2017 Toyota RAV4 review What they are not telling you about this SUV
The 2017 Toyota RAV4 is the best compact crossover
for you if you're interested in unraveling a minor automotive mystery. This is America's best-selling SUV of any
type. But it's far from the most engaging to drive. Its engine lacks today's most advanced technology.
And the styling seems to be reaching for a
sporty look without quite nailing it. Base prices are on the high side -- the top-of-the-line
Platinum model starts at $37,000 and you can't get it with leather upholstery. This Hybrid Limited model stickers for thirty-five
grand -- and although it's significantly more powerful than the gas-only RAV4, it's no more exciting to drive. So what's the attraction? I'm Chuck Giametta.
Join me for a CarPreview video review of the 2017 Toyota RAV4 [music intro] The nameplate debuted for 1996, at the dawn
of the crossover age, when Toyota launched the Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel
drive. None of its four design generations has had
true four-wheel drive using instead lighter-duty all-wheel drive. But each has been among the volume leaders
in a class that's grown to a dozen direct competitors, including the Honda CR-V, Ford
Escape, Jeep Cherokee, and Nissan Rogue. This latest RAV4 got a mild facelift for 2016
and also added the Hybrid model.
For '17, it goes upscale, adding the Platinum
version and, more important, every RAV now comes standard with a comprehensive set of
safety features, including emergency braking that can automatically stop it before you
hit another vehicle or a pedestrian. Most competitors limit that sort of safety
coverage to upper trim levels, and then charge a thousand dollars or more for it. So no mystery that safety-minded shoppers
should consider a RAV4. Even the entry-level LE model gets the Toyota
Safety Sense feature.
Besides emergency braking, it includes self-correcting
steering to keep you in your lane and radar cruise control to maintain a set distance
from traffic ahead. Most RAV4 shoppers choose the next model up
the ladder, the XLE. Interested in sportier looks and tighter handling? Go with the SE. The Limited was the flagship, but the Platinum
assumes that role for 2017.
All these models come standard with front-wheel
drive. About sixty percent of buyers choose all-wheel
drive. The only choice in a gas engine is a four-cylinder
with below-average power for the segment. Most rivals have direct fuel injection; it
doesn't.
And it has to motivate a crossover that's
a little heavier than the class average. Still acceleration is about midpack, and so
is fuel economy. If, however, you want to do more than merely
keep up with everyday traffic, consider a V-6 Cherokee or a turbocharged Escape or Subaru
Forester. If you're interested in a compact-crossover
hybrid, your investigation stops here: this is the only one in the class.
It teams a four-cylinder gas engine with an
electric motor to power the front wheels. Another electric motor back here kicks in
when you need all-wheel drive. The Hybrid produces more power than the gas-only
RAV4, but it's 350 pounds heavier, so acceleration is about the same. It is, however, the most fuel-efficient compact
crossover of any type; it even beats the subcompact Subaru Crosstrek hybrid.
Still, fewer than 15 percent of RAV4 buyers
consider it the answer to their compact-crossover riddle. Every RAV4 driver must contend with the enigma
that is this steering. It treats precision and road feel like secrets. It's the prime suspect in an uninvolving driving
experience.
Its accomplice is a suspension that allows
lots of body lean in sharp turns. The SE model reacts quicker and feels more
composed. But it's the choice of just five percent of
RAV4 shoppers. On the upside, every RAV4 is a stable straightline
cruiser.
We're mystified that handling isn't a greater
priority to the majority of RAV4 drivers. But when you experience this crossover's comfortable
ride and quiet, well-designed cabin, the attraction begins to reveal itself. The structure is solid, the interior roomy
and pleasant. Gauges and controls are logically arrayed
and all but the LE and XLE have convenient pushbutton ignition.
The shifter moves through a cheap plastic
gate, but this padded swath across the dashboard is a real upmarket touch, and every model
has lots of interior storage. LE and XLE have cloth upholstery, the others
get a synthetic leather Toyota calls SofTex. It's cooler and more durable than leather,
the company claims, and with this nice stitching, it feels pretty convincing. The front seats are firmly supportive, SE
buckets get extra bolstering The rear seat is among the more spacious in
the class.
All but the LE have a power liftgate, and
cargo room is exceptional -- although their extra powertrain hardware gives hybrids this floor intrusion. So room and comfort are clues. But to really unravel this mystery, you've
got to look to issues of reliability, quality, and reputation. They're excellent and Toyota says they're
the top three reasons buyers purchase a RAV4.
Sure enough, independent sources like JD Power
and ALG rank this among the very best crossovers for dependability and resale value. And with Toyota Safety Sense now standard,
every RAV earns Top Safety Pick+ status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. All that adds value, and even if prices are
not rock bottom, Toyota tends to be generous with incentives. That helps offset prices that are higher than
most direct competitors, with the new Platinum model among the costliest vehicles in the
class.
Starting just over $29,000, the XLE with all-wheel
drive is the single best selling RAV4. It comes nicely equipped with 17-inch alloys,
heated mirrors with integrated turn-signals, a power moonroof, and the power liftgate. SE, Limited, and Platinum count LED headlamps
among their standard features, along with 18 inch alloys. The SE wheels follow that model's dark-trim
theme.
Toyota doesn't offer Android Auto or Apple
CarPlay, relying instead on its own smartphone integration, called Entune. It works well, and can be supplemented by
imbedded navigation that doesn't require a cell signal. Imbedded nav, which includes a bird's-eye-view
camera system, is standard on Limited and Platinum. It's a $525 option on the XLE but a $1,300
extra on the SE, where it's bundled with a high-power JBL audio system.
The Platinum is the first RAV4 with features
like a heated steering wheel and hands-free power liftgate. It's aimed at compact-SUV buyers who want
more amenities without the bulk of a midsize or the baggage of a premium-brand. Speaking of which, Toyota's upscale Lexus
division sells an enhanced version of this crossover as the NX. It starts just a few hundred dollars above
the new RAV4 Platinum.
So solving the RAV4 popularity puzzle comes
down to some very practical matters. It makes few demands on its owners, and if
you don't demand driving excitement, it's likely to prove a trustworthy companion. And that's exactly what lots of people want. What's so mysterious? For more on this and other cars, trucks, and
SUVs, go to CarPreview.Com and please subscribe to our CarPreview YouTube channel..
for you if you're interested in unraveling a minor automotive mystery. This is America's best-selling SUV of any
type. But it's far from the most engaging to drive. Its engine lacks today's most advanced technology.
And the styling seems to be reaching for a
sporty look without quite nailing it. Base prices are on the high side -- the top-of-the-line
Platinum model starts at $37,000 and you can't get it with leather upholstery. This Hybrid Limited model stickers for thirty-five
grand -- and although it's significantly more powerful than the gas-only RAV4, it's no more exciting to drive. So what's the attraction? I'm Chuck Giametta.
Join me for a CarPreview video review of the 2017 Toyota RAV4 [music intro] The nameplate debuted for 1996, at the dawn
of the crossover age, when Toyota launched the Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel
drive. None of its four design generations has had
true four-wheel drive using instead lighter-duty all-wheel drive. But each has been among the volume leaders
in a class that's grown to a dozen direct competitors, including the Honda CR-V, Ford
Escape, Jeep Cherokee, and Nissan Rogue. This latest RAV4 got a mild facelift for 2016
and also added the Hybrid model.
For '17, it goes upscale, adding the Platinum
version and, more important, every RAV now comes standard with a comprehensive set of
safety features, including emergency braking that can automatically stop it before you
hit another vehicle or a pedestrian. Most competitors limit that sort of safety
coverage to upper trim levels, and then charge a thousand dollars or more for it. So no mystery that safety-minded shoppers
should consider a RAV4. Even the entry-level LE model gets the Toyota
Safety Sense feature.
Besides emergency braking, it includes self-correcting
steering to keep you in your lane and radar cruise control to maintain a set distance
from traffic ahead. Most RAV4 shoppers choose the next model up
the ladder, the XLE. Interested in sportier looks and tighter handling? Go with the SE. The Limited was the flagship, but the Platinum
assumes that role for 2017.
All these models come standard with front-wheel
drive. About sixty percent of buyers choose all-wheel
drive. The only choice in a gas engine is a four-cylinder
with below-average power for the segment. Most rivals have direct fuel injection; it
doesn't.
And it has to motivate a crossover that's
a little heavier than the class average. Still acceleration is about midpack, and so
is fuel economy. If, however, you want to do more than merely
keep up with everyday traffic, consider a V-6 Cherokee or a turbocharged Escape or Subaru
Forester. If you're interested in a compact-crossover
hybrid, your investigation stops here: this is the only one in the class.
It teams a four-cylinder gas engine with an
electric motor to power the front wheels. Another electric motor back here kicks in
when you need all-wheel drive. The Hybrid produces more power than the gas-only
RAV4, but it's 350 pounds heavier, so acceleration is about the same. It is, however, the most fuel-efficient compact
crossover of any type; it even beats the subcompact Subaru Crosstrek hybrid.
Still, fewer than 15 percent of RAV4 buyers
consider it the answer to their compact-crossover riddle. Every RAV4 driver must contend with the enigma
that is this steering. It treats precision and road feel like secrets. It's the prime suspect in an uninvolving driving
experience.
Its accomplice is a suspension that allows
lots of body lean in sharp turns. The SE model reacts quicker and feels more
composed. But it's the choice of just five percent of
RAV4 shoppers. On the upside, every RAV4 is a stable straightline
cruiser.
We're mystified that handling isn't a greater
priority to the majority of RAV4 drivers. But when you experience this crossover's comfortable
ride and quiet, well-designed cabin, the attraction begins to reveal itself. The structure is solid, the interior roomy
and pleasant. Gauges and controls are logically arrayed
and all but the LE and XLE have convenient pushbutton ignition.
The shifter moves through a cheap plastic
gate, but this padded swath across the dashboard is a real upmarket touch, and every model
has lots of interior storage. LE and XLE have cloth upholstery, the others
get a synthetic leather Toyota calls SofTex. It's cooler and more durable than leather,
the company claims, and with this nice stitching, it feels pretty convincing. The front seats are firmly supportive, SE
buckets get extra bolstering The rear seat is among the more spacious in
the class.
All but the LE have a power liftgate, and
cargo room is exceptional -- although their extra powertrain hardware gives hybrids this floor intrusion. So room and comfort are clues. But to really unravel this mystery, you've
got to look to issues of reliability, quality, and reputation. They're excellent and Toyota says they're
the top three reasons buyers purchase a RAV4.
Sure enough, independent sources like JD Power
and ALG rank this among the very best crossovers for dependability and resale value. And with Toyota Safety Sense now standard,
every RAV earns Top Safety Pick+ status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. All that adds value, and even if prices are
not rock bottom, Toyota tends to be generous with incentives. That helps offset prices that are higher than
most direct competitors, with the new Platinum model among the costliest vehicles in the
class.
Starting just over $29,000, the XLE with all-wheel
drive is the single best selling RAV4. It comes nicely equipped with 17-inch alloys,
heated mirrors with integrated turn-signals, a power moonroof, and the power liftgate. SE, Limited, and Platinum count LED headlamps
among their standard features, along with 18 inch alloys. The SE wheels follow that model's dark-trim
theme.
Toyota doesn't offer Android Auto or Apple
CarPlay, relying instead on its own smartphone integration, called Entune. It works well, and can be supplemented by
imbedded navigation that doesn't require a cell signal. Imbedded nav, which includes a bird's-eye-view
camera system, is standard on Limited and Platinum. It's a $525 option on the XLE but a $1,300
extra on the SE, where it's bundled with a high-power JBL audio system.
The Platinum is the first RAV4 with features
like a heated steering wheel and hands-free power liftgate. It's aimed at compact-SUV buyers who want
more amenities without the bulk of a midsize or the baggage of a premium-brand. Speaking of which, Toyota's upscale Lexus
division sells an enhanced version of this crossover as the NX. It starts just a few hundred dollars above
the new RAV4 Platinum.
So solving the RAV4 popularity puzzle comes
down to some very practical matters. It makes few demands on its owners, and if
you don't demand driving excitement, it's likely to prove a trustworthy companion. And that's exactly what lots of people want. What's so mysterious? For more on this and other cars, trucks, and
SUVs, go to CarPreview.Com and please subscribe to our CarPreview YouTube channel..
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