Japanese used car reviews
 Review Toyota RAV4 2003
Overview
Toyota's RAV4 is a stylish, useful, durable and reliable car. It's got good road handling, and it comfortable for town driving.
Toyota has redesigned the 2001 RAV4 making it better looking than previous models.
For 2003, the RAV4 has a Sport Package with features such as air conditioning, power windows and mirrors and six-speaker stereo.
Walkaround
The 2003 style update to the RAV4 is more striking and bullish than the cutesy original 2001 models.
The wheel base is 166.2 inches long making the RAV4 12.4 inches shorter than a Honda CR-V and nine inches shorter than a Subaru Forester.
The best description is a wedge shaped cabin which is somewhat hard to do with what is a tall small box! The designers achieve this with a sloping hood and downward sloping rear panels and windows. This, combined with a roof which arches, and the optional spolier produces an effect which is sleek and stylish.
The bodywork is smooth with bumpers which are flared out over the chunky 16 inch wheels. The rear lights work smoothly around the sides and at the nose the headlights have wasp like features which face up. The foglights (optional) are housed in the front grill.
Optional alloy wheels come with a simple spoke pattern. The rear door has a hinge on the right which means that the door swings the wrong way for some situations. Be sure to check this on the model you purchase.
 Interior Features
A low floor makes alighting and embarking easy and lets you into a roomy interior cabin.
There is plenty of legroom and the drivers footwell allows even the tallest of people to stretch out. The bucket seats hold the body comfortably and are covered with a rugged black trim which gives a high class feel. The seats offer a good view and you will lord over your surroundings as you drive, giving good forward visibility. However the spare on the rear door hampers somewhat the rear view. The wheel is adjustable and fits a variety of body heights comfortably.
The dashboard is clear and easy to read, well styled and lit in day and night, although at night the guages were lit with an orange light which made some of the readings slightly less readable than a traditional colored dial.
The air conditioning controls are simple - on and off - with adjustable fan speed and color coding for heat. Two large cup holders provide convienint positions for cans or cups while comfortably missing the parking break between the seats. There is a power outlet and a small cubbyhole big enough for change or a cell phone.
There are dual compartments for storing things in the trunk and compartments under the floor. This combined with net pockets on all doors and a sunglasses holder on the dash ensure that you wont be lost for convienent holders.
The cargo capacity is about 70 cubic feet when the rear seats taken out. The low floor enables easy loading and unloading - ideal for grocery shopping.
 Driving Impressions
The engine, aluminium 2.0 liter four cylinder, is efficient and delivers about 25/31 mpg city/highway.
The revs go quite high and also gives good torque at a low rpm. RAV4 is responsive and easy to drive about town, and the engines gives 148 horsepower and 142 foot pounds of torque. The 4WD model provides good acceleration on the automatic model and the car feels almost as light as a feather.
Town driving and parking is easy. The RAV4 has precise steering without any spongy drift although it does have some wandering in adverse conditions like strong wind.
As expected for a SUV it offers a smooth ride with the suspension absorbing the bumps effortlessly, and provides as good a ride as many of the larger SUVs. The suspension offers independent Macpherson struts and the rear has a double wishbone layout with nitrogen filled shocks.
Breaking is well taken care of with 10.7 inch front discs and 9.0 inch rear drums. Anti-locks are optional but well worth the extra as it comes with Electronic brake force distribution. EBD is a system which adjusts the force on the rear wheels depending on the load of the vehicle. This has the effect of improving stopping distances and improving stable driving and breaking, especially in an emergency.
 Summary
A bullish style with a sleek cool look. Good all round performance and comes with the Toyota trademark levels of quality, realibility and durability.
Specifications
Engine: 2.0-liter 16-valve inline-4
Transmissions: five-speed manual; four-speed automatic
Safety equipment (standard): driver and passenger front airbags, front seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters, side-door impact beams; center high-mount stop lamp; child seat anchor brackets
Safety equipment (optional): ABS with EBD
Basic warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
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