Quote Originally Posted by jackhammer View Post
go for the 2.0.....1.8 for an SUV is under power.

2.0 consumes more gas than 1.8 of course, but it will compensate for the pull.
It's not really underpowered. The previous RAV4 is lighter than the other CUVs, thus, even with a 1.8, power is sufficient. Other CUVs are notoriously thirsty for gas, even with the pulling power of their 2.0s. In heavy traffic, a CRV can hit lows of around 4.5 - 5.5 km/l (my uncle complains his K20-equipped 4x2 CRV drinks nearly as much as his 4 liter 4x4 Explorer... 7 km/l... combined city-highway). Ford Escapes are no better, and, despite what others may tell you, no worse than CRVs... hitting 4.5 in heavy traffic and only 7 km/l in light traffic city use. (The Escape V6, though, is extremely thirsty, but then, it's really fast)

There's no reason, so far, to believe the Outlander is any better.

The X-Trails are supposed to be relatively fuel efficient, but some owners complain, too.

The previous RAV4 is much smaller and lighter than any of these CUVs, thus, its fuel consumption is relatively low, whether in 1.8 or 2.0.