TOYOTA RAV 4 ESTATE 2006-2009 Review
Good Points
- Decent performance both on and off the road
- Great quality interior materials and good list of equipment
- Good off-road ability
Bad Points
- The exterior design needs time getting used to
- Excessive noise at high speeds in the petrol version
Engines
There are not that many options to choose from. The new RAV4 comes with just one petrol engine: a 2.0-litre 149-155bhp and two diesels: 2.2-litre 134-147bhp or 2.2-litre 174bhp.
Performance & Economy
All engines are well developed and provide good level of power. The 2.0-litre unit can only get to 32mpg which is quite thirsty for a 4-cylinder unit. The majority of the RAV4s come with a diesel engine. The basic 2.2-litre unit delivers 42mpg and is a sensible, uncomplicated engine that goes well with the car. Those interested in better performance will want to choose the more advanced 2.2-diesel as it is one of the sportiest diesel that's ever graced a crossover. Coupled with a 6-speed gearbox, driving a sport RAV4 is a great experience. It is also one of the greenest off-road cars in the diesel version outputting only 185g CO2 per km.
In the basic trim, the car falls within the insurance group 20, the sporty version is group 27.What it is like to drive?It is like there are two different cars that look the same. They apply to entirely different niches of buyers and it's quite rare that a car manufacturer tries to cater for different market segment with one car. Apparently, Toyota has got their segmentation right. The 2.0-litre petrol model with an automatic transmission makes a sensible placid car that is not particularly fun to drive, but it's certain easy to drive and convenient car for the city.
Equip it with another powerplant and you have an entirely different animal. The 2.2-litre 174bhp diesel engine coupled with a manual 6-speed gearbox transforms the boring and quiet car into a pleasant vehicle. It offers tons of energy and you alone control everything via the super-precise 6-speed box. For its price bracket, it's probably one of the most impressive cars from the point of driving experience.
The RAV4 has an excellent handling and road control. Body roll has been eliminated thanks to an improved suspension.
The car has a full-time 4-wheel drive system and although it wasn't developed to replace a 'real' off-roader, the RAV4 feels confident off the road. You can throw mud, snow and rough surfaces at it and it's not a problem. It features traction control, central lock differential and a decent ground clearance. Having said that the RAV4 does have its limitations, otherwise, who would buy the LandCruiser?
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Introduction
Toyota claims to be the first company to introduce a compact SUV crossover. In its 3rd generation, the RAV4 was for the first time taken seriously by its developers. If the first two generations were built on the popular Toyota Corolla platform then the new RAV4 received its own unique platform and the car was built from scratch.
Exterior & Interior
The 3rd generation RAV4 is bigger and more serious in order to attract a male audience. The previous RAV4 generations are noted to be predominantly a "lady-car" and many men shun the car altogether because of this reputation.
With the more serious look it has also lost its rugged/sporty look, shed the signature spare wheel (to increase the boot size) and the globally recognisable proportions. You cannot call the car ugly but you will hardly identify the RAV4. Just like the previous two generations, the RAV4 comes in two wheel bases ‐ short and long. In the long version the car is almost by a quarter bigger than the 2nd generation RAV4.
The car is available with five trim levels; XT-3, XT-4, XT-5, XT-R and T-180. Even the entry level trim comes with air-cons, alloy wheels, a CD player and all- electric windows. The next medium level XT-4 gets leather upholstery, climate control and electric sunroofs. Specification of XT-5 comes with additional satellite navigation system, electrically adjustable seats and cruise control. The top model T-180 comes with the most powerful diesel engine, and an attractive sporty kit. It's a quick and efficient crossover capable of 124mph that still does 40mpg.
Drive
Although the 6-speed manual box is absolutely beautiful to operate with, as it clocks serious mileage, gear switching gets more difficult. If that's due to a mechanical fault, the gearbox is difficult and expensive to repair. Otherwise, the RAV4 is quite a reliable car although you might want to avoid used cars that have seen a lot of off-road action.
Faults & Repairs
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