New RAV 4 My Impressions

[bronsin]

My daughter got stuck in the snow in her '12 Camry the other day so her husband went out and bought her a new RAV 4.

This thing is supposed to be (or was) a compact SUV. Its turned into a monster! Its like as big or bigger than the top of the line Toyota four wheel drive (cant remember the name) used to be! It has a 2.5 liter 176 hp engine which looks way different that the 2.4 liter in my wifes 05 Camry and my daughters '12. The tires are like 20 inches in diameter.

Land Cruiser! thats it!

And its made in Detroit and looks it. Opening the engine compartment to put wheel bearing grease on the batterey terminals and scoping out the engine revieled something that does not look like the Made in Japan product. Thats not to say it wont last but the quality definately isnt there. I wouldnt want to have to buy it if I was in the market.

The sticker says it gets 25 mpg overall and 29 hiway. I guess thats par for the course but just think how good it could be with a smaller lighter body and a 2 liter engine. They always make cars bigger and bigger and bigger. The Civic is as big as the Accord used to be now.

So the compact SUV is extinct! Phooey I dont like it!

[IllusionX]

I actually like the Rav 4 very much. My sister has one and it's pretty good so far. Downgraded to 16" (her old camry wheels) for the winter. Indeed 20" seems huge while the first Rav came with 15 or 14" wheels. lol ether way, the RAV4 is a mid size SUV, so downsizing would become something like a Honda HR-V or a Mitsu RVR.

[bronsin]

Well if you like it thats all that matters.

The new one is almost literally twice as big as the first ones that came out.

[IllusionX]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Well if you like it thats all that matters.



The new one is almost literally twice as big as the first ones that came out.

The first one came out as a competition to the Suzuki x90?

[Kal-El]

As hard as it is to believe, the RAV4 is indeed a compact crossover SUV, not a mid-size. It competes in a very crowded field that includes the CRV, Escape, Cherokee,...

I think these are sized just right now. The original's size would look silly in today's market and wouldn't sell well.

Size progression is as follows (using Toyota's lineup):

Compact: RAV4
Mid-size: Highlander, 4Runner
Full-size: Sequoia, Land Cruiser

Just stand near a Sequoia and a RAV4 becomes small again.

An example of a sub-compact SUV is the Buick Encore which is actually a unique player in the market.

[fnkngrv]

I find the new Rav4 bland and bloated. Personally it looks like a plain Jane SUV now. I had considered one at a point, but don't want to buy something so old (previous gens) at this stage.

[kimona]

I think the new RAV4 looks pretty good compared top most of the other Toyota models, but it certainly has grown much bigger!

I saw a Buick Encore yesterday for the first time. Now, that's a smaller SUV with a 1.4l turbo that's rated at 33 MPG highway!

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

I think these are sized just right now. The original's size would look silly in today's market and wouldn't sell well.

If you want to be a slave to rising gas prices just buy bigger and bigger vehicles.

If youd rather not be a slave, buy the smallest vehicle out there. Its silly driving a 300 inch cubed engine with just you in it to work. Thats what 75% of trips are.

Maybe we could get together a large car death squad and bump some of these people off? Kind of like ISIS.

[IllusionX]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

As hard as it is to believe, the RAV4 is indeed a compact crossover SUV, not a mid-size. It competes in a very crowded field that includes the CRV, Escape, Cherokee,...

I think these are sized just right now. The original's size would look silly in today's market and wouldn't sell well.

Size progression is as follows (using Toyota's lineup):

Compact: RAV4
Mid-size: Highlander, 4Runner
Full-size: Sequoia, Land Cruiser

Just stand near a Sequoia and a RAV4 becomes small again.

An example of a sub-compact SUV is the Buick Encore which is actually a unique player in the market.

You are actually right. The original RAV was in the mini SUV category.

[WeeYari]

Small, funky, fun...



Bloated, urban utility...



I recently saw, for the first time in forever, a gen1 Rav4. Until that sighting, I had totally forgotten how small they originally were. I liked them up to Gen3, but in my mind the Gen4 ceases to be a 'Rav4'.

[bronsin]

Its the same with almost every vehicle/ They keep getting bigger and bigger until they are no longer in the same catagory!

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by bronsin

If you want to be slave to rising gas prices just buy bigger and vehiclesehicles.

If youd rather not be a slave, buy the smallest vehicle out there. Its silly driving a 300 inch cubed engine with just you in it to work. Thats what 75% of trips are.

Maybe we could get together a large car death squad and bump some of these people off? Kind of like ISIS.

Most families, 4 or more, want or need something bigger than a sub-compact. You need a vehicle for all of your needs, not strictly what gets you to work most efficiently. Most don't want to have numerous cars for different purposes. That's why electric cars don't sell because you need to have a gas car too. A family going on a road trip wants comfortable space for everyone and all their gear for their destination. That's where these SUV'S come in. They are extremely practical even if they eat more gas than what is ideal.

My current plans for my next vehicle is the Toyota Highlander. This 3rd gen is fantastic. My family has gone from 2 to 4 since buying my Yaris and I'm really iching for more.

[IllusionX]

^ haha I've been eyeing the Highlander too. But I'm probably going for something smaller, like a Mazda5 GT because sliding doors.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by kimona

I saw a Buick Encore yesterday for the first time. Now, that's a smaller SUV with a 1.4l turbo that's rated at 33 MPG highway!

The Chevy Trax (Chevy's version of the Encore) was one of my favorite cars at the Houston Auto Show in January.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by IllusionX

^ haha I've been eyeing the Highlander too. But I'm probably going for something smaller, like a Mazda5 GT because sliding doors.

I noticed those sliding doors on more than one Mazda model at the auto show. Very slick, wery well done.

[ezhacker1]

I like the xa20 and xa30. The 4th gen is ugly and big. The 3rd had the v6 AWD option. 2nd with its manual and awd option is what I want tho. I kinda want a crossover type.

[fnkngrv]

We will be trading our Highlander in at a year or less. I am honestly only happy with the power the 3.5l v6 has. Other than that kind of disappointed. I mean the backup camera screen is a total joke. Doesn't even have proximity sensing. It was like they threw it in as an afterthought. MPG has been nowhere and I mean nowhere near what is advertised. I and my family have owned close to a dozen Yotas over the years and this is the honest first time this has happened. First Yota for the other half too and it pisses me off because she is so disappointed with many aspects. Pretty much sure she will never buy another one again. :-( Perhaps a Lexus, but even that is on rocky roads.

[fnkngrv]

Those examples above are only the tip of the blade. People can argue all day long, but the bulk of the market in the US especially want features and cool ones at that over just reliability. Unless Yota wakes up in the next few years their coveted top of the world station will erode.