Toyota rav4 2004 reviews
The wheel wells bulge into the front footwells. Space is a premium inside the RAV4 as the suspension and four-wheel drive mechanisms intrude into the passenger compartment. On the negative side, the window controls are too low to be considered comfortably reachable and the rear fog lamp switch is almost hidden near the bonnet opening lever. The ventilation controls are also within easy reach and so are most of the controls on the radio. The handbrake and gear lever are where they belong, not requiring a stretch and a bend just to pull it up.
More than just a visual treat, the new RAV4 has excellent ergonomics that thrashes the much older Honda CR-V. The silver center console with the Allen-Type Screws complete the look. The white-faced gauges with central tachometer (that reverses to orange text on black background at night), sporty seats, circular air con vents and the thick sports steering wheel won't look out of place in a Celica. The RAV4 emphasizes the ‘S’ rather than the ‘U’. Cheesy elements such as slide-type vent controls were taken out, and the result is a sportier SUV. A good point is that the RAV4 materials have improved from the older model's. Inside, it’s the same story for the RAV4: a mixture of the good and the bad. What Toyota should have done is let the glass open independently, similar to the CR-V's. It is still a single-piece swing out door that needs a lot of space to open up. But couldn’t Toyota have thought of a better way to integrate this component rather than just drilling two holes and screwing in an aftermarket part?! If we thought Toyota had a booboo with the Camry’s rear fog lamp, wait till you open the rear door. Of course, being standard issue in the likes of Norway and Finland, the rear fog lamp is nothing more than a piece of accessory here (not counting their usefulness in heavy downpours).
The biggest eyesore is most definitely the standard rear fog lamp. However, the exterior is not without problems.
Toyota rav4 2004 reviews plus#
In fact, the two-tone paint plus the excellently integrated door protection strips have added more styling points to the RAV4. The side protection strip and the black plastic bottom that caused people to laugh at the previous RAV4 have all been removed. The pull-type door handles are also a welcome change that adds character and class to the RAV4.
The huge front headlamps capped off with the small rear clusters are some clear examples. This new RAV4 also gains a more angular design than the previous generation's.īeyond the RX300 roofline, the RAV4 gains some sporty cues from the Toyota Celica as well. It follows the lines of the much bigger Toyota Harrier, aka Lexus RX300: the sloping roof rear roof line and the sharp-edged creases are evidence of their similarity. Based on the manual, this is the same vehicle that either Mika Hakkinen or A-Ha are currently driving.Įxhibiting a more manly exterior, the new RAV4 completely departs from the cutesy image. Surprising fact is that the RAV4 that made its way in the Philippines is the Scandinavian-spec RAV4. Launched as a Completely Built Up unit, the RAV4 is now assembled in Japan…this will very well address the concerns of build quality for those afflicted with colonial mentality. Part of Toyota’s ‘revolution of change’ in the Philippines, the 2001 RAV4 is radically different from its predecessor. Since Toyota was the first to release their RAV4 in 1997, they logically had to be the first to introduce a replacement. Realizing this, the Japanese had to rethink their strategies. Even the Europeans and Americans came into the picture: Land Rover, for instance, came up with the equally impressive (but poorly built) Freelander and Ford came up with the Escape (co-developed with Mazda’s Tribute). When these mini-SUVs began to sell like hotcakes, companies considered them a mainstay in their line-up. On the other hand, the Honda CR-V was based on the Civic chassis and engine. The Toyota RAV4 for instance used a modified Corolla chassis and was powered by a Corona engine. The story is no different when the cute-as-button mini-SUVs began to invade the market. Sure, manufacturers have to develop a new shell and body panels, but essentially, the basic frame and the engine were all sourced from existing parts. Niche market vehicles are usually developed as an afterthought.