,000 miles a year and worried about buying a money pit outside the factory warranty. They’d been eyeing the Toyota RAV4 and hybrid options, but admitted they weren’t confident in their research. The question was simple: “What 2024/2025 SUV would you buy?”
One of the highest-rated replies shut the door on most of the SUV market
“This is very simple. Shop Toyota, Honda, and Mazda.” The commenter added two rules: “If you see ‘CVT’ and it’s not a hybrid, don’t buy it.” and “Don’t bother looking anywhere else.” Their reasoning favored hybrids. “Electric motors take much of the strain off the engine.” They claimed better long-term economy and reliability.
Another chimed in asking whether a CVT basically meant automatic, genuinely confused. A detailed response followed describing CVTs as two pulleys with a belt and warned that the constant friction eventually leads to catastrophic failure. They explained why hybrid “eCVT” systems avoid that risk.
Someone asked point-blank if Volvo was “a no go”
A reply answered that maintenance risk was the concern. “Volvos are good, but not nearly as good as Toyota, Honda and Mazda… and cost much more than a Japanese make to fix.”
Yet another commenter defended the brand, highlighting personal ownership history and even praising a Polestar-tuned S60 as “the best car I’ve ever driven.” They mentioned their wife wanted another Highlander but felt Toyota “cheapened them too much” and suggested not overlooking Hyundai due to rising quality.
SUVs to avoid
One user kept it short: “Stay far away from any Chevy or Fords with the small EcoBoost engine.”
Another cut deeper on Hyundai and Kia. “Best options because they’ll be stolen from you so fast you won’t have to worry about anything.” Not exactly a scientific critique, but clearly reflecting concern over theft rates.
A different commenter identified their personal disaster, which probably confused OP even more about which SUV to buy: “I just got a Mazda… 2025 CX-90. Just finished filing everything necessary for lemon law.”
Where the “Car Guys” landed
One reply summed it up neatly: “Non Hybrid, Mazda CX5. Hybrid, RAV4 Hybrid.” Another backed the Toyota blanket solution. “Toyota anything.” Additional picks included “Subaru Forester,” “25 Tiguan,” and for larger drivers, “Genesis GV70 or 80.”
Someone suggested going Certified Pre-Owned: “Get a Volvo CPO SUV and buy the warranty extension… unlimited miles.”
And for drivers not worrying about gas mileage? “Probably a 4Runner… a tried and true platform.”
The Car Guy consensus seemed to hover around sticking with Toyota or Mazda for safety. Consider hybrid if you rack up miles, and if you gamble on something European, do it CPO and buy time with an extended warranty.
By the way, we also just covered 10 same-class alternatives to the Honda CR-V. May of the models mentioned here are on the list. OP might’ve already bought an SUV, but it’s worth a gander if you’re interested in something with a bit more personality than the absolute top-selling models. There’s plenty else to choose from in 2025.
