2010 Toyota Rav4 reviews

Toyota Rav4 XTR 2010

I needed to urgently replace my aging Subaru Legacy and the only diesel 4x4 with a CO below 160gm available for immediate delivery was the RAV4, I took delivery at the end of October 2010. The car basically does what it says on the tin, the handling is fine, ride a bit hard, but the build quality, climate control and kit fitted as standard is first class. Although I have read reports of the engine being gruff, I find it very smooth, powerful and quiet - the clutch/gearbox is smooth and easy to make good changes. The fuel consumption is a bit disappointing, I get 43 mpg on the same journey that I regularly got 50 mpg from my diesel Subaru, which had exactly the same CO2 and combined figures as the RAV 4. Dealers seem a bit patchy, one I bought from was superb, local dealer is rubbish - does not ring you back and you can hang on for ages before they answer the phone and put you through to the wrong person. I am not keen on the side opening rear door, but the vehicle has good inside space and passengers seem happy. I found the headlights very poor, perhaps because I had xenon on the Subaru - have had a xenon conversion, but they are still not great. All said, the RAV4 is good value for money, the 5 year guarantee now matches the Koreans and it is starting to grow on me - I like the restrained styling and trim, the feeling of solidity and the conventional handbrake, indicators etc - my MD dislikes his new BMW 5 series because of mass of silly gimmicks and having driven it a couple of times, I am glad to get back in my RAV 4, which has an old fashioned almost old Mercedes like build and feels as if it will last forever.