I traded in my 2000 Japanese built Corolla (they are built in Korea I think since 2001) for a 2007 CRV. I go camping a fair bit and the hatchback was too small.

I could care less where they are built as all manufacturing factories will gravitate to cheapest cost location over time.
Doesn't mean quality changes - big names like Toyota, Honda, etc would not dare compromise quality - would lose sales and negate saving of moving to cheaper location - what's the point of that?

I drove all the competitors over a period of 6 months as I was in no hurry. Deciding factors were manual, space, running cost, purchase price, safety, power.
Would have liked a 6 cyclinder but purchase price and running cost knocked them out. I travel too much to fork out all that extra money for petrol. Four cyclinders at 125 kw is close enough to the heavier 6 cyclinder models anyway.
Some styles were too old as well. Came down to Rav4 and CRV. Close call but Rav4 felt agricultural to drive, also no stability control and that bloody wheel on the back door.

Got manual CRV for $33,250 drive away with tow bar and boot lid thrown in for the price (Sydney north shore).
Autos are for pansies.

Found it a great drive, very happy with it.
Already got stuck on the beach (idiot that I am) but found it very capable off-road in the mountains and on slippery rutted mud roads after the recent rains.

Due to the extra weight I find it less responsive than the Corolla, especially in Sydney traffic.
So want to improve the low-down grunt and responsiveness.
Any ideas and places to have this done?