Buying a used Toyota RAV4 (2000-2006)

Lots of tags apply to vehicles with offroad capability and Toyota’s compact RAV4 sits comfortably under the banner of ‘urban 4WD’.

The RAV name is an acronym of the quaintly Japanese phrase ‘Recreational Active Vehicle’ and following its 1994 Australian launch the three-door was quickly adopted by owners in urban as well as rural areas.

Toyota had spent decades designing some of the most durable 4WDs in the world and also built millions of ultra-reliable passenger cars. The RAV’s function was to blend two streams of its business into an economical vehicle that could tackle sand, bush tracks and snow with the same aplomb as the cafe-strip crawl.

HISTORY
Within months of its Australian arrival, the RAV4 had jumped to the head of a light, ‘all-terrain’ vehicle pack previously dominated by Suzuki’s Vitara. Five years later that market had more than doubled in size, as had RAV4 sales, but the dominant player by 1999 was Honda’s slick CR-V.

Despite steady price reductions that saw a basic 1999 model selling for $4000 less than the original RAV’s $29,000, Toyota needed an edge in the battle for market share and that is exactly what the next version delivered. The ACA20/21R RAV4 range launched in July 2000 was headed by a 110kW Edge model. Priced at $25,540 and including dual airbags, electric windows and CD player, the three-door Edge immediately began hurting higher-priced rivals.

In five-door form, the Edge cost a still-reasonable $28,270 but then took a $3300 price leap to the better-equipped Cruiser versions. With no more power than the Edge, a manual-transmission Cruiser could surge past $38,000 if the buyer chose a five-door with air-conditioning and four-speed automatic transmission. Standard equipment to justify the extra money included an electric moonroof, alloy wheels, leather steering wheel and uprated CD sound system.

Toyota during the 1990s had produced a variety of Limited Edition RAVs and that tradition was revived in 2002 by the $32,500 Advantage and again during 2003 by a lower-priced Extreme.

Major news in late-2003 was the first increase in RAV4 engine capacity since its introduction almost a decade earlier. ACA22/23R model Cruisers and new CV (replacing the Edge) used the 2.4-litre VVTi four-cylinder that was common to a variety of Toyota models including the Camry and Tarago.

A revised grille and front bumper were also fitted and round fog lights filled nacelles on Cruiser models that previously accommodated indicator/side light units. The seats were improved and the rack and pinion steering reworked to provide better road feel.

All RAVs now had standard air-conditioning but the Safety Option Pack comprising additional airbags, traction control and brake assist still came at a $2700 price premium. 

During 2004, the RAV4 again led its market segment before being briefly outsold in 2005 by Subaru’s Forester and returning to the top in 2006. Since then the Subaru has ruled the roost.

The CV Sport offered during 2005 wasn’t any more powerful or overtly sporty than standard versions; the basic differences being a bonnet scoop, different grille, roof racks and seat fabric.

Single-range 4WD and lack of the earlier version’s centre diff lock mean that a wheel or two leaving the ground can leave the car vulnerable to bogging or worse.

Light weight, the relatively high centre of gravity and challenging terrain can combine to turn an offroad jaunt into a potentially expensive lesson. On transverse slopes it takes only an unseen rock to bounce a wheel into the air and failure to react quickly may tilt the little Toyota onto its side.

Sitting high provides good vision front and rear but that height and imprecise power steering in pre-2003 RAVs make accurate cornering more difficult than it should be. Compromises made when selecting tyres that work under a range of conditions reduce sealed-surface grip as well. Suspension that accommodates the lumps and bumps of rough-road driving contributes to body roll in tight corners.

Ride quality on unsealed surfaces is good and the constant 4WD transmission uses a viscous coupling that delivers equal amounts of power to the front and rear wheels.

The 2.4-litre engine produces only 10kW more power than the 2.0-litre but its real benefit lies a 16.6 percent torque increase that improves mid-range acceleration. It also makes the RAV more responsive when carrying a full load of passengers or towing.

Where the 2.0-litre automatic spent 14 seconds exposed to oncoming traffic during an 80-110km/h overtake, the more powerful model slashes that time by over two seconds. Revised gearing also delivers lower and more fuel-efficient engine revs at cruising speeds.

Tests when the 2.0 and 2.4 automatic versions were new saw the 2.4 averaging 11.3L/100km while the 2.0-litre managed a marginally-better 10.8L/100.

Five-speed RAV4 manual transmissions are generally reliable and easy to use. Some shifters can be notchy and a little slow between second and third gears but selecting first and reverse should not be difficult unless the clutch is close to replacement.

Versatility is a plus point for all RAVs in this age range. The centre rear passenger suffers due to a 50/50 seat split but at least the RAV has three lap-sash rear belts where some other vehicles in this category provide only a lap restraint in the centre.

There are two easily-accessed child restraint mounting points and the entire rear seat can quickly be removed to maximise load-space.

The front seats might feel a bit narrow and unsupportive for larger drivers but the instruments win for legibility and everything that needs to be found quickly is within easy reach. There won’t be many RAVs in the market that sold new without air-conditioning but the large areas of glass and pretty paltry ventilation vents make it pretty much essential.

USED VEHICLE GRADING
Design & Function: 13/20
Safety: 12/20
Practicality: 15/20
Value for Money: 12/20
Wow Factor: 10/20
CARSALES SCORE: 62/100

ALSO CONSIDER: Suzuki VitaraSubaru ForesterNissan X-TRAIL