Why Is The Toyota RAV4 One Of The Most Popular Small SUVs?

Author: Yash

 

The Toyota RAV4 is one of the highest-selling passenger cars today. It is simple to find out the reason. The Toyota RAV4 review will show that it has many default advanced driver safety features, lots of space for cargo and users, and a smooth ride. No doubt that the Toyota RAV4's long-running status is set to continue. The car debuted nearly 25 years back as one of the first crossover SUVs. The brand Toyota also gives the line-up a boost. The brand gives a wide variety of trim options for the Toyota RAV4. So, there is a good chance that the buyer will get the option they are searching for. There is also a base model of the car that is not very heavy on the wallet. The top-trim version of the car has all the functionalities you want from the line-up, even more than you expect. The line-up also includes the RAV4 Adventure. It has a robust styling on the exterior and contains off-road abilities as well. The TRD Off-Road adds special suspension tuning and tires that are good for every terrain. These trims will not turn the car into an off-road monster. But they will give the car more abilities than the other small SUVs.

 

Overview

The Toyota RAV4 review will show that the car gives something to everyone. It covers all customer tastes, from outdoorsy to swanky to spartan. This has led to some great Toyota RAV4 reviews. The base model takes care of the economic end of the spectrum. At the same time, the top trims give a great amount of equipment aimed at very different categories of consumers. No matter which trims buyers go for, the Toyota RAV4 comes with an eight-speed automatic and a four-cylinder engine. Front-wheel drive is the default, but all-wheel drive is optional on the top tiers. The Toyota RAV4 has a square-jawed look inspired by a few other SUVs. But the car-based construction gives a smoother ride than other truck-based variants. The interior accommodations are spacious and the items fitted are durable. But the consumer looking for modern-day convenience features such as blind-spot monitoring, push-button start, and power-adjustable seats will seek to look past the entry-level trim.

 

Interior

The Toyota RAV4 is well built from the inside. Nice layered materials join with invisible seams because they are built into the interior styling. The interior has tactile touches such as climate, radio knobs, and rubberized grip surfaces on the interior door pull. The Toyota RAV4 has optional simulated leather upholstery that feels pliable and soft. The stitching is also pretty tidy. The warranty coverage of the Toyota RAV4 is moderate. But buyers get a great two years of free scheduled maintenance.

 

Tech Features

The Toyota RAV4 has an interface that has a mix of fixed buttons and touchscreen that are quite simple to learn without going through any user manuals. But even though the car is relatively new, the touchscreen has outdated graphics. The sound system works well enough, but it is nothing great. The Toyota RAV4 has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. It is a nice thing, too, since the native Entune software of Toyota is clunky. The default suite of driver aids is good. It includes lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, drowsy driver detection, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It functions down to zero miles per hour. There is also the Line Tracing Assist. This is an active steering aid that is not hands-free.

 

Driving

Unfortunately, the Toyota RAV4 does not impress here greatly. The engine is average around the city, and merging and passing happen without issues. But if you are in a hurry, you will see that the engine has average power delivery. The car goes to sixty miles per hour in over nine seconds. This is a little slower than the segment average. Another problem we have is with the steering. It is vague at the center point and does not have good levels of heft and feel. As such, it is simple to misjudge the level of input. In good news, the optional upgraded all-wheel-drive has rear-axle torque vectoring and better-advanced traction control systems with selectable hill descent control and terrain settings. These systems, plus good ground clearance, give the Toyota RAV4 above-moderate off-road ability for such a small SUV.

 

Comfort

The Toyota RAV4 has a tuned suspension to give a good balance between softness and control. The body does not float or bound when it is driven over bumps. The usual impacts are absorbed without any issues. As for the front seats, they are shaped nicely and have good padding. But the seat bottoms begin to feel a little flat on longer drives. The passenger side does not adjust, so it can become difficult to get a comfortable position. The Toyota RAV4 is usually quiet at highway speeds. The exception is when the driver hits the accelerator for a burst of speed. At this point, the engine sound gets a little high.

 

Space

The cargo hold of the car is the largest of the entire class. You get nearly thirty-eight cubic feet when the rear seats are up. The figures go up to seventy cubic feet with them being stowed. The car is also very easy to load because of the low cargo floor. In the front, the cabin has a lot of bins and shelves that handle all the assorted paraphernalia found on the road. You may be planning on towing with the car. Some versions of the car can pull more than three thousand pounds. This is above average in this segment. The people who have children will like the car. It is quite easy to locate and connect the safety seats to the car seat anchors that are already present. Also, tethering to the upper anchors is quite simple. The boosters and the forward-facing seats also fit very well. But installing any rear-facing seat for the infant on the passenger side is going to need pushing the front seat up. The front passenger seat is too high and also faces the same issue.

 

Conclusion

The Toyota RAV4 is a good SUV that rides well, has a spacious interior that is fun to live with and gives lots of utility. It handles and brakes efficiently and is not very fuel-hungry. The average powertrain and the moderate steering are not the best choices for a small SUV.

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