Sidekick. Removable sunroof panels give it a beachy look. The two-door RAV4 offers a snug cockpit for four.
The four-door RAV4 offers a more aerodynamic stance and is comparable to the Kia Sportage and the larger Honda CR-V. It
offers some of the versatility of the mainstream compact sport-utilities, but with less room for people and parcels. The
four-door model is 16 inches longer and rides on a longer wheelbase than the two-door and offers seatbelt hardware for five
people.
The RAV4 uses front-drive Camry sedan components and a unibody chassis, which give it a car-like demeanor. Two- and
four-wheel-drive variations of the RAV4 are available. The four-wheel-drive models feature a lockable center differential
(on manual transmissions) and an available torque-sensing, limited-slip rear differential. Even though the RAV4 lacks a
low-range set of gears, its ground clearance (7.5 inches for the four-door, 7.7 for the two-door) is sufficient to make
off-road driving feasible. The locking differential gives the RAV4 traction advantages over the all-wheel-drive Honda CR-V
and Subaru Forester. The RAV4 has been compared to the Jeep Wrangler, though it cannot compete with the Wrangler in really rough going.
There doesn't seem to be a consensus on the RAV4's unique styling, considered everything from cute to ugly duckling to extra-terrestrial. No matter what you call it, Toyota calls it a success. Next Page