Urban SUV 4x4 fun to drive in the winter with 40/60 all wheel drive All wheel drive system is better then the Honda CRV.

NO POWER NOISY

After reading reviews from from different web site on the 99 grand cherokee, I now think my Rav4 wasn''t so Bad after all. The Rav4 lack''s power, only has one cup holder and the fuel door opener got some under ice in the winter time. I had to pick the ice to reach the lever! It could be more sound proof at highway speed and that about all after 4 years of leasing. Looking forward to buy someting with more power and I will probably stick with Toyota or maybe Nissan.

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First SUV

Fuel economy is average ... 30 mpg on highway Cargo space is reasonable for travelling

Seriously underpowered 98 Rav 4 should not be purchased ... they are plagued with serious transmission problems.

The Rav 4 is seriously underpowered and my 98 Rav 4 has been plagued with transmission problems. I have replaced one under warranty. The second transmission I had to pay 30% of the cost as I went over the one year warranty by a month! The original transmission overhaul only last a year, 20 000km! The Rav 4 is severely underpowered and the five speed transmission revs way too high! As a result the transmission cannot endure the "high RPMs" that plague the Rav 4''s and you ruin your transmission everytime!

good looking, economical, comfortable. Easy to park, nice color choices. 16 inch wheels improve ride. Lots of head room.Seat belts are adjustable. Rear view mirror upgrade which includes auto dimming of head lights from cars behind you, temperature and compass is a nice extra.

If you are looking for a hot rod, you won''t find much power. However it does accelerate adequately and does well on the highway. The cruise control takes some getting used to because of its placement. The cargo area is ok for small loads but if you plan to load much you will have to either remove the seats or roll them. The automatic transmission seems to work ok but at lower speeds it doesnt shift as smoothly as I expected. Some colors cannot be gotten with the L package. Head rest on back seats somewhat restrict view thru back window. They are removable however. The seat adjustments are fair, I would have preferred an electric seat adjustment. The wheel tilt is a little unwieldy but once you get the wheel set it is comfortable. Leather seats are pricey (about 1,000)

If you are looking for a personal car to drive to work that is economincal on gas this car is for you. A small family might work in town but would be too small for a family with kids on a trip. I suggest you get the L Package unless you are on a budget and can deal with a stripped down model. I got the L package with ABS, keyless entry and automatic transmission (2wheel drive). Don''t let the saleman talk you into a roof luggage rack. They all come with one and you only pay for it if you order it.

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Test drove Ford Escape and while it had more room and a larger engine, I found the interior to be cheap looking and the body style was pretty generic.

fuel economy cargo space size build reliability

leg room

The car is not the most visually appealing like the lexus suv but is more desirable than the hyundai suv. it is worth the money i payed for, all time 4wd, fuel economy, removable seats, not hard to park, extremely reliable, definition of toyota quality

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gmc jimmy, ford explorer, honda crv

Styling, space, price, gas mileage. Removable rear seats. Toyota quality.

Could use more power. Has a 4cylinder engine. I think it would be better with a bit more power at higher highway speeds, but overall I don''t need that much power.

I just purchased a RAV4 L. I have to say so far I am very happy. I did several monthes of research before deciding. The RAV4 offers you many SUV bonuses (more room, better vantage point) however the price is nice, the ride is very smooth and car like and the fuel economy is much better.

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Test drove the Hyundai Sante Fe, Jeep Liberty, Nissan X-terra, and Toyota Highlander. Last car owned a 1994 Toyota Corolla.

Styling, sporty interior

Low torque, poor quality and service.

Initially, I was happy with the purchase but then I started having problems. Rear brakes were making a bunch of noise but the first time I brought the car in the problem was ignored. Complained the 2nd time and the dealer finally fessed up. Had to replace rear brake. Transmission was mis-shifing and needed to have part replaced also. These things happened after only 8K miles. If there was a problem why doesn''t toyota say something about it? Don''t know. Recommend looking at honda CRV

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1st gen CRV

No more tire rotation with AWD. Fuel economy is good. Quiet.

I really dislike the solid lifters. No one likes to adjust the rockers. It makes the valve cover leak, thats no fun. Low end torque. Price

I really enjoy running around town in this, but out of town it lacks a few things. Power comes to mind. Mid range and high range power is nice, but low end is about the same as a GEO Metro. I added an electric supercharger to it. It helps some.

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You name it.

cute, good gas mileage, AWD great traction, not much "SUV roll", smooth ride for 4WD vehicle.

Has no power! Please offer a V6, Toyota! Rear seats should be removable or fold into floor instead of going forward.

Having driven both passenger cars, and most recently a Tacoma, I think the RAV drives intermediately between the two. The suspension takes bumps, potholes, and rough pavement very well and I have had great success with the AWD in snow, gentle offroading, and slippery roads in general. The cargo area is very large considering the body size of the car--I have hauled furniture, boxes, people, and 2 adult bikes at various times without any problems. The auto is pretty comfortable for long trips, and does not have the "roll" as much as its Honda or Geo Tracker competition. I like the RAV overall, but its only weakness is a killing one--no power whatsoever. Toyota desperately needs to offer this in a V6... not a +15 HP 4-cylinder upgrade option, but the biting 190 HP Tacoma V6. The engine is so weak for the weight of the car that I''ve almost been rearended more times than I can count just merging onto highways. A larger engine might enable the car to tow more than an open-cart. Oh, and the cargo area would be much more useful if the rear seats were fully removable like the PT cruiser, etc.

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Geo Tracker (roll, roll), Toyota Tacoma (powerful but rough ridin'')

Paint-good Tires-good

High Price for ''98 with 67,000 miles Ride was terrible Salesman was pathetic Service hours not desirable

We didn''t purchase the automobile, it was taken for a test drive. I was interested in a small SUV and my wife noticed this one on the way home from work. We stopped in, spoke to a salesman, and took a ride. The salesman spent the entire trip telling us how great this car was for us etc....it was a 1998 Toyota RAV 4 4dr, 4 cylinder and automatic shift. I rode like an old stagecoach and when I ask the salesman why the ride was so rocky, he explained that we would get used to it. My wife immediately turned around and we drove back to the dealers. To make a long story short the next day we bought a 2000 Chevy Tracker for approximately $3000.00 less than we would have paid for the used RAV 4. Moral-it pays to return to the same dealer that you purchased the car you are driving.

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purchased 2000 Chevy Tracker the next day

- exterior and interior styling
- build quality
- great engine
- car-like ride
- high seating position (commanding view of road)

- price
- tight rear leg and knee room

This car is a real pleasure to drive, in almost every aspect. The styling of the exterior and interior is eye-catching and contemporary. The ergonomics are great. Toyota quality, but not bland for a change, interior. The engine is reasonably powerful and smooth. It receives great fuel economy (compared to others in its class) and the 2.0L 4-banger sounds great at high revs, reminding of a celica. excellent cargo room and respectable passenger volume.

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Honda CR-V: good car, but aging...
Mazda Tribute/Ford Escape: good looks, but Ford engine
Suzuki Grand Vitara: cheap (price-wise), but bland exterior and interior
Hyundai Sante Fe: great styling and America's best-warranty, but wearing the Hyundai badge, otherwise, not a bad alternative
Nissan Xterra: powerful, but too truck-like
Jeep Liberty: unique styling, not a bad car

The CR-V, Santa Fe, and Liberty are definitely great competitors in this fast-growing mini-ute segment of the automobile industry, the Rav4's styling just doesn't get any better.