– by Al Duncan –
Well, at least some folks think so! Toyota’s RAV4 has been around since 1996, when it resembled a pumped-up station wagon in four-door trim and a fun looking PEZ dispenser in two-door trim. This ultra reliable Toyota, known as the RAV4, is actually a “Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive;” who knew?
We see many older generation RAVs on the road today and those who have them rarely seem to want to give them up. It’s no shock to see an early 2000 model with over 400,000 kms on the clock and no reported issues. A major redesign came about in 2005 for the 2006 model year and gone with it was the two-door offering. The new RAV was bigger than its predecessor and was offered with both 4-cylinder and V6 engine options as well as the option of 2 wheel drive instead of all wheel drive.
Amazingly, the RAV was the only compact SUV offering a third row of seating, not so for 2014 where others have followed suit. These things are amazingly tough and while the 4-cylinder is a great engine choice, the V6 is a must in my opinion, giving up a mere two miles per gallon to provide the driver with a full 270 HP of thrust when needed for hill climbs, towing and outrunning zombie attacks. The interior, even in Limited trim with leather, is a little plain in a Toyota sort of way but very functional none the less.
These fun little utes are sold in just about every country on the planet and in some areas are equipped with small diesel engines, for North America gasoline is the only choice unfortunately.
Would I buy one? In a word: absolutely … but, it would have to be the third generation 2006-2012 and it would have to be a V6 all wheel drive unit; make mine a Sport model with all the goodies. I don’t like the look of the latest generation, the poor RAV has been styled to look like every other offering in its class which is a shame because it had such a great look going for it.
