The Toyota RAV4 is certainly a prolific vehicle. I see one of these driving by pretty much several times a day. Something must be right with this car to influence so many consumers. As an aside, I had a friend who owned a very old model RAV4, I believe from the mid 90s, and still had the vehicle in working order by 2006. The same friend went out and bought the new model of RAV4 once the one she had finally, and tragically because she had become quite attached to it, began to break down.
That type of dependability and extended shelf life is definitely one of Toyota's trademarks. Come to think of it, almost all Toyota owners I know have had their vehicle well beyond their prime. Nevertheless, this universal feature of the company seems to work in spades on the RAV4.
As I drove the RAV4 I noticed how supremely smooth the ride was. Furthermore, some sport utility vehicles are a bit finicky on the turns, either being prone to fishtail or being overly top heavy and posing the risk of overturning. I felt none of this when I drove the RAV4. I remember feeling absolutely safe as I took sharp turns without feeling the characteristic pull that often jars many drivers of sport utility vehicles.
The body of the vehicle is sleek and is a nice change from the usual boxy frame that this class of vehicles is prone to. The interior was well designed and presented amble opportunity for both passengers and the driver to relax and unwind.
What also impressed me was the price sticker. Knowing that Toyota's last almost indefinitely, finding that the RAV4 was offered at a very competitive price versus its competition was a nice breath of fresh air. So many imports are generally overpriced but this one just made good dollars and sense.