Toyota Rav4 Review

Toyota Rav4 Review: Coming from the last half of the 1990s, the Toyota RAV4 was just one of the initial access in the tiny crossover SUV market. Today's RAV4 is significantly larger than that pint-sized original, however the core appeal of versatility, good gas economy and beneficial on-road manners are firmly undamaged.

The RAV4 has been very popular with customers with the years, so there are mosting likely to be plenty to choose from if you're searching for a made use of design. The latest 3rd- and fourth-generation RAV4s are one of the most family-friendly and also included one of the most functions, yet an older RAV4 should still interest young family members as well as city singles trying to find a dependable small crossover SUV.


Toyota Rav4 Review


Present Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 is used in LE, XLE, SE, Limited and also Platinum trim degrees. All have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that generates 176 horsepower as well as 172 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic is conventional, and also customers can choose either front- or four-wheel drive. With an EPA-estimated 25-26 mpg in mixed driving, the RAV4 is as fuel-efficient as its competitors. For even higher fuel economic situation, have a look at the Toyota RAV4 Crossbreed.

Base LE typical feature highlights include air-conditioning, reclining second-row seats, a rearview video camera, Bluetooth, a touchscreen interface and iPod-USB combination. There's also a lengthy checklist of basic safety devices, consisting of a forward accident reduction system with automatic braking, lane departure warning as well as intervention, and adaptive cruise control. The XLE adds a sunroof, alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, a power liftgate as well as dual-zone automatic climate control. The SE is the sport-themed model, with a sport-tuned suspension, LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, push-button starting, simulated leather furniture, heated front seats and also a power vehicle driver seat. Selecting the Minimal gets you an auto-dimming rearview mirror, driver-seat memory setups as well as navigation, while the Platinum peaks the schedule with a hands-free power liftgate, a top-down car park camera, costs sound, a warmed steering wheel, as well as distinct trim. Some of the attributes supplied on higher trim levels are offered as extra-cost alternatives on less costly RAV4s.

In testimonials, we've found that this Toyota RAV4 gets nearly every little thing right. Its roomy cabin flaunts more freight room compared to a lot of opponents as well as offers adequate seats space for adults both front and back. The overall interior decoration is modern looking, as well as the Entune system supplies helpful smart device app combination, although the touchscreen's virtual switches can occasionally be finicky to make use of. There's no engine upgrade readily available, yet the RAV4's 2.5-liter four is fine-tuned and also sufficiently powerful. Overall, we discover the RAV4 to be an impressively well-shaped small crossover SUV without major downsides.

Used Toyota RAV4 Designs

The present RAV4 stands for the 4th generation of this automobile, which debuted for 2013. Compared to earlier RAV4s, this fourth-gen design has the regular strengths of carlike driving manners, functional freight and also passenger arrangements, and also well-rounded convenience. It has to do with the very same size as the previous generation but has bolder styling, an extra contemporary interior as well as some brand-new features. It additionally has an easier-to-use, top-hinged liftgate instead of the previous swing-out gateway, though the previously readily available third-row seat was discontinued.

Toyota started upgrading the fourth-gen RAV4 at an early stage. The 2014 model obtained an optional lane separation warning system, while 2015 versions grabbed a power liftgate as well as architectural changes to boost the RAV4's crash test ratings. The RAV4 got a refresh for 2016, which included revised front-end styling and also the debut of the SE trim as well as some new optional safety and security functions. For 2017, Toyota made these safety features conventional on all RAV4s and also presented the new top-of-the-line Platinum trim degree.

Prior to this was the third-generation Toyota RAV4, which Toyota produced from 2006 to 2012. As compared to earlier designs, these RAV4s were larger and also used an offered V6 engine as well as third-row seat.

In its inaugural third-generation year, two engine choices were provided. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine provided 166 hp as well as 165 lb-ft of torque, while a 3.5-liter V6 generated 269 hp as well as 246 lb-ft of torque. Transmission were standard, with the four-cylinder paired with a four-speed, while the V6 obtained a five-speed device.

3 trim degrees were also supplied: base, Sport and Limited. Base function highlights included air-conditioning, cruise control, a height-adjustable motorist seat and full power accessories. The Sporting activity included 18-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension as well as a roof covering rack, while the Restricted topped it off with 17-inch wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power chauffeur seat as well as an upgraded audio system. A third-row seat, a moonroof, leather furniture as well as a DVD-based back home entertainment system were choices on upper level trims.

We commended these designs for their pleasant driving manners and also convenient cargo area, yet subtracted factors for the side-hinged back gate and obvious road sound. We additionally favored the effective V6 over the base four-cylinder engine that suffered with its out-of-date transmission and also average fuel economy.

Adjustments given that its debut were minimal but included added common air bags in 2007, a minor styling update in 2009 (with an option to erase the exterior spare tire) and a power rise for the four-cylinder engine (from 166 hp to 179 hp). A freshly offered touchscreen sound user interface and Toyota's Entune mobile phone applications were presented for 2012.

The second-generation Toyota RAV4 (2001-'05) was larger than the initial RAV4, with more meaningful styling and also ingenious detachable second-row seats that gave it absolutely impressive cargo-carrying capacities. Early designs had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 148 hp; it came up short compared to the bigger 4- as well as six-cylinder engines used by competitors. Toyota resolved this to some extent in 2004 by replacing the 2.0-liter with a larger 2.4-liter four-cylinder good for 161 hp. Acceleration was markedly improved, and also buyers might still choose a guidebook or a transmission. On the whole, we found this RAV4 to be a fun-to-drive urban runabout thanks to its specific suspension tuning and also high gas economy scores.

The first-generation Toyota RAV4 (1996-2000) was used in two-door as well as four-door body styles, with an exchangeable version for a short duration. The first-gen RAV4 was interesting young songs, however because of its narrow width and also limited back legroom, this cute ute was inevitably no replacement for a conventional family vehicle. Benefits included carlike handling, a reduced cargo floor as well as a big rear door that made loading freight a wind.