Edgy looks (inside and out) in the boxy SUV division, and the above. Not a thing has gone wrong with it.

The legendary 150 HP engine. One test drive will prove this one to you. Again, I knew this going in so I won't complain (much). It's fine for the kind of driving I do. Those who like to floor it on the freeway and rip by the annoying 'in your way' driver, and who didn't read reviews will be shocked at the Rav's inability to 'gun it.' I would give the Rav4 a five star rating for value, except that it wasn't exactly a steal. It's not like I bought a car at a YUGO price and instead drive a Cadillac. Ok, maybe that's extreme. Bottom line: I got exactly what I paid for and wanted, and I'm completely happy.

This car turned out to be exactly what I wanted. I researched its strengths and weaknesses through this site and others, and that's what I bought. I've had it since December, 2001, and have felt super-cool the whole time I have been driving it. It looks great, is totally comfortable to drive, gets good gas mileage, has a great cd stereo system, yada yada yada.

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1994 Nissan Pickup XE. Very reliable truck. I miss it, but am happy to have the Rav.

Alot of goodies inside! Lots of cup holders and I love the child locks on the back doors. No fear of my Grandaughter opening the moving car.

No power when quickly needed.

I love the way the Rav 4 looks. The only thing I have found that needs to be changed is when you have to get into fast moving traffic quickly, you might as well forget it. The engine sounds like we are taking off but the Rav just sits there. Could be dangerous if you need power quickly. I love my sun roof and oh so many cup holders. How nice!

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GEO STORM, JEEP WRANGLER

Good looks, louder stereo than most, excellent all wheel drive system, ABS w/ebd, quick, slick, versatilty, very good handling, VERY VERY SAFE!!!

could use a lil more power, more back seat room,( good for kids not THAT bad for adults), lil wind noise.

This is a great lil' vehicle. It has decent power, could use a little more but does get up there (I clocked it 0-60 around 9.9 seconds) it is an all wheel drive which is pretty good considering i had it thru 2 feet of snow with no problem. actually we used it to ploe someone out in the winter. the stereo system is loud but the fader has to be about 3 in the front to sound without boomy bass. It could have a little less wind noise but itsa nit a lot. It is easy to keep clean, I hav not washed it once in the summer, conasidering there is a drought but i wax it and its fine. you'll never see a spot on my RAV4. The gas mileage is great. You can drive from NJ to virginia and almost all the way back with 1 tank of gas. Good vehicle for a family with 1 or 2 kids, lots of inclemate weather, if you like to hit the trails sometimes, for a person that HAS to have a goood lookin car, and for a person that wants the versatility of a car/SUV/wagon.

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Nissan Sentra, Mercury Cougar, Nissan Maxima, Nissan 200SX, Ford expedition, Toyota Hignlander, Chevy Venture, and Chevy caprice (those are my familys cars which I have tested)

Styling. It's a Toyota.

Underpowered engine.

I bought a 2002 AWD. POSITIVES: Love the color (blue with gray bumpers and side trim). I think the exterior styling is the best of all small SUVs. I saw several people turning their heads the first weekend I had the car (a bicyclist almost fell off his bike looking back). Great comments from the guys at a recent tailgate party. My previous vehicle was a 1993 GEO Prism LSI (which is really a Toyota Corolla). The control locations in the RAV4 were exactly the same as the Prism, so I felt right at home. Spare tire is rear mounted allowing a high vertical cargo area - I can fit a bike inside right-side up (after folding rear seats and removing bike's front tire). I live in a downtown urban environment - it's small enough to zip around the city. NEUTRAL: Not a luxurious SUV by any means, it feels about the same as my old Prism. Although the rear seats are removable, I think some smaller woman may have difficulty with them. The AWD works OK, but you can't get too cocky in snowy conditions. NEGATIVES: Major negative (as stated by other reviewers), engine is underpowered. This is apparent when accelerating to expressway speed. My Prism had a Toyota 1.8L engine giving the car good pick-up. The RAV4 has only a slightly larger 2.0L engine for a much heavier vehicle. The new CR-V has a 2.4L engine. Toyota needs to offer a larger engine as an option. The AWD is full-time - I wish it was switchable like the Jeep Liberty for better gas mileage on dry roads. The delay for the intermittent setting for the windshield wipers is not adjustable like the Prism had - the delay control on the Prism is instead the rear wiper switch on the RAV4. SUMMARY: There is room for improvement with the RAV4. But considering what else is out there in small SUVs, I'm satisfied with my choice. If you don't mind the CR-V's boxy station wagon looks, then that would be the alternative. Ford Escape? Lately, Ford has some problems with recalls (I believe the Escape has been spared so far) and as a company has been on shaky ground. The Mazda Tribute is the same as the Escape. The Jeep Liberty is one to look at, although I'm weary because it's a Chrysler product. I am not impressed by the Santa Fe (I see tons of them on the roads these days). Chevy Tracker/Suzuki Vitara feel like boxes on the inside. The Land Rover Freelander is as bad as the KIA.

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Looked at nearly all small SUVs.

Uh.. The air conditioning works? Oh, yeah.. The dealer's was pretty good about getting the replacement drivers side visor in when it fell off. Actually, it is quite nice looking (I love the color)

Ours came with the alignment set wrong from the factory. It tracked straight, but the tires were ruined in no time. Of course, that isn't covered. A small fortune down the drain in no time flat - tires are EXPENSIVE for good ones. Check engine light is on (again) Lots of road noise Badly underpowered. Can't get out of its own way. Floor it and the transmission shifts down, the engine makes convincing noise like it's going to go, but still it just lumbers along. Rear brakes squeek very loudly (howl actually) the first time they're applied each morning. Weird.

Small, underpowered, irritating little SUV. We bought it hoping for a decent, quality car. I guess that's what we got, I mean it runs. While it's worlds better than the Chevy Astro we previously had, it's likely to be replaced soon. I wish its performance was as nice as its looks.

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Chevy Astro (piece of JUNK!)

Comfort, handling,design.

Power.

The car is quiet, confortable, easy to handle and the design is A+. It could have a bit more HP under that hood, but then the miles/Gl. would not be as good as it is now. Toyota quality is everywhere you look. So far I am a happy guy.

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Toyota 4 Runner, Ford Ranger, Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The small engine/ body means a longer range on off road treks. The AC is great here where temperatures reach 120-130 in the summer. The ride is comfortable and there is plenty of room for camping gear and a friend or two. Some complain about the lack of power-it is a tradeoff that I am glad to make for fuel economy and longer range.

Low ground clearance! Another two inches would be nice. The rocks in the wadis are tearing up my undercarriage. Once again a trade-off I am sure, I will try to find some bigger tires next time around. Great car Toyota. (I am a teacher, not a car salesman in case you are wondering.)

TRT (Toyota Racing Technology) has done it again! I do a lot of exploring. Oman is a desert country where access to mountains and beaches makes a four wheel drive mandatory. This vehicle is very versatile. It is comfortable cruising at the 100 mph range for long road distances on pavement and the four wheel drive gives sure traction on the dirt roads which are the norm here.

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91 Toyota 4x4 Pickup.

Size,Power!

Have not find any yet.

I LOVE IT!!!! I have been looking for a SUV for months. I think that the size of the RAV4 is great and I have no trouble with the power like other people have said. It looks just as nice as all the other SUV''s out there, and it is worth every penny I am paying for it.

I love the all wheel drive. Cargo space and folding seats are great for me.

Way too noisy!

I have the oldest model Rav4 out there, and it still runs great. I get good milage, it could be better, but it sure beats a Jeep. It handles snow well, and I plan on keeping for a while.

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Jeeps (Wrangler, CR5)

made in canada,joint venture..plenty of getup and go even for a 4cylinder..heat rocks!willfind out if air conditioning does here in desert in summer!great visibilty have halo headrests,superior quality.....real l0w 4x4 ratio

as with all utes,be careful approaching curves.no center console,square cupholders?![doh!]slde controls,stereo below a/c

have almost 600 mi onit,no complaints..beautiful finish and not too many on road..put a silver iridescent chevy bowtie on back window so people would not think it was a kia sportage..piece of crap..read kia owner,s reviews if you want to have some laughs

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kia sportage[cheap] jeep liberty [boxy]