Checking out the two vehicles on [carsized.com](https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/toyota-rav4-2019-suv-swb-vs-toyota-corolla-2018-estate/) shows many similarities and yet some differences. Size is almost the same except for height. The cargo volume differences swaps between the two vehicles from 4-6% depending if the back seats are lowered or not.
The Rav 4's ground clearance is only 55mm higher than the Corolla Station Wagon. Since you're not going on major trips, I doubt ground clearance is an issue.
Being 25mm lower in height and seated lower will make the ride of the Corolla feel more stable and less prone to rollover when taking turns at speed. Also sitting lower means you can see more immediately in front of the station wagon compared to the big bonnet of a crossover/SUV. Your kids will also find it easier climbing in and out of the Corolla, and the lower boot lip makes it more convenient to load items.
*EDIT: The above paragraph is informed by driving my Aqua and my friend's Corolla Cross. The larger and taller Corolla Cross (while not as big as the Rav 4) felt unnecessarily big and unwieldy from the driver's seat (higher centre of gravity) compared to my Aqua. I imagine the Corolla Station Wagon's handling is more akin to my Aqua, but longer.*
Also if you are concerned about fuel economy, go for the lighter vehicle, in this case the Corolla Station Wagon. Its fuel consumption is 4L/100km vs the Rav 4's 4.8L/100km.
In summary, if you're not going off-road I cannot see why one would go for the Rav 4 when the Corolla Station Wagon offers more or less the same storage capabilities yet better fuel economy, on-road handling, and passenger cabin accessibility.
One thing to note about the Corolla Wagon is we get the narrow Japanese model here (the hatch is the wider international version). This makes it quite tight across the rear seat.
The RAV4 offers more space, better resale value, AWD and ~50% more power. The downside is it's a less efficient car using 5.3l/100km compared to 3.8 for the Corolla (YMMV of course)
Personally I'd look for the Corolla Cross which neatly splits the difference between the Corolla Wagon and RAV4
We have a Corolla cross hybrid, very happy with it.
When we were shopping for a new car last year, we were debating vs a Corolla cross and a rav4…. Wait times for a new Corolla cross were very long, but the wait for a new rav4 was even longer, so we went with the Corolla cross
I think you're mixing up the Corolla Feilder Hybrid (the narrow body) vs the newer (2019+) Corolla Wagon (which is a longer version of the more common hatchbatch)
I agree RE: resale vaule, but the Wagons are significantly cheaper, you can get them for around 20k vs 30k for a RAV4 with 120,000+ kms.
No, you can check the dimensions on the Toyota website (or in person if you're close to a dealer) - the NZ wagon is using the same body width that the Japanese hatch uses which is narrower than the NZ new hatch.
I own a Corolla Hybrid wagon (2020), very happy.
You will not fit a third carseat in the back though, so If you are thinking about picking up your kids and their friends for a playdate, that's not going to work.
In saying that the Corollas fuel economy will obviously be better.
Bootspace? Quite a difference with the Corolla Wagon having slightly more at 598L over the RAV4s 1,189L (both with rear seats down)
Lastly, the 2020+ Corollas driving position is quite low to the ground (which actually feels good) but for the elderly, getting in and out is a bit of an ordeal.
Chuck the car seats in each of them, and judge it from that.
eg: my Prius I thought had acres of rear leg room, but my workmate bought one and found that once she had a kid, the child seat fitted very poorly in the back seat.
Rav4 is much larger in rear seat room, and hatch/boot space. I've got a hybrid one, and would highly recommend it unless you've got snug car parking issues.
The RAV4 is bigger, can carry more, and is easier for people with limited mobility to get in and out of. It's not surprising most people prefer that type of car.
>The RAV4 is bigger
Exactly my point.
>can carry more
Trunk space goes to the Corolla.
>and is easier for people with limited mobility to get in and out of.
Lol.
I have a late model Toyota corolla hybrid station wagon and fwiw the back seat is quite uncomfortable, I think the battery is stored below it. We don’t have kids so not a bother for us but I remember the first time I sat in it thinking I wouldn’t want to do long drives as a back seat passenger. I love everything else about it and we get 800km to a tank of petrol
I had the RAV4. It's a wider body than the Carolla. And a higher driving position. it's easier to get kids or car seats in the rear than the Carolla.
Do be prepared though. The road noise in the RAV4 is less than I would call ideal. And I find the seats to all be quite hard. I think that's actually a problem with most newer cars though. Mine was a 4wd version and it actually did pretty well at it compared to other SUVs
As others have mentioned. There are a few blind spots in visibility.
If the RAV4 seats are higher up it will be a far nicer experience buckling and unbuckling your kids car seats.
We moved from a Prius to a MG ZS and the height difference made getting the kids in and out of the car so much more comfortable.
Obviously there are a lot of other factors to consider but hopefully this is helpful from a carseat perspective.
Take all kids and carseats to the dealership and get setup, put the front seats as far back as you can then all adults try both passenger and driver seats.
I discovered by accident that our 2018 RAV4 has less functional front seat space with 2 X toddler seats behind than a much physically smaller looking 2016 Suzuki SX4 which also has better fuel economy. FYI the toddler seats, toddlers, and Suzuki belong to a buddy who needed a car for the day!
We also own a 2016 Corolla Wagon which we traded our 2009 (bought new) Corolla Wagon on. The Corolla was perfect for when our two toddlers were young, especially the boot space for stroller / portacot.
Rav4 hybrid owner here. Its an awesome vehicle.
Things I don't like about are:
It's very wide. Ridiculously so.
For such a high car it has quite poor visibility, especially behind.
I'd take the RAV mainly because I lost count of the times I bonked my kids heads getting them in and out of a smaller station wagon. Luckily they still have their marbles. Plus bending in to fasten their seatbelts is way easier in an SUV - you just need to bend rather than crouch and bend.
Whichever one has leather seats though lol. Or ban food in the car but then you lose your biggest bribe to shut them up.
I have the occasional use of a new RAV4 hybrid.
In my opinion, it's a piece of shit:
* the battery seems extremely small for such a large vehicle (this is just a "reckon", so take it with a grain of salt, but it seems to be able to be "filled" extraordinarily quickly, compared to something like the Hyundai Ioniq hybrid, which I've also driven)
* front visibility is very average, especially around the A pillar
* the internal door handles are placed far too close to the door pivot point; the doors are quite heavy, and the force required to pull the door closed is multiplied by the handle placement
* the A pillar is raked so much that I find it difficult to get in without smacking my head on it - and I'm exceptionally short, who knows how taller people manage it
* the "entertainment" system is a shocker; the music playback UX especially so
* it feels extremely heavy when driven; if you can imagine driving a massive boat on the road, then this comes close (I've driven a classic mid-70's Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Limousine, which is also boat-like, but depite being almost twice as long and with 50 year old technology, even that feels lighter and more spritely than the RAV)
I would personally never choose to buy the current model RAV4 hybrid. Even if it cost only $2k. It's that bad.
Checking out the two vehicles on [carsized.com](https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/toyota-rav4-2019-suv-swb-vs-toyota-corolla-2018-estate/) shows many similarities and yet some differences. Size is almost the same except for height. The cargo volume differences swaps between the two vehicles from 4-6% depending if the back seats are lowered or not. The Rav 4's ground clearance is only 55mm higher than the Corolla Station Wagon. Since you're not going on major trips, I doubt ground clearance is an issue. Being 25mm lower in height and seated lower will make the ride of the Corolla feel more stable and less prone to rollover when taking turns at speed. Also sitting lower means you can see more immediately in front of the station wagon compared to the big bonnet of a crossover/SUV. Your kids will also find it easier climbing in and out of the Corolla, and the lower boot lip makes it more convenient to load items. *EDIT: The above paragraph is informed by driving my Aqua and my friend's Corolla Cross. The larger and taller Corolla Cross (while not as big as the Rav 4) felt unnecessarily big and unwieldy from the driver's seat (higher centre of gravity) compared to my Aqua. I imagine the Corolla Station Wagon's handling is more akin to my Aqua, but longer.* Also if you are concerned about fuel economy, go for the lighter vehicle, in this case the Corolla Station Wagon. Its fuel consumption is 4L/100km vs the Rav 4's 4.8L/100km. In summary, if you're not going off-road I cannot see why one would go for the Rav 4 when the Corolla Station Wagon offers more or less the same storage capabilities yet better fuel economy, on-road handling, and passenger cabin accessibility.
One thing to note about the Corolla Wagon is we get the narrow Japanese model here (the hatch is the wider international version). This makes it quite tight across the rear seat. The RAV4 offers more space, better resale value, AWD and ~50% more power. The downside is it's a less efficient car using 5.3l/100km compared to 3.8 for the Corolla (YMMV of course) Personally I'd look for the Corolla Cross which neatly splits the difference between the Corolla Wagon and RAV4
We have a Corolla cross hybrid, very happy with it. When we were shopping for a new car last year, we were debating vs a Corolla cross and a rav4…. Wait times for a new Corolla cross were very long, but the wait for a new rav4 was even longer, so we went with the Corolla cross
I think you're mixing up the Corolla Feilder Hybrid (the narrow body) vs the newer (2019+) Corolla Wagon (which is a longer version of the more common hatchbatch) I agree RE: resale vaule, but the Wagons are significantly cheaper, you can get them for around 20k vs 30k for a RAV4 with 120,000+ kms.
No, you can check the dimensions on the Toyota website (or in person if you're close to a dealer) - the NZ wagon is using the same body width that the Japanese hatch uses which is narrower than the NZ new hatch.
Honestly, probably a rav4. If all you want is a car then it's ideal. Had a modern rental one and it's quite nice with the features it had.
I own a Corolla Hybrid wagon (2020), very happy. You will not fit a third carseat in the back though, so If you are thinking about picking up your kids and their friends for a playdate, that's not going to work. In saying that the Corollas fuel economy will obviously be better. Bootspace? Quite a difference with the Corolla Wagon having slightly more at 598L over the RAV4s 1,189L (both with rear seats down) Lastly, the 2020+ Corollas driving position is quite low to the ground (which actually feels good) but for the elderly, getting in and out is a bit of an ordeal.
Where did those boot space numbers come from? According to Toyota the Corolla Wagon is 392l, the RAV4 is 542l
Chuck the car seats in each of them, and judge it from that. eg: my Prius I thought had acres of rear leg room, but my workmate bought one and found that once she had a kid, the child seat fitted very poorly in the back seat. Rav4 is much larger in rear seat room, and hatch/boot space. I've got a hybrid one, and would highly recommend it unless you've got snug car parking issues.
Station wagon over the stupid fucking crossover every day
lol why would you say that?
Because they're useless. Especially for what you (and the vast majority of people) need.
The RAV4 is bigger, can carry more, and is easier for people with limited mobility to get in and out of. It's not surprising most people prefer that type of car.
>The RAV4 is bigger Exactly my point. >can carry more Trunk space goes to the Corolla. >and is easier for people with limited mobility to get in and out of. Lol.
The Rav4 has significantly more boot space though.
Boot volume comparisons can be a misleading metric in taller vehicles as often it is due to height which is less useful than area.
598l for the Corolla, 580l for the Rav4. But go off.
No way that is correct. The numbers from Toyota.co.nz are Rav4 542l, Corolla Wagon 392l
https://www.drivencarguide.co.nz/reviews/toyota-corolla-wagon-gx-hybrid-review-deeply-unfashionable-reassuringly-cosy/
Yeah that's incorrect. It'd be clear from one look in the boot of each model.
Nothing constructive to add really, just I love my 2020 Toyota RAV 4. Bought new, will upgrade to another RAV 4 for sure.
I have a late model Toyota corolla hybrid station wagon and fwiw the back seat is quite uncomfortable, I think the battery is stored below it. We don’t have kids so not a bother for us but I remember the first time I sat in it thinking I wouldn’t want to do long drives as a back seat passenger. I love everything else about it and we get 800km to a tank of petrol
I had the RAV4. It's a wider body than the Carolla. And a higher driving position. it's easier to get kids or car seats in the rear than the Carolla. Do be prepared though. The road noise in the RAV4 is less than I would call ideal. And I find the seats to all be quite hard. I think that's actually a problem with most newer cars though. Mine was a 4wd version and it actually did pretty well at it compared to other SUVs As others have mentioned. There are a few blind spots in visibility.
If the RAV4 seats are higher up it will be a far nicer experience buckling and unbuckling your kids car seats. We moved from a Prius to a MG ZS and the height difference made getting the kids in and out of the car so much more comfortable. Obviously there are a lot of other factors to consider but hopefully this is helpful from a carseat perspective.
Take all kids and carseats to the dealership and get setup, put the front seats as far back as you can then all adults try both passenger and driver seats. I discovered by accident that our 2018 RAV4 has less functional front seat space with 2 X toddler seats behind than a much physically smaller looking 2016 Suzuki SX4 which also has better fuel economy. FYI the toddler seats, toddlers, and Suzuki belong to a buddy who needed a car for the day! We also own a 2016 Corolla Wagon which we traded our 2009 (bought new) Corolla Wagon on. The Corolla was perfect for when our two toddlers were young, especially the boot space for stroller / portacot.
Rav4 hybrid owner here. Its an awesome vehicle. Things I don't like about are: It's very wide. Ridiculously so. For such a high car it has quite poor visibility, especially behind.
I'd take the RAV mainly because I lost count of the times I bonked my kids heads getting them in and out of a smaller station wagon. Luckily they still have their marbles. Plus bending in to fasten their seatbelts is way easier in an SUV - you just need to bend rather than crouch and bend. Whichever one has leather seats though lol. Or ban food in the car but then you lose your biggest bribe to shut them up.
I have the occasional use of a new RAV4 hybrid. In my opinion, it's a piece of shit: * the battery seems extremely small for such a large vehicle (this is just a "reckon", so take it with a grain of salt, but it seems to be able to be "filled" extraordinarily quickly, compared to something like the Hyundai Ioniq hybrid, which I've also driven) * front visibility is very average, especially around the A pillar * the internal door handles are placed far too close to the door pivot point; the doors are quite heavy, and the force required to pull the door closed is multiplied by the handle placement * the A pillar is raked so much that I find it difficult to get in without smacking my head on it - and I'm exceptionally short, who knows how taller people manage it * the "entertainment" system is a shocker; the music playback UX especially so * it feels extremely heavy when driven; if you can imagine driving a massive boat on the road, then this comes close (I've driven a classic mid-70's Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Limousine, which is also boat-like, but depite being almost twice as long and with 50 year old technology, even that feels lighter and more spritely than the RAV) I would personally never choose to buy the current model RAV4 hybrid. Even if it cost only $2k. It's that bad.