The RAV4 is not simply a sport-utility wannabe. It has proven itself to be a standard-bearer for this new breed of mini-utilities. A well-designed independent suspension and rack-and-pinion power-assisted steering make it nimble on
and off the road.
Standard brakes are power-assisted front disc and rear drum; ABS is available as a $590 option. We were impressed with
the all-wheel-drive traction, very useful in snow and slush. Automatic transmission models have a center differential
that automatically locks up when excessive slip is sensed between the front and rear axles. On manual transmission models,
the driver utilizes a switch to manually lock or unlock the center differential. A limited-slip rear differential is
optional and recommended for improved traction off road.
The fun-to-drive quotient remains high on this unique mini-utility. Its unibody construction gives it a handling advantage
over truck-based sport-utilities with body-on-frame construction. The longer wheelbase on the four-door RAV4 smoothes some of the choppiness found in the two-door version. The engine feels peppy and can cruise at 80, but it runs out of power in the higher rpm range. Still, the RAV4 accelearates from 0-60 mph quicker than the Sidekick, Tracker and Sportage.