- suv 82,743
- 8,995 overpriced
- Clovis, NM
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- autoshopper.com
2002 toyota rav4 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Stylish and nimble. introductiontoyota's rav4 is a sporty-looking small utility. It's comfortable and convenient for running around town, it's easy to park, and it feels stable out on the open road. toyota completely redesigned and re-engineered its rav4 a year ago. The all-new toyota rav4 is more refined than the previous-generation model and it's much better looking. lineuptwo models are available: 2wd and 4wd. But they quickly escalate when adding options. That sounds more stable to us. contributing more to improved stability, at least on paper, is the fact that the wheelbase was increased 3. 1 inches while the overall length grew by just 1. 3 inches to 165. 1 inches, which is still 10. 5 inches shorter than a subaru forester and 12. 5 inches shorter than a honda cr-v. The overall picture here is of an expanded cabin placed on a lower, wider platform. the styling was dynamic, resulting from extensive sheetmetal reshaping. The old rav4 might have been seen as either cute or cobbly, depending upon the eyes of the beholder, but the new one is striking and aggressive looking. In one overnight swoop, it's gone from endearing to sexy. the lines suggest a vector or wedge shape, which is pretty hard to do with a basic tall, small box. This is mostly accomplished by a sloping hood and downward cant from the rear quarter panels forward, under the side windows. When the arched roofline ends with the optional spoiler, the result is cool looking. the cladding and body molding became smoother, the fender flares around 16-inch wheels are beefy for a mini suv, and styling scoops in the sides and hood show a big try at being eye-catching, maybe too much as the sheetmetal touches are pretty far beyond function. Combination taillights wrap nicely around the sides. At the nose, the headlights are shaped like wasp eyes, angling upward. Optional foglights are built into the airdam, which also contains a gaping grille with a few teeth. The gray body cladding looks good with some colors, but contrasts poorly with others. the optional alloy wheels are a simple five-spoke star pattern, and the optional cover over the spare, hanging on the rear gate, serves its purpose in making the rav4 look less rough, but therefore less rugged. The rear hatch swings horizontally, hinged at the right side (inconveniently against the curb), and the weight of the tire is noticeable; however the step up into the cargo compartment is made easy by the reduced ground clearance. Underneath, maybe to accomplish this, the gas tank has shrunk from 15. 3 to 14. 7 gallons. interiorgetting in and out of the rav4 is easy thanks to the low load floor. an important object of the toyota rav4 redesign was more cabin room. With the 50/50 split bench rear seats removed, there's now 68. 3 cubic feet of cargo volume available, compared to 57. 9 in the old model. There's also more cargo space behind the rear seats than before, as well as 2. 9 more inches of legroom in the front. The legroom is ample, and the driver's footrest allows even more stretch. New for 2002 is what toyota calls 'oak cloth.' the redesign for 2001 narrowed the seats at the hips by 2. 4 inches, but we didn't feel squeezed. By day, the gauges are a sort of metallic off-white, and by night they glow sort of orange. Admittedly, these aren't quite as legible as boring old white on black gauges. Directly ahead are three circles: speedo on left, temp/fuel/warning lights and gear indicator in the circle on the right, and nicely balanced between and above them in a smaller circle is the neat-looking tach. Redline runs from 6500 to 8000 rpm, pointless because the power peaks at 6000 rpm. climate controls are mercifully simple. There's a stubby stalk for the cruise control on the steering wheel, under the wiper stalk on the left side of the steering column. There are two big cupholders forward of the natty leather-wrapped e-brake lever between the seats, an accessory power outlet, and a small space near the console that's intended for change but big enough for cellphones. Sunglass holders too, under the steering wheel, and vanity mirrors with extensions and lights on each visor. We found the cargo cover constantly in the way. But it features a nice two-piece pullout design that makes it easy to remove. driving impressionthe toyota rav4's engine is a winner, though this is not the quickest vehicle on the planet. The 2. 0-liter engine is the same displacement as the previous-generation rav4 powerplant, but it is 40 pounds lighter, a benefit of its aluminum construction. It's more powerful and more efficient than before, delivering 23/27 mpg. it makes 148 horsepower and 142 foot-pounds of torque. This makes it responsive and pleasant around town. Acceleration in the 4wd with automatic transmission is lively and feels almost effortless, as if the 2943-pound vehicle were featherweight. The final drive ratio of this vehicle is 3. 29, as opposed to 3. 12 on the 2777-pound 2wd, so the 2wd (front-wheel drive) should feel about the same. Every shift felt seamless. around-town handling and parking lot maneuvering is wonderfully nimble; again, the rav4 feels even lighter than its 2943 pounds. On the highway, the power rack-and-pinion steering is precise, with no dodginess; the stretched wheelbase likely contributes to the improvement here. In gusty winds, however, the rav4 wanders quite a bit. there's little that's truck-like about the suspension. The independent front suspension uses macpherson struts with l-shaped control arms, while the rear suspension is a double wishbone with coil springs and nitrogen-filled shock absorbers. The redesign includes softer spring rates, larger bushings and a longer suspension stroke. Chassis and suspension take bumps with equanimity, and offer a ride as good or better than many larger suvs. Maybe even more impressively, there's no detectable pitching or tipping, which is no mean feat for any suv. finally, the brakes, which are plenty big enough for the weight, with 10. 7-inch front ventilated discs and 9. 0-inch rear drums. With a vehicle this good, it would be a shame not to include the optional abs. At $590, it also might be penny wise but pound foolish, especially since the abs includes ebd. That's electronic brake force distribution, which adjus. Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Cruise Control✔ Air Conditioning✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Alloy Wheels
8,995 Clovis, NMClovis, NM at autoshopper.com