Honda kicking Toyota’s (and everyone’s) butt in the crossover segment

omarrana submitted on 04/02/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 3:45 PM
from: www.egmcartech.com

[46] user comments | category: Misc News

Tags: Honda, Toyota

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Honda kicking Toyota’s (and everyone’s) butt in the crossover segment

Honda is kicking Toyota’s butt. Okay maybe not financially or sales wise, but its CR-V is doing some serious damage in the compact crossover market. In February, Honda sold up to 15,695 CR-Vs even though the company’s overall sales declined 10 percent. That is up 11.4 percent from a year ago. That helped CR-V sales hit an increase of 14 percent in the first two months of 2008 as compared to 2007.

Selling almost 220,000 in 2007, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in U.S., a spot long-held by the... Read Article

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1970toyotamarc - 4/2/2008 5:04:26 PM

+2 Boost

natch, this is anti-Toyotaspies. Doesnt this get exhausting?

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EnnNorak - 4/3/2008 6:39:55 PM

-1 Boost

Honda will not earn my respect until they stop short-changing V6 customers with SOHC engines. They have a DOHC I-4 so what's holding up the DOHC V6?

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Fadywwf316 - 4/2/2008 3:56:50 PM

+3 Boost

I didn't know the CRV was a crossover although my dad has had 2 so far...I thought they were just compact SUVs.

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07G35J - 4/2/2008 3:59:33 PM

+7 Boost

It is a crossover based on the Civic platform.

LACMAN - 4/2/2008 10:21:56 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Im not coming sideways at you but what would make you think that this was NOT a crossover?

07G35J - 4/2/2008 3:59:04 PM

+3 Boost

Good for Honda. Like their slogan says (or used to say... I don't know if they are still using it), IT'S A HONDA...

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S4cabriofoxone - 4/2/2008 4:24:07 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

You are so right. How do you do it?

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0to60 - 4/2/2008 5:33:25 PM

0 Boost

JD Powers and Consumer reports often conflict. But the JD Powers INITIAL quality report is expendable

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audirevolution - 4/3/2008 1:47:38 AM

+1 Boost

I agree with you. Consumer reports is the number one source for automotive ratings.
The VW Jetta and Rabbit were recommended while the Lexus GS wasn't. I also remember that the Toyota Yaris and the FJ were among the worst cars to buy.

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ChicaneShooter - 4/3/2008 2:22:20 AM

0 Boost

"The VW Jetta and Rabbit were recommended while the Lexus GS wasn't."

LOL! the bar for getting a CR Recommended tag is NOT very high at all. basically, the car simply has to not be a deathtrap in their road and safety tests, and not score BELOW average on their reliability surveys.

almost EVERY relatively new car can manage this.

but look at reliability records 3 years out, and VW products tend to be at the very bottom, beat out be even the koreans. (with audis not much better.)

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ChicaneShooter - 4/3/2008 2:26:50 AM

0 Boost

beat out by

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1970toyotamarc - 4/3/2008 11:51:02 AM

+3 Boost

"the Toyota Yaris and the FJ were among the worst cars to buy"

Consumer Reports NEVER said that. That was a bogus article taking small tidbits of CR data and using it to make their own convoluted conclusions. Toyotas were not the only vehicles on that list that this happened to. The CNN/Money(?) article has been thoroughly discredited. If you want CR data you need to go to the source, not someone's interpretations of it. Look at the Yaris for example. It scored low in some areas of the road test like acceleration and comfort and convenience. But, "the Toyota Yaris offers excellent fuel economy and reliability." It is simply on the Not Recommended List, along with a lot of other cars. That does not at all mean that it is one of the worst cars to buy.

BTW, only one model of GS is on the not recommended list, the GS350 AWD. However, "European makes account for 17 (least reliable) models, including six each from Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen."

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Whelan - 4/2/2008 5:44:45 PM

+5 Boost

If I had to choose between the Rogue, CR-V, and Rav 4 for these cars I would totall pick a Rav 4. The CR-V looks way to chick, and the Rogue is pretty bland for a smaller cousin of the Murano.

I must specify that I would take my Rav 4 in Limited 4WD w/ the 276hp V6 in black. That way I could whoop on those other small CUVs all day long.

Tossup! I would definitely cross shop the Rav 4 V6 with the VUE Redline now that I think of it.

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ZBL1414 - 4/2/2008 8:45:24 PM

0 Boost

And the Rav 4 will fit in at a biker bar? They call this entire market segment cute-utes for a reason.

ChicaneShooter - 4/3/2008 2:45:29 AM

+3 Boost

who would WANT to hang out with losers at a biker bar?

i ride a honda v4 and i certainly wouldn't care to hang with Hawg Hockeys. (i mite CRUISE with 'em, otoh. until i get bored and decide to simply rocket away. ;) )

carguy68 - 4/2/2008 5:47:26 PM

0 Boost

good for honda kicking a$$ even if it is one of the ugliest compact not crossover suv's.

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LACMAN - 4/2/2008 10:30:02 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

I thought I was the only one that thought the popular thing was ugly. As a matter of fact I love Honda and their reputation but the only "SEXY" (good looking) vehicles in their ENTIRE lineup is the Accord Coupe and the S2000...

lexusrox123 - 4/2/2008 5:59:59 PM

+2 Boost

the new cr-v looks cool except for that weird (smiley face) grille...

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ChicaneShooter - 4/3/2008 2:33:31 AM

+2 Boost

i'm not caring for that FAT chrome snozz either. knew 2 women friends who LOVE their earlier CR-Vs.

if i were in the market, i'd lean toward the RAV4 v6.

the engine is so efficient, it only gives up 1 mpg to the 4. and looks MUCH BETTER than any competitor.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/3/2008 8:42:27 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Don't tell me--you're ApexAlex/XYZZ.

ChicaneShooter - 4/5/2008 9:19:35 AM

+1 Boost

yup. i did usta be them. (WHO would deboost you for saying that?)

huu76 - 4/2/2008 9:09:42 PM

+2 Boost

The CR-V is a good vehicle, I like the RAV4's looks better though.

The Pilot/Highlander are crossovers too, wonder what their sales are like?

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ChicaneShooter - 4/3/2008 2:38:54 AM

+3 Boost

"The CR-V has been flying out of the showroom in 18 days with only $144 in incentives, making it the fastest-selling vehicle in the compact-crossover category.

"Comparing that to Toyota’s RAV4, which sold nearly 173,000 units last year, but stays in showrooms for more than 28 days than the CR-V with $143 in incentives.

"Other competitors like the Jeep Liberty, Saturn Vue, Ford Escape and the Chevrolet Equinox, all which have over $2,200 in incentives, don’t even come close the Honda’s CR-V."

the sales volume DESPITE low incentive levels are impressive! for both cr-v and rav4.

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ChicaneShooter - 4/3/2008 3:01:58 AM

+2 Boost

having 28 days' worth of inventory laying around is NOTHING to be ashamed of either. many car makers have 60 - 100 days' worth lying about.

18 days IS commendable.

truckmen - 4/3/2008 5:56:48 AM

0 Boost

I like the Ray better because it comes with the optional 3rd row seating where the CRV only has 5 seats, I also heard that the CRV has had problems with the transfer cases? Then again the Rav has had problems too. I would go with the RAV.

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JUGNU - 4/3/2008 6:38:15 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

CR-V is also hugely poular here in Middle East. It's also my favourite in the segment. Looks very stylish and intresting. Driving is very car like and interior is very good.

JUGNU

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lexusrox123 - 4/3/2008 1:49:11 PM

+4 Boost

hah! the equinox and torrent? u carck me up!! list ONE way they are better than the cr-v.

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Htay7500 - 4/3/2008 8:49:15 AM

+1 Boost

"Yet the Equinox and Torrent are better in every way."

your right, they are better because the offer the best incentives.

""Other competitors like the Jeep Liberty, Saturn Vue, Ford Escape and the Chevrolet Equinox, all which have over $2,200 in incentives, don’t even come close the Honda’s CR-V."

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Htay7500 - 4/3/2008 3:12:42 PM

0 Boost

what makes them stupid? the CRV and rav4 started this segment.

huu76 - 4/3/2008 7:07:30 PM

+3 Boost

evilm,
Are you bashing the CRV/RAV4 becuase it's American? Think Chinese made engine, Japanese transmission, Canadian assembled all-American, that's what the Equinox etc are.

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ChicaneShooter - 4/5/2008 9:25:08 AM

+1 Boost

chinese engine!?

ah, nothing like the PRIDE of good ole Gummy Motors Corporation. guess the honda v6 they usta buy was TOO GOOD an engine for the beancounters! LOL!

M53R - 4/4/2008 9:00:22 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

He is canadian. I think.

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ChicaneShooter - 4/5/2008 9:46:36 AM

+1 Boost

comments live evilm's DEMONSTRATE how stupid some americans are.

almost makes me ASHAMED to also be american! (while acknowledging too that we HAVE taken in many "rejects" from other countries! lol!)

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deepwater - 4/5/2008 2:03:56 PM

+1 Boost

It is natural that CRV conquest from RAV4. The RAV4 3rd geberation is absolute wrong product concept and bad product execution. The RAV4 is the smallest in this category, the perceived quality is poor. The built in technology is average.
Sorry Toyota, but RAV4 is not enough for us. Replace it quickly with better and more advanced car...

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ChicaneShooter - 4/6/2008 5:23:59 AM

+1 Boost

you mean "more advanced" like the equiKNOCKS and shouldaBeenDrowned Torrent? LOL!

the RAV4 is so "poor" it is #2 in sales ONLY behind the CR-V, and has THE LOWEST INCENTIVES OF ALL (if only by $1 less than cr-vs.)

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deepwater - 4/9/2008 3:21:32 AM

+1 Boost

Frankly speaking, I do not care about less incentives for RAV4. My interest are as customer:
Cheap
Enough space
Quality, Reliability, Durability
Economy
Performance
Safety
Residual value

RAV4 does not comply all of the above criteras. Toyota is blind, not to see competitors, not only CRV but Tiguan... Do not forget, others are coming with high features:
Audi A2 crossover
BMW X1
Mercedes BL (SUV on "B" platform)
Ford Kuga and Mazda SUV
Nissan Qashqai
Every manufacturer will enter into RAV4 segment, because profitable, rather high demand, and the bigger SUV customers going down to this segment (Fuel, Tax...)
Toyota RAV4 is not in the best position, because declining.
Marketing rule #1: It is mor costy (expensive) to stop a declining sales trend than to increase sales.
Wait for RAV4 incentives. It is coming soon.

ChicaneShooter - 4/9/2008 2:03:26 AM

+1 Boost

do i drive???

fool, look at my screen name. and an idiot like you likely would NOT EVEN SURVIVE in the 2nd, much less 3rd world.

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