Subaru, Toyota, or Nissan? Need Opinions
I’m looking to get a new car to replace my 2005 Nissan Pathfinder. I love it to death and it’s never done me wrong, but it has 191,000 miles on it and I need something with better gas mileage (I currently get 15mpg) given how much I drive and the current gas prices.
Right now, my top contenders are a 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Premium, a 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross LE, a 2026 Toyota RAV4 LE, or a 2026 Nissan Kicks. I currently drive anywhere between 70 and 90 miles everyday, 5 days a week, and it’s mostly all highways and freeways. I live in New England, so snow and rain are common given the season (AWD is a must).
I test drove the Crosstrek this weekend and I loved it. It rode smooth and it had all the features I want. I’m trying to find Toyota dealerships near me who have the Cross and/or RAV4 available to test drive but none have any in stock and they’re all on back order 6-8 weeks. I’m also considering the RAV4 hybrid given the range, but would like some input from anyone who owns one/can attest to the reliability of a hybrid long term.
My plan is to drive this thing into the ground so ideally I’d like it to last 10+ years. I come from a car family so I know I’ll keep up with the regular maintenance, especially if it helps prolong the life of the car. And given how much I drive, I’m definitely purchasing the extended warranty on whatever model I end up picking.
I’ve done my research on all of them and have found the usual stuff (CVT trouble, bad paint, higher maintenance costs, etc.), and everyone I’ve spoken to who owns any of the options always says they love it (great for them but not much help to me). Any opinions or experiences with any of these cars would be helpful!
Edit: I’m not looking for a new car just because of the gas prices, I know those change. But shelling out $600-$700 a month in gas alone has made me realize I should probably start looking for something more fuel efficient. I’m at a point in my life where I’m doing a lot of driving for work and school, so I’d rather make payments on a car (that, with insurance, come out to less than my monthly gas payment) I know will last me at least 10 years. I still plan on driving my Pathfinder for as long as I can but I know it won’t last me forever, so I’m looking into more reliable options.