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Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 (pronounced "rav-four") is a compact crossover SUV built and marketed by the Toyota Motor Corporation. It was introduced in Japan in 1994 and in the US in 1996 to cater to consumers wanting a vehicle that had most of the benefits of SUVs, such as increased cargo room, higher visibility, and the option of four wheel drive, along with the maneuverability and fuel economy of a smaller car. The early success of the RAV4 paved the way for other compact SUVs such as the Honda CR-V, the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute, and the Subaru Forester. Its name stands for "Recreational Activity Vehicle, 4-wheel drive," although not all models have four wheel drive as this is optional in some countries.
See WikiCars' comprehensive Toyota RAV4 Review.
Recent Changes
The Toyota RAV4 underwent a redesign for the 2006 model year. It still has a 2.4L four-cylinder engine, which now produces 166-hp, instead of 161-hp, like last year's model. Unique to North America, the new RAV4 also includes a new 3.5L V6 engine from the Toyota Avalon, boosting its power to 269-hp.
The RAV4 is also up by 21% in interior volume from the last generation and now has an available third row seat for two small children. The RAV4 still comes in either front wheel drive or four wheel drive in North America, however most countries only sell the four wheel drive version. For now, the RAV4 models sold in North America are produced in Toyota's Tahara, Aichi, Japan assembly plant. However, when Toyota's Woodstock, Ontario, Canada assembly plant comes online in 2008, models sold in North America will be assembled exclusively there.
- For 2008, Toyota adds the Rav4 Cross Sport to the RAV4 lineup. [1]
Styles and Major Options
The 2006 Toyota RAV4 is available in the following 3 trims: Base, Sport, and Limited.
Base
Options available on the RAV4 Base are:
- 17-inch 5-spoke styled steel wheels with P225/65R17 tires and full-size spare tire on 17-in. steel wheel
- 17-inch 5-spoke aluminum alloy wheels with P225/65R17 tires and full-size spare tire on 17-in. steel wheel
- Tonneau cover with multi-purpose cargo net with support poles
- AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer, MP3/WMA capability and six speakers
- Black roof rails and cross bars
- Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side airbags and front- and second-row roll-sensing side curtain airbags(RSCA)
- Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
- Fabric-trimmed 50/50 Split & Stow 3rd RowTM seats with fold-flat-into-floor capability and height-adjustable headrests
- Tow Prep Package (V6 models only) with 3500-lb. towing capacity – includes upgraded radiator, fan coupling and alternator
Sport
Options available on the RAV4 Sport are:
- Tonneau cover with multi-purpose cargo net with support poles
- AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer, MP3/WMA capability and six speakers
- JBL® AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer, MP3/WMA capability and nine speakers (includes subwoofer and steering wheel audio controls)
- Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side airbags and front- and second-row roll-sensing side curtain airbags (RSCA)
- Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
- Power tilt/slide moonroof with sunshade
- Tow Prep Package (V6 models only) with 3500-lb. towing capacity – includes upgraded radiator, fan coupling, and alternator
Limited
Options available on the RAV4 Limited are:
- JBL® AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer, MP3/WMA capability and nine speakers (includes subwoofer)
- Rear-seat DVD entertainment system with rear-seat audio and two wireless headphones (includes 115V power outlet and RCA jacks)
- Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side airbags and front- and second-row roll-sensing side curtain airbags (RSCA)
- Driver and front passenger heated seats
- Leather-trimmed seats
- Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
- Power tilt/slide moonroof with sunshade
- Fabric-trimmed 50/50 Split & Stow 3rd RowTM seats with fold-flat-into-floor capability and height-adjustable headrests
- Tow Prep Package (V6 models only) with 3500-lb. towing capacity – includes upgraded radiator, fan coupling, and alternator
Pricing
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RAV4 Trim |
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Base FWD |
Base V6 FWD |
Base 4x4 |
Sport FWD |
Sport V6 FWD |
Sport 4x4 |
Limited FWD |
Limited V6 FWD |
Limited 4x4 |
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Price |
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|
MSRP |
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|
$20,300 |
$22,335 |
$21,700 |
$23,735 |
$21,875 |
$23,790 |
$23,275 |
$25,190 |
$22,555 |
$24,470 |
$23,955 |
$25,870 |
|
Invoice |
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|
$18,778 |
$20,658 |
$19,747 |
$21,597 |
$20,232 |
$22,003 |
$21,178 |
$22,920 |
$20,862 |
$22,633 |
$21,798 |
$23,540 |
Today's actual prices by city can be found at CarsDirect.
Gas Mileage
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RAV4 MPG |
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2WD |
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4-Cylinder |
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24/30 |
23/28 |
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22/29 |
21/28 |
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Reliability
Safety
The Toyota RAV4 comes with the following safety features STANDARD:
- Vehicle Stabillity Control with Traction Control
- Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution
- Roll Sensing Side Curtain Airbags and Driver/Front Passenger/ Front Seat-Mounted side Airbags - optional on all trims
- 3-Point Seatbelts in ALL Locations
- 2nd Row CRS Lower and Top Tether Anchors
- Rear Door Child Safety Locks
- Engine Immobilizer and Prewire
- Direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Photos
Colors
RAV4 colors can vary by trim.
Exterior
- Super White
- Savannah Metallic
- Classic Silver Metallic
- Barcelona Red Metallic
- Pacific Blue Metallic
- Black
- Flint Mica
- Blizzard White Pearl
- Everglade Metallic
- Nautical Blue Metallic
Interior
- Taupe Leather
- Ash Leather
- Taupe Fabric
- Ash Fabric
- Charcoal
Main Competitors
Hybrid/Electric Models
The RAV4 was available in an all-electric version called the RAV4 EV from 1997-2002. Its drivetrain is powered exclusively by 24 12-volt batteries which can be recharged from being fully-depleted to fully-charged in about 5 hours.
The RAV4EV governs top speed of 80 miles per hour, and a range of 80-120 miles on a full charge. Mileage depended on the same factors as a traditional gasoline-powered vehicle, mainly tire drag and average speed (aerodynamic drag). The RAV4EV has 24 12-volt 95Ah NiMH batteries capable of outputting 27.4kWh of energy. As of May, 2006, charging a RAV4EV from full-dead to full-charge, at a rate of US$0.09 per kilowatt-hour, costs around $2.70. As of May, 2006, this compares to a price-per-gallon cost of US$3.00, and makes mileage in the RAV4EV the cost equivalent to a 111.1-mile-per-gallon small SUV.
The RAV4EV has been demonstrated to outperform the traditional RAV4 in acceleration tests, and is capable of operating with the flow of traffic at any posted speed limit in the United States.
The RAV4EV's battery system is a wearable item, and current costs are approximately US$26,000 to replace the battery pack, due to short supply. While some owners have chosen to replace the batteries at around 50,000 miles, there are owners that currently have over 100,000 miles without issue. The development of powerful Lithium Ion batteries will make a large difference in this cost, as well as extend the range of the RAV4EV considerably. The remaining systems in the RAV4EV are comparable to the gas-powered RAV4, such as power brakes, power steering and air conditioning. These systems are of equal cost to maintain as the gas-powered RAV4.
RAV4 EV pre-production prototypes were first released in a confidential evaluation program with electric utilities throughout the U.S. These prototypes were based on the smaller, shorter, 2-door version of the RAV4. Prototypes were well accepted.
RAV4 EVs were only available for sale at a few dealerships beginning in 1997, and were mostly on 5-year lease to companies in southern California.
Beginning in February, 2002, the public could buy or lease this zero-emissions SUV in limited quantities at participating Toyota dealers in the Los Angeles and San Francisco regions. The MSRP was $42,000; but in California, rebates of $9,000 and a $3,000 credit from the Internal Revenue Service brought the price down to a more palatable $30,000, including the home charger. The RAV4 EV was meant to give Toyota additional vehicles to address the California Air Resources Board's zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which required 2% of a manufacturer's vehicle sales within the state to be ZEV's. The RAV4 EV was sold to the public for eight months, until the spring of 2003. The vehicle's retail had outsold its demand far faster than they could be supplied to market, despite very little advertising, and few people had ever been aware that they were available.
Toyota discontinued the RAV4 EV program one day after the passing of new air-quality requirements by CARB. CARB eliminated most of the ZEV requirement, substituting a greater number of partial zero-emissions vehicles (PZEVs) to meet the requirement. A Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) category was also added. This program requirement was designed to obtain equivalent emissions reductions by substituting less expensive, more general purpose vehicles.
Unlike other manufacturers, Toyota did not recall vehicles, destroy them, and completely terminate the program. While no longer sold, the vehicle is still supported by selective Toyota service centers (mainly in southern California) and a strong owner community. The RAV4EV is driven daily by hundreds of owners, now across the country. These owners have built up an online community and have worked out ways to add options to the RAV4EV never offered by Toyota, with the most popular being keyless door entry and cruise control.
Toyota has not expressed interest in reviving the RAV4 EV line. Proponents for the RAV4 EV are hopeful that manufacturing processes will someday yield low-cost batteries capable of being powerful enough for the RAV4 EV drive system, and at a price that would be considered reasonable by the general public.
Unique Attributes
The RAV4 has two glove compartments in front of the front passenger seat. One of them operates in the typical fashion, while the other both opens and closes at the touch of a button.
Resale Values
Autos.com ranks the RAV4 first in its class for resale value, and Kelley Blue Book also predicts that, based on Toyota's reputation, it will retain its value as well as or better than its competitors.
Criticisms
- "The catch with the RAV4... is that much of what many buyers want is optional equipment, not standard." - New Car Test Drive
- "...if you're parked on the street [the open] rear door blocks your way to the curb." - Canadian Driver
- "If you prefer a domestic or European brand and/or your needs include heavy duty hauling or towing or serious off-road rambling, you may want to look elsewhere. There are many fine competitors in this class, including some that may offer a combination of attributes, price and value that will better suit your tastes and needs." - Kelley Blue Book
Generations
Third Generation (2006–present)
The Toyota RAV4 was completely redesigned for the 2006 model year. It still has a 2.4L four-cylinder engine, which now produces 166-hp, up 5 from last year. Unique to North America, the new RAV4 also includes a new 3.5L V6 engine from the Toyota Avalon, making 269-hp. The RAV4 is up by 21 percent in interior volume from the last generation and now has an available third row seat for two small children. The RAV4 can still be had in either front wheel drive or four wheel drive in North America, however most countries only sell the four wheel drive version.
For now, the RAV4 models sold in North America are produced in Toyota's Tahara, Aichi, Japan assembly plant. However, when Toyota's Woodstock, Ontario, Canada assembly plant comes online in 2008, models sold in North America will be assembled exclusively there.
Engine options in the UK are rather different, with one petrol and two diesels available. The 2.0L petrol has 150 bhp and 143 lb/ft of torque. Both diesels are 2.2L in capacity and have 134 bhp and 229 lb/ft of torque, and 175 bhp and 295 lb/ft torque respectively. All models are four wheel drive over here too.
Second generation (2001–2005)
The second generation RAV4 was offered two trim levels in the US, base and L and still came with front or all wheel drive. Although the RAV4 was available as a two-door in Europe, the American model was now only available in a four-door configuration. A 2.0L I4 engine producing 148 hp was the only engine available. All RAV4s came with 16 inch wheels, optional anti-lock brakes and stability control, air-conditioning, a height-adjustable driver's seat, cruise control, a six-speaker CD stereo and power windows, mirrors, and optional heated seats.
A sport package added a mesh grille, hood scoop, color-keyed door handles, a roof rack, silver sport pedals, heated mirrors, gray-painted bumpers and overfenders and sport fabric seats. Other options included alloy wheels, a sunroof and keyless entry. Larger tires were also available on all wheel drive models.
In 2004, the RAV4 was slightly restyled, and a 2.4L I4 engine producing 161-hp replaced the 2.0L engine as standard equipment. Additionally, Toyota offered their "Star Safety System" as standard equipment on all RAV4's which included Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Anti-Lock Brakes, Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control standard across the line. Side impact airbags were optional. Which now are standard.
First Generation/Origins (1994-2000)
The RAV4 was offered in both two and four-door versions. In the US, a 2.0 L I4 engine producing 120 hp was offered. Both front wheel drive and all wheel drive were available, and the RAV4 could be had with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. In 1998, the RAV4 was slightly restyled on the front and rear fascias, and a soft-top two-door was made available. In 1999, the two-door hardtop was dropped from the American lineup.
Worldwide
The second generation RAV4 has proved extremely popular in Australia, where it became the best-selling SUV in the country in 2001. In 2004, it was the best-selling compact SUV.
Design quirks and oddities
The door to the rear trunk space swings horizontally, not vertically, and because the RAV4 was designed and first marketed in Japan where driving is done on the left side of the road, the door's hinges are located on the passenger side. If the vehicle is parked on a street, this detail becomes problematic for most other international markets as the door blocks the path to the curb when open.
Awards
See also
External Links
- Official Toyota RAV4 Website
- RAV4World.com -- Home of the RAV4 Forums
- RAV4 Expedition Singapore -- RAV4 community in Singapore
- RAV4 Knowledge-Center - (outdated) images and information
- RAV4 EV Electric Vehicle Association
- RAV4 EV Discussion List
- Union of Concerned Scientists
- Who Killed the Electric Car?
- Plug In America
- Don't Crush
This page uses content from Wikipedia; see Toyota RAV4, which includes these contributors.
