Road TestCar reviews - Toyota - RAV4 - Cruiser 5-dr wagonToyota modelsOverviewToyota blesses its popular Rav4 compact off-roader with Camry's 2.4-litre four20 Aug 2004 IT’S not hard to see why Toyota’s RAV4 remains the small SUV to beat. Its tenacious hold on the soft-road market is due to its virtually perfect understanding of the needs of small SUV buyers. It’s not so big that it’s intimidating, yet it has ample space for at least four full-size adults, as well as the elevated driving position many people have come to prefer. It’s a handy small wagon that is reasonably economical – and it offers the promise of journeying to remote, faraway destinations not available to regular two-wheel drive vehicles. Unlike its main competition, it offers a 4WD system that works for you at all times – on dry roads, wet roads and unsealed roads – adding that extra margin of security that can sometimes make all the difference. Model release date: 1 October 2003 to 1 January 2006 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelONE of the most influential vehicles of the modern era, the original RAV4 three-door, circa July 1994, ushered in the car-based sport-utility vehicle (SUV). Underneath it was part Camry (engine, some driveline components) and part Celica GT4 (suspension), with plenty of Corolla bits thrown in as well. By June 1995 there was the longer-wheelbase RAV4 five-door (SXA11R), while a Series II model from November 1997 added equipment, safety, refinement and engine efficiency, seeing the segment-defining Toyota through to its impressive second generation iteration of 2000. The 2.4-litre RAV4 tested here is the first facelift of the successful second generation. |
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