We have a '15 2.5l Limited as the family hauler (wife + 2 carseats). I've owned a ton of Subarus and this current gen is easily the nicest in terms of interior quality and comfort. If you need AWD in a mid-size SUV, I think it's the best choice on the market. I live in Fayetteville, AR and the AWD comes in handy for the severe storms and snow, especially with all the hills we have.
Pros:
Best AWD system in the category
Lots of space for a mid-size especially cargo and rear seats
Ground Clearance
Safety - Eyesight is regarded as one of the better safety systems in the market
Reliability - no issues so far and this engine is not prone to the head gasket issues of prior gens
Fuel Economy and Range - get close to 30mpg on our longer trips and it has an 18 gallon tank which isn't too common in its class
Cons:
Lack of Power (2.5l only) - You won't feel it driving around town, but if you're cruising on the highway and need to punch it, you'll need to "manage your expectations". The 3.6l 6cyl. solves this issue. That said, this really hasn't bothered us and I'd get the 2.5l again due to the fuel economy savings over the 6.
Wind Noise - this might have been fixed on the '18s, but you get a good amount of wind noise from the side view mirrors
Windshield - This is more a Subaru issue but they have terrible windshields. They pit, chip and crack very easily. I got an Outback without Eyesight cause it's a cheaper windshield to replace.
Infotainment - They finally added carplay/Android Auto but the infotainment as a whole is pretty mediocre
CVT - I think it's one of the better CVT's, cause it acts more like a traditional automatic, but you still feel some of the rubber band effect when driving. There's also an annoying second or so delay when shifting into reverse.
If you're looking to buy new, get a quote from Heuberger Subaru in Colorado Springs. Easily the best price vs. any other dealer even including the plane ticket. Worst case, you can try to negotiate off their quote with your local dealer. They're great at communicating via email and not hassling you with spam calls and emails after the fact.
If you dont need AWD, the new CRV is tought to beat if you can handle the looks. The Mazda CX-5 was way too small and we didn't really care for the Rav 4. Didn't consider any options outside of those 3.
