MM Test-Drive/Mini-Review: 2016 Toyota RAV-4
04-04-16, 05:57 PM
#1
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
MM Test-Drive/Mini-Review: 2016 Toyota RAV-4
A Test-Drive (and Mini-Review) of the 2016 Toyota RAV-4.
http://www.toyota.com/rav4/
IN A NUTSHELL: Fairly nice vehicle under the skin, but the skin could use improvement.
CLOSEST AMERICAN-MARKET COMPETITORS: Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tuscon, Ford Escape, Dodge Journey (the Journey is comparably-priced but slightly larger), Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrrain, VW Tiguan, Subaru Forester. Mitsubishi Outlander.
OVERVIEW:
After my Condensed Mazda CX-5 review, and the static-review of the competing Nissan Rogue, one CL member suggested I drive the RAV-4, so I figured if I was going to drive one, I might as well do a short mini-review. Most of you on the forums already know what a hugely successful vehicle the RAV-4 has been in the American market, so I won't waste time and wear on my keyboard going into that, especially on a mini-review (my keyboard gets enough wear LOL).
The 4th-Generation RAV-4 dropped the former V6 engines, and now, for 2016, offers one drivetrain on the LE, SE, XLE, and Limited gas versions....a 2.5L non-turbo four with 176 HP and 172 ft-lbs. of torque, connected to a 6-speed Sport-shift automatic. XLE Hybrid and Limited Hybrid versions get the same gas engine, a CVT (Continuously-Variable-Transmission), and the Toyota Hybrid-Drive electric booster-motor., for a total system 194 HP (torque figures and RPMs for the Hybrid are not published onToyota's web-site). Gas versions get a choice of FWD or AWD; the Hybrids are AWD. No traditional manual transmissions are offered. Base prices on gas versions range from $24,350 to $31,510, and from $28,370 to $33,610 on Hybrids. One request I got was to compare the prices of the hybrid vs. gas versions....there you have it. On the average, the gas versions run from $2000 to $4000 less than the hybrids....not a huge difference if you want to spend more for the hybrids. Of course, right now, gas is relatively cheap, so there isn't as much incentive in the marketplace to get the hybrids right now as there was in the past (perhaps one reason why Toyota is holding the line on the hybrid prices). Even at that 2-4K price difference, though, one would have to use a lot of today's relatively cheap gas to recover the difference between the two and break even. So, my general recommendation is to simply buy the gas version and save a few thousand dollars, unless one can take advantage of Hybrid tax-credits or HOV priviledges where they live. I did not specifically test-drive the latest RAV-4 Hybrid, but I have sampled previous Toyota Hybrid systems of about the same spec-ratings. I sampled a few different interiors, as usual, but, for the test-drive itself, chose a base LE model with AWD and almost no options....it listed at $26,740. Since this is only a Mini-review underneath, I'm going to concentrate mostly on the test-drive, and just say a few sentences in the other categories.
MODEL REVIEWED: 2016 Toyota RAV-4 LE AWD
BASE PRICE: $25,750
OPTIONS:
Tonneau Cover $90
DESTINATION/FREIGHT: $900 (a little steep for an SUV this size)
LIST PRICE AS REVIEWED: $26,740
DRIVETRAIN: AWD, Transversely-mounted 2.5L VVT-i non-turbo 4, 176 HP @ 6000 RPM, Torque 172 Ft-lbs. @ 4400 RPM, 6-Speed Sport-Shift automatic transmission.
EPA MILEAGE RATING: 22 City, 29 Highway, 25 Combined
EXTERIOR COLOR: Super White
INTERIOR: Black Cloth
PLUSSES:
Decent (but not strong) power level from 2.5L four.
Smooth, quiet transmission when warm.
Clear, legible primary gauges.
Road and wind noise generally well-controlled.
Good underhood layout for do-it-yourselfers.
Nice paint-color choice.
Typical Toyota/Lexus well-done paint jobs.
Good headroom and legroom inside....especially without the sunroof.
Reclining rear seat even in base models.
Well-designed, solid inside door-pulls.
Generally easy-to-use control layout.
Vechicle-surround lower-body cladding helps protect paint.
Superb stereo sound quality for this vehicle class.
Toyota tradition of better-than-average reliability.
(Currently) 2-year/25,000 mile Toyota Free-Maintenance policy with purchase.
MINUSES:
No more V6 engines available.
(Mostly) cheap plastic interior materials, even on upper-line versions.
Flimsy outside mirror housings.
Manual prop-rod for hood.
Hood slams shut awkwardy.
Marked engine noise under acceleration.
Automatic transmission somewhat bumpy when cold.
Slow steering response with body roll.
Brake-pedal location not ideal for large feet/shoes.
Annoying (IMO) zig-zag shifter action.
No body-side moldings for parking-lot protection.
Front seat belts rather difficult to latch.
Poorly-finished cargo area.
Poor visibility out the rear quarter.
Loosely-attached, somewhat wobbly plastic stereo *****.
Roadside Assistance Program unlimited miles but only for 2 years.
EXTERIOR:
Though styling is generally subjective, I generally am not a fan of the bulldog/scowl shape and slit-grille of the current RAV-4 front end. Nor do I care for the thick C and D-pillars, which significantly impede rear-visibility. The doors have a reasonably solid sound and thunk when closing, but the sheet metal itself is rather thin (as with many new vehicles). The paint job is the usual Toyota/Lexus gloss and excellence, and the color choice is quite good, with bright blue, red, and orange offered. Much of the exterior trim and hardware though, is not impressive, has a thin and flimsy feel to it. The hood slams shut with a misaligned and awkward sound. And the twin-side-mirror housings have a flimsy feel and swivel-action to them....but I liked the small convex-blind-spot extensions on the mirrors, like on Ford products. The wheels on the base LE version had plastic wheel covers, but they were nicely-done, two-tone, and could (almost) fool you into thinking they were real alloys. I could't tell they were plastic covers until I bent down to check the tire PSI's before the test-drive.
UNDERHOOD:
The heavy hood is held up with a manual prop-rod, but the underhood layout is quite good for Do-it-Yourselfers. The 2.5L four fits inside well, and does not have a plastic cover on it to block upper-engine access. There is generally room to reach most engine components, and the battery is on the right, uncovered. All of the filler-caps, dipsticks, and fluid-reservoirs are easy to reach.
INTERIOR:
Like the exterior trim and hardware, the quality of the plastics and trim inside, IMO, leaves a significant amount to be desired. Like with some other recent Toyota products (fortunately, not all), the interior feels, if not looks, like it was built to a strict budget. The base LE interior in my test vehicle looked and felt especially cheap, with a number of sub-standard thin plastic parts (some of which were not particularly well-attached). But even the upmarket XLE and Limited interiors, though having nicer-looknig trim on the surface, had much the same unimpressive thin plastic feel underneath. The engine-tempoerature gauge on my LE version was a rather hard-to-read bar-graph, but at least it's better than the Mazda CX-5's idiot-lights. Other versions of the RAV-4 have different primary/secondary gauge-designs, depending on trim-model. The seat-belt latches up front are difficult to reach down and lathe securely into the holders due to the way the center-console-lid is designed. The seats are not particularly comfortable for a wide frame my size, though they will do for narrower persons.
On the plus side, however, the interior is quite roomy and space-efficient, with good front/rear headroom and legroom (without a sunroof), the control layout is relatively simple to use by today's standards, the stereo sound quality is superb for this class, the big thick interior door-pulls are rock-solid, and the primary gauges are clear and easy to read. *
* I forgot to mention that the rear seat has a built-in reclining feature and arm rests, even on the base model. So, IMO, that makes up for at least some of the general interior cheapness.
CARGO COMPARTMENT/TRUNK:
The cargo area is roomy enough, but not particularly well-finished, especially on the walls. My test vehicle had the optional $90 removable pull-shade (Tonneau Cover).....pay the extra money and get it, unless you don't regularly carry things in back that you care about thieves running off with, or want to continually hide with a blanket. Under the floor is the usual temporary-spare tire, and there are also two shallow cubby-compartments under the floor, with pull-covers.
ON THE ROAD:
OK...the test-drive. Start the ubiquitous 2.5L in-line four, on the LE version, with a traditional key and side-column switch. The four comes to life with reasonable smoothness and refinement in idling, but noise level is audible on the road, especially when accelerating. Power level does not reach the zippy feel of the competing Mazda CX-5, but the engine has enough power to get out of its own way, particularly in the SPORT mode (there is also an ECO mode to save gas, and the system defaults to ECO under 25 MPH). The 6-speed Sport-Shift automatic transmission shifts a little abruptly on the 1-2 shift when cold, but smooths out nicely while warming, and remains so under manual-shift mode. I didn't care for the zig-zag shift pattern of the lever (something Toyota and Lexus have stuck with for years), though I'm aware that there are some who disagree and like those patterns.
Ride comfort was pretty good by the standards of this class, though the suspension, like many others in this high-center-of-gravity class of vehicle, allowed marked body roll, and steering response was on the slow side. Ride comfort is helped by the relatively low recommended air-pressure (33 PSI front/rear) in the tires and by the tires' tall 65-series sidewalls. I wish more sedans today still got tires like this....IMO, except for purpose-designed sports oriented vehicles, the current obsession in the industry with low-profiles is ludicrous. Road noise and wind noise are both relatively well-controlled, with engine noise from the four being the main culprit on the road. The brake pedal was not particularly well-placed for my big size 15 shoes, and allowed the shoe to momentarily hang up on the pedal when going from gas to brake.
THE VERDICT:
I won't go into the usual separate verdict here, since I think I more or less covered it (if minimally) above.
And, as always......Happy car-shopping.
MM
http://www.toyota.com/rav4/
IN A NUTSHELL: Fairly nice vehicle under the skin, but the skin could use improvement.
CLOSEST AMERICAN-MARKET COMPETITORS: Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tuscon, Ford Escape, Dodge Journey (the Journey is comparably-priced but slightly larger), Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrrain, VW Tiguan, Subaru Forester. Mitsubishi Outlander.
OVERVIEW:
After my Condensed Mazda CX-5 review, and the static-review of the competing Nissan Rogue, one CL member suggested I drive the RAV-4, so I figured if I was going to drive one, I might as well do a short mini-review. Most of you on the forums already know what a hugely successful vehicle the RAV-4 has been in the American market, so I won't waste time and wear on my keyboard going into that, especially on a mini-review (my keyboard gets enough wear LOL).
The 4th-Generation RAV-4 dropped the former V6 engines, and now, for 2016, offers one drivetrain on the LE, SE, XLE, and Limited gas versions....a 2.5L non-turbo four with 176 HP and 172 ft-lbs. of torque, connected to a 6-speed Sport-shift automatic. XLE Hybrid and Limited Hybrid versions get the same gas engine, a CVT (Continuously-Variable-Transmission), and the Toyota Hybrid-Drive electric booster-motor., for a total system 194 HP (torque figures and RPMs for the Hybrid are not published onToyota's web-site). Gas versions get a choice of FWD or AWD; the Hybrids are AWD. No traditional manual transmissions are offered. Base prices on gas versions range from $24,350 to $31,510, and from $28,370 to $33,610 on Hybrids. One request I got was to compare the prices of the hybrid vs. gas versions....there you have it. On the average, the gas versions run from $2000 to $4000 less than the hybrids....not a huge difference if you want to spend more for the hybrids. Of course, right now, gas is relatively cheap, so there isn't as much incentive in the marketplace to get the hybrids right now as there was in the past (perhaps one reason why Toyota is holding the line on the hybrid prices). Even at that 2-4K price difference, though, one would have to use a lot of today's relatively cheap gas to recover the difference between the two and break even. So, my general recommendation is to simply buy the gas version and save a few thousand dollars, unless one can take advantage of Hybrid tax-credits or HOV priviledges where they live. I did not specifically test-drive the latest RAV-4 Hybrid, but I have sampled previous Toyota Hybrid systems of about the same spec-ratings. I sampled a few different interiors, as usual, but, for the test-drive itself, chose a base LE model with AWD and almost no options....it listed at $26,740. Since this is only a Mini-review underneath, I'm going to concentrate mostly on the test-drive, and just say a few sentences in the other categories.
MODEL REVIEWED: 2016 Toyota RAV-4 LE AWD
BASE PRICE: $25,750
OPTIONS:
Tonneau Cover $90
DESTINATION/FREIGHT: $900 (a little steep for an SUV this size)
LIST PRICE AS REVIEWED: $26,740
DRIVETRAIN: AWD, Transversely-mounted 2.5L VVT-i non-turbo 4, 176 HP @ 6000 RPM, Torque 172 Ft-lbs. @ 4400 RPM, 6-Speed Sport-Shift automatic transmission.
EPA MILEAGE RATING: 22 City, 29 Highway, 25 Combined
EXTERIOR COLOR: Super White
INTERIOR: Black Cloth
PLUSSES:
Decent (but not strong) power level from 2.5L four.
Smooth, quiet transmission when warm.
Clear, legible primary gauges.
Road and wind noise generally well-controlled.
Good underhood layout for do-it-yourselfers.
Nice paint-color choice.
Typical Toyota/Lexus well-done paint jobs.
Good headroom and legroom inside....especially without the sunroof.
Reclining rear seat even in base models.
Well-designed, solid inside door-pulls.
Generally easy-to-use control layout.
Vechicle-surround lower-body cladding helps protect paint.
Superb stereo sound quality for this vehicle class.
Toyota tradition of better-than-average reliability.
(Currently) 2-year/25,000 mile Toyota Free-Maintenance policy with purchase.
MINUSES:
No more V6 engines available.
(Mostly) cheap plastic interior materials, even on upper-line versions.
Flimsy outside mirror housings.
Manual prop-rod for hood.
Hood slams shut awkwardy.
Marked engine noise under acceleration.
Automatic transmission somewhat bumpy when cold.
Slow steering response with body roll.
Brake-pedal location not ideal for large feet/shoes.
Annoying (IMO) zig-zag shifter action.
No body-side moldings for parking-lot protection.
Front seat belts rather difficult to latch.
Poorly-finished cargo area.
Poor visibility out the rear quarter.
Loosely-attached, somewhat wobbly plastic stereo *****.
Roadside Assistance Program unlimited miles but only for 2 years.
EXTERIOR:
Though styling is generally subjective, I generally am not a fan of the bulldog/scowl shape and slit-grille of the current RAV-4 front end. Nor do I care for the thick C and D-pillars, which significantly impede rear-visibility. The doors have a reasonably solid sound and thunk when closing, but the sheet metal itself is rather thin (as with many new vehicles). The paint job is the usual Toyota/Lexus gloss and excellence, and the color choice is quite good, with bright blue, red, and orange offered. Much of the exterior trim and hardware though, is not impressive, has a thin and flimsy feel to it. The hood slams shut with a misaligned and awkward sound. And the twin-side-mirror housings have a flimsy feel and swivel-action to them....but I liked the small convex-blind-spot extensions on the mirrors, like on Ford products. The wheels on the base LE version had plastic wheel covers, but they were nicely-done, two-tone, and could (almost) fool you into thinking they were real alloys. I could't tell they were plastic covers until I bent down to check the tire PSI's before the test-drive.
UNDERHOOD:
The heavy hood is held up with a manual prop-rod, but the underhood layout is quite good for Do-it-Yourselfers. The 2.5L four fits inside well, and does not have a plastic cover on it to block upper-engine access. There is generally room to reach most engine components, and the battery is on the right, uncovered. All of the filler-caps, dipsticks, and fluid-reservoirs are easy to reach.
INTERIOR:
Like the exterior trim and hardware, the quality of the plastics and trim inside, IMO, leaves a significant amount to be desired. Like with some other recent Toyota products (fortunately, not all), the interior feels, if not looks, like it was built to a strict budget. The base LE interior in my test vehicle looked and felt especially cheap, with a number of sub-standard thin plastic parts (some of which were not particularly well-attached). But even the upmarket XLE and Limited interiors, though having nicer-looknig trim on the surface, had much the same unimpressive thin plastic feel underneath. The engine-tempoerature gauge on my LE version was a rather hard-to-read bar-graph, but at least it's better than the Mazda CX-5's idiot-lights. Other versions of the RAV-4 have different primary/secondary gauge-designs, depending on trim-model. The seat-belt latches up front are difficult to reach down and lathe securely into the holders due to the way the center-console-lid is designed. The seats are not particularly comfortable for a wide frame my size, though they will do for narrower persons.
On the plus side, however, the interior is quite roomy and space-efficient, with good front/rear headroom and legroom (without a sunroof), the control layout is relatively simple to use by today's standards, the stereo sound quality is superb for this class, the big thick interior door-pulls are rock-solid, and the primary gauges are clear and easy to read. *
* I forgot to mention that the rear seat has a built-in reclining feature and arm rests, even on the base model. So, IMO, that makes up for at least some of the general interior cheapness.
CARGO COMPARTMENT/TRUNK:
The cargo area is roomy enough, but not particularly well-finished, especially on the walls. My test vehicle had the optional $90 removable pull-shade (Tonneau Cover).....pay the extra money and get it, unless you don't regularly carry things in back that you care about thieves running off with, or want to continually hide with a blanket. Under the floor is the usual temporary-spare tire, and there are also two shallow cubby-compartments under the floor, with pull-covers.
ON THE ROAD:
OK...the test-drive. Start the ubiquitous 2.5L in-line four, on the LE version, with a traditional key and side-column switch. The four comes to life with reasonable smoothness and refinement in idling, but noise level is audible on the road, especially when accelerating. Power level does not reach the zippy feel of the competing Mazda CX-5, but the engine has enough power to get out of its own way, particularly in the SPORT mode (there is also an ECO mode to save gas, and the system defaults to ECO under 25 MPH). The 6-speed Sport-Shift automatic transmission shifts a little abruptly on the 1-2 shift when cold, but smooths out nicely while warming, and remains so under manual-shift mode. I didn't care for the zig-zag shift pattern of the lever (something Toyota and Lexus have stuck with for years), though I'm aware that there are some who disagree and like those patterns.
Ride comfort was pretty good by the standards of this class, though the suspension, like many others in this high-center-of-gravity class of vehicle, allowed marked body roll, and steering response was on the slow side. Ride comfort is helped by the relatively low recommended air-pressure (33 PSI front/rear) in the tires and by the tires' tall 65-series sidewalls. I wish more sedans today still got tires like this....IMO, except for purpose-designed sports oriented vehicles, the current obsession in the industry with low-profiles is ludicrous. Road noise and wind noise are both relatively well-controlled, with engine noise from the four being the main culprit on the road. The brake pedal was not particularly well-placed for my big size 15 shoes, and allowed the shoe to momentarily hang up on the pedal when going from gas to brake.
THE VERDICT:
I won't go into the usual separate verdict here, since I think I more or less covered it (if minimally) above.
And, as always......Happy car-shopping.
MM
Last edited by mmarshall; 04-11-16 at 06:18 AM.
04-04-16, 06:57 PM
#3
(there is also an ECO mode to save gas, and the system defaults to ECO under 25 MPH)
Because the ECO Leaf is just a reminder of efficiency while the ECO mode actually regulates throttle response and climate control.
It is like this in all Lexus models.
04-04-16, 07:11 PM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Are you sure you aren't just referring to the 'ECO' leaf that displays when you're driving efficiently, i.e. foot off the gas/coasting/light acceleration.
Because the ECO Leaf is just a reminder of efficiency while the ECO mode actually regulates throttle response and climate control.
It is like this in all Lexus models.
Because the ECO Leaf is just a reminder of efficiency while the ECO mode actually regulates throttle response and climate control.
It is like this in all Lexus models.
BTW, I'll say one thing for the RAV-4. Perhaps it's the specific tires used on the samples I drove, but IMO I thought the LE RAV4 was quieter on the road, with less road/tire noise, than its substantially more expensive Lexus NX brother, which is done on the same platform.
Last edited by mmarshall; 04-04-16 at 07:16 PM.
04-04-16, 08:47 PM
#5
In the RAV-4, it wasn't a leaf, but a greenish-yellow "ECO" symbol that defaults at lower speeds...or at least that was the way they explained it. SPORT, when desired, is activated by a push-button under the center-dash, and a yellow "SPORT" light illuminates on the other side of the gauge-panel from the ECO light.
BTW, I'll say one thing for the RAV-4. Perhaps it's the specific tires used on the samples I drove, but IMO I thought the LE RAV4 was quieter on the road, with less road/tire noise, than its substantially more expensive Lexus NX brother, which is done on the same platform.
BTW, I'll say one thing for the RAV-4. Perhaps it's the specific tires used on the samples I drove, but IMO I thought the LE RAV4 was quieter on the road, with less road/tire noise, than its substantially more expensive Lexus NX brother, which is done on the same platform.
Because the RAV4 does have an actual ECO Mode and Sport Mode to engage them.
With Lexus it is commonly referred to as an 'Eco Leaf', but Toyota calls it an Eco Drive Indicator:
Toyota announced Friday that it would provide an Eco Drive Indicator light on Japanese-market automatic transmission vehicles starting in October. The Eco Drive Indicator light ups when the driver is operating the car in a fuel-efficient manner. The dashboard-based Eco Drive light signals the driver when accelerator use, engine and transmission efficiency and speed and rate of acceleration are inline with ecologically sound driving techniques, Toyota says, and the company claims an increase in fuel efficiency of about four percent. Toyota says the Eco Drive Indicator fits into the company's three-way approach to "to truly contribute to the realization of sustainable mobility" that includes vehicles, traffic environment and people. It's kind of like your own personal XATANET.
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/02/t...panese-models/
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/02/t...panese-models/
04-04-16, 08:49 PM
#6
Lexus Test Driver
MM's on a roll, 3 SUV reviews in a week I'm not a fan of the RAV4 interior, both previous and current gens, because the plastics feel so cheap. I'd say the CX5 and Rogue interiors are miles ahead in terms of material quality, with the CRV just ahead of the RAV4. Toyota may have excellent reliability but they can be crazy cheap sometimes.
I'm not a fan of the RAV4 interior, both previous and current gens, because the plastics feel so cheap. I'd say the CX5 and Rogue interiors are miles ahead in terms of material quality, with the CRV just ahead of the RAV4. Toyota may have excellent reliability but they can be crazy cheap sometimes.
04-05-16, 05:43 AM
#7
Lexus Fanatic
In the RAV-4, it wasn't a leaf, but a greenish-yellow "ECO" symbol that defaults at lower speeds...or at least that was the way they explained it. SPORT, when desired, is activated by a push-button under the center-dash, and a yellow "SPORT" light illuminates on the other side of the gauge-panel from the ECO light.
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04-05-16, 06:23 AM
#8
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Thanks, but I wouldn't consider the brief write-up I did on the Nissan Rogue a review. It didn't even include a test-drive.
Toyota generally does a very good job on their vehicles under the skin (and even on the paint jobs, which are part of the skin)......but, I agree, the rest of the skin on many of their models could use improvement. Trim, plastics, and interior materials tend to be on the cheap, flimsy side, though some of their very newest models, models, such as the Corolla, have shown some improvement in that regard.
I'm not a fan of the RAV4 interior, both previous and current gens, because the plastics feel so cheap. I'd say the CX5 and Rogue interiors are miles ahead in terms of material quality, with the CRV just ahead of the RAV4. Toyota may have excellent reliability but they can be crazy cheap sometimes.
04-05-16, 06:28 AM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
04-05-16, 06:43 AM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
In most vehicles of this class, I personally see little need for separate driving modes to start with. Those who want maximum gas mileage, of course, can consider the RAV-4 Hybrid, and those who want sport/aggressive driving aren't likely going to be buying a non-turbo four-cylinder CUV in the first place.
04-05-16, 06:51 AM
#11
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Well, ECO modes come from many automakers, not just Toyota. I was just questioning the need for them on non-hybrid gas-powered vehicles of relatively low power ratings to start with. IMO, it's like putting a muzzle on a dog that already has lost most of its teeth.
I'm not sure what you mean by the question. Are you asking if the Cruze and Encore have driver-adjustable driving modes?
Curious to know if GM vehicles like Cruze or the Buick Encore?
04-05-16, 07:00 AM
#12
Lexus Champion
My parents are on their second RAV4 (first a '12 and now a '13). Their current one is a Limited AWD model.
I've spent a considerable amount of time with it. I think it's a fantastic vehicle. I am always surprised by the room inside, especially rear seat and cargo volume.
As for driving, there are some 4 cylinder vibrations at idle but overall I find it a very quiet and smooth ride. I'm impressed with it every time I drive it - to the point that we are thinking of picking up a hybrid one for a commuter for my wife.
Yes, some of the interior materials are hard plastic, but it just doesn't bother me much, as they are located in places that you don't really touch (lower door panels, console, etc.). The seats, especially in the limited, are quite comfortable, outward vision is great, and gas mileage is competitive. It's well equipped with items like BSM, nav, heated seats, push-button start, and dual zone auto climate control. My parents are still very happy with it.
We have some friends who have an XLE version and they are very happy with theirs as well.
I've spent a considerable amount of time with it. I think it's a fantastic vehicle. I am always surprised by the room inside, especially rear seat and cargo volume.
As for driving, there are some 4 cylinder vibrations at idle but overall I find it a very quiet and smooth ride. I'm impressed with it every time I drive it - to the point that we are thinking of picking up a hybrid one for a commuter for my wife.
Yes, some of the interior materials are hard plastic, but it just doesn't bother me much, as they are located in places that you don't really touch (lower door panels, console, etc.). The seats, especially in the limited, are quite comfortable, outward vision is great, and gas mileage is competitive. It's well equipped with items like BSM, nav, heated seats, push-button start, and dual zone auto climate control. My parents are still very happy with it.
We have some friends who have an XLE version and they are very happy with theirs as well.
04-05-16, 07:06 AM
#13
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
My parents are on their second RAV4 (first a '12 and now a '13). Their current one is a Limited AWD model.
I've spent a considerable amount of time with it. I think it's a fantastic vehicle. I am always surprised by the room inside, especially rear seat and cargo volume.
As for driving, there are some 4 cylinder vibrations at idle but overall I find it a very quiet and smooth ride. I'm impressed with it every time I drive it - to the point that we are thinking of picking up a hybrid one for a commuter for my wife.
Yes, some of the interior materials are hard plastic, but it just doesn't bother me much, as they are located in places that you don't really touch (lower door panels, console, etc.). The seats, especially in the limited, are quite comfortable, outward vision is great, and gas mileage is competitive. It's well equipped with items like BSM, nav, heated seats, push-button start, and dual zone auto climate control. My parents are still very happy with it.
We have some friends who have an XLE version and they are very happy with theirs as well.
I've spent a considerable amount of time with it. I think it's a fantastic vehicle. I am always surprised by the room inside, especially rear seat and cargo volume.
As for driving, there are some 4 cylinder vibrations at idle but overall I find it a very quiet and smooth ride. I'm impressed with it every time I drive it - to the point that we are thinking of picking up a hybrid one for a commuter for my wife.
Yes, some of the interior materials are hard plastic, but it just doesn't bother me much, as they are located in places that you don't really touch (lower door panels, console, etc.). The seats, especially in the limited, are quite comfortable, outward vision is great, and gas mileage is competitive. It's well equipped with items like BSM, nav, heated seats, push-button start, and dual zone auto climate control. My parents are still very happy with it.
We have some friends who have an XLE version and they are very happy with theirs as well.
Your comments about space efficiency inside are well-taken, even for a big person like me, though the front seats in the LE version could be just a tad wider for big rumps. I still find it annoying, though, to have to push flimsy buttons, adjust a flimsy-feeling tilt/telescope steering-column, swivel a flimsy-feeling outside mirror housing, or twirl small, loosely-attached and wobbly ***** to adjust the stereo functions.
04-05-16, 07:12 AM
#14
Lexus Champion
Thanks for your input. Your comments about space efficiency inside are well-taken, even for a big person like me, though the front seats in the LE version could be just a tad wider for big rumps. I still find it annoying, though, to have to push flimsy buttons, adjust a flimsy-feeling tilt/telescope steering-column, swivel a flimsy-feeling outside mirror housing, or twirl small, loosely-attacked and wobbly ***** to adjust the stereo functions.
Your comments about space efficiency inside are well-taken, even for a big person like me, though the front seats in the LE version could be just a tad wider for big rumps. I still find it annoying, though, to have to push flimsy buttons, adjust a flimsy-feeling tilt/telescope steering-column, swivel a flimsy-feeling outside mirror housing, or twirl small, loosely-attacked and wobbly ***** to adjust the stereo functions.I don't think my parents have ever swiveled their mirrors in (I've never tried it on their RAV4) so I don't think that's an issue for them, but I agree they should not be flimsy. As I recall, their steering column is power and ties in with their memory seats, so you shouldn't have to adjust it frequently. And with the nav system and auto climate control, I don't think you'll find the same flimsy ***** used on the lower trim levels. I've never found them to be flimsy.
So all in all, I am in agreement with most of the points that you make, but just wanted to reiterate that I find the upgrades in the Limited model to be substantial and believe they address at least some of your concerns.
04-05-16, 07:24 AM
#15
Pole Position
I think the Hybrid is the best bang for the buck personally. You get more power and better efficiency. Best of both worlds. If I remembered correctly, comparably equiped, the price difference between hybrid and non-hybrid is about $1000 or so. Even at $2000 premium, it's worth it just for the power increase and better drive-ability.