Please help! I am looking to gift my 2013 Honda Accord V6 to my daughter, and get a higher-riding vehicle for me (something that is easier to get into and get out of, as I am growing older).
I have test-driven the turbo Honda CR-V, and was unimpressed. The vehicle looks great, but the drive felt boring, with a noticeable delay from the time I hit the gas pedal to the time I felt the vehicle accelerate. I chalked that up to “turbo lag,” but a friend suggested it could also be the CVT transmission that is to blame.
I thought the larger engines in the Toyota RAV4 might be more inspiring, but when I took a 2022 for a test drive, I found I liked it even less than the CR-V, both from an interior styling perspective, as well as on-the-road performance.
I did get some enjoyment from a 2024 CR-V hybrid as well as a 2023 Kia Sportage hybrid. The additional torque from the electric motors improves acceleration off the line, but I have my doubts about sustained performance on the highway (I commute from London to Toronto several times per month). The extra up-front costs, plus having to maintain two powertrains, also gives me pause.
What SUV options would you suggest as a potential upgrade to my current Accord? – John
The XSE trim for the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid has a claimed 85 kilometres.Jeremy Sinek/JOBFlocks
Miranda Lightstone: Well, it’s clear that John likes a little pep under his right foot. I love that. Finding a modern vehicle that feels like his older V6 Honda Accord is going to be tough, though, especially as an SUV.
Mark Richardson: They do exist, and not just among expensive Porsches and BMWs. Automakers are starting to follow Toyota’s example of using the hybrid motors for extra performance, not just for saving gas. If the 2022 RAV4 he drove was not a hybrid, then its drive would have been pretty anemic – it was designed for people who just want to not waste fuel.
Lightstone: There is quite a difference between the current RAV4 models available. The regular gas-powered version only has 203 horsepower, and that jumps to just 219 in the hybrid, which really isn’t a lot for a vehicle of its size and weight. But the PHEV model is the real winner with more than 300 horsepower. Its gas engine and battery work together to produce a quick zero-to-100 kilometres an hour in just 5.4 seconds. You know, if John ever wanted to give that a go.
Richardson: That plug-in RAV4 is the rocket of the bunch, though people know it and the waiting list is long to buy a new one. The thing is, however, John won’t benefit from the fuel savings of the hybrid electric motors if most of his driving is on the highway. Hybrids save the most fuel in stop-and-go city traffic, not cruising the open road. He’s better off with the simplicity of a conventional gas engine, though I wonder if he’s considered a fully electric car.
Lightstone: John travels from London to Toronto a few times a month, and that’s about a 185-kilometre drive, in one direction. And if he doesn’t have the ability to install a home charger or know of a charger at his destination, it could get a little dicey planning his long commutes with charging stops along the way.
Richardson: If John cannot install a home charger, he shouldn’t consider an EV. But if he can, then a longer-range electric car can easily accommodate those distances, and there are plenty of charging stations on that stretch of highway. He doesn’t need to fill up – just put in a little extra juice to get him home.
Lightstone: And our charging infrastructure in Canada, particularly Ontario and Quebec, is really expanding, with more powerful public chargers at 350 kilowatt-hours popping up more frequently. EV ownership comes with an ease in terms of repairs and maintenance over time, too. There are so few moving parts in an electric vehicle compared to an internal combustion one. Even the brake pads last longer with regenerative, one-pedal driving.
Tesla Model Y cars are parked outside the newly launched Tesla centre in Gurugram, India on November 26, 2025.Bhawika Chhabra/Reuters
Richardson: I think John would really enjoy the instant torque response of an electric car at highway speed. If he’s curious about driving an EV and he can install a home charger, I’d recommend he takes a test drive in a Tesla Model Y. It sits a little higher, it has all the comforts for that monotonous highway drive and he can top up on his way home quickly and easily if the 400-kilometre round trip becomes a concern in winter.
Lightstone: You always have a proviso with Teslas though, don’t you, Mark?
Richardson: Yup – lease, don’t buy. Because they’re sold directly by the manufacturer and not through dealers, the price to buy fluctuates on the whim of its CEO. You can get a great deal, and the current Model Y is priced just under $50,000 to qualify for the $5,000 federal rebate, but you can also get a nasty surprise if your month-old purchase is suddenly devalued. If you lease, there are no surprises.
Lightstone: Solid advice. I’m not shy to admit I am not a Tesla fan, and so I’d suggest if John really is curious about EVs but wants to keep the enjoyment alive, he look elsewhere. I don’t think the Model Y has much enjoyment in driving, but maybe if he takes the Ford Mach-E Rally for a spin, he’ll see EV doesn’t necessarily have to mean boring.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally’s dual motors deliver the same 480 horsepower as the GT, but its 700 lb-ft of torque is 100 more.Jeremy Sinek/JOBFlocks
Richardson: The Mach-E has proven a popular EV because it’s such fun to drive and it’s practical. It’s not high off the ground though, to be kind to his older knees. It can’t really decide if it should be an SUV, because people want SUVs, or a Mustang, because that’s sporty, and so it compromised and is neither. Which doesn’t mean it’s not satisfying to drive.
Lightstone: If we stick to the EV segment, looking at similar size and range, the Volkswagen ID.4 is an option. It has a higher ride height and so feels more like a traditional SUV, unlike the Mach-E that isn’t quite sure what it wants to be.
2025 Volkswagen ID.4APRIL GREER VOLKSWAGEN/Courtesy of manufacturer
Richardson: The VW is a lovely EV to drive, though its infotainment software can be glitchy. A friend of mine owns one and curses that he cannot park it without activating the electronic parking brake. He left it three weeks once while he was away and the rear brake shoes seized on the drums. It was an expensive service fix.
Lightstone: Is that a common occurrence with the ID.4? That’s research John should do, regardless, before he settles on a winner. Checking for major recalls on any recent make and model is important because dealers might not always be aware of issues or even willing to divulge them.
Richardson: It’s always smart to do your homework, for sure. But I don’t think John’s been considering an electric vehicle, since he didn’t mention EVs in his note. What gas-powered SUV do you think is a realistic upgrade to his Accord? How about the Acura ADX or RDX?
For 2025, the RDX gets a revised grille, but mostly looks the same.Kunal D'souza/JOBFlocks
Lightstone: I’ve never driven the smaller ADX, but I have experience with the RDX and I do like the drive. If there’s something Honda and Acura do well, it’s the drive. And the RDX has a two-litre turbo that produces 272 horsepower. That might not seem like a lot given the RDX is larger than a sedan, but it has a pep in its step he may appreciate.
Richardson: Acura has worked hard in recent years to produce “driver’s cars,” and either the ADX or larger RDX will be a pleasant step up from his CR-V. He won’t even need to change dealerships, because Acura is Honda’s premium brand.
Lightstone: We’ve given John some solid options to consider. And even though he didn’t specify wanting an EV, his desire for a little oomph makes me think he needs to take the RAV4 PHEV for a test drive, followed by the Mustang Mach-E.
Richardson: My money is definitely on the RAV4 PHEV, which starts at $52,000 before taxes and qualifies for the federal government’s $2,500 PHEV rebate. If he can’t find one, though, or the wait is too long, the German-built Tesla Model Y is currently a great deal.
What car should you buy? Write to Mark and Miranda at globedrive@globeandmail.com and use ‘What car’ as part of your subject line. E-mails with different subject lines may not be answered.
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