The Toyota RAV4 served as this weekend's transport for the 900-plus mile roundtrip north to Sacramento for a 13-year-old's birthday gathering. Along the way, slower vehicles were no match for the RAV4's torque-filled V6 engine, it lurched forward eagerly every time the throttle was goosed.
Fuel mileage fell slightly short of the RAV4's EPA ratings of 22 city/29 highway. This trip came in at 26.3 mpg on the highway alone, and 24.3 mpg during highway and city driving combined...
The radio gremlins and poor sound quality have been well documented, so I won't bother to complain about them again. My husband couldn't help but comment on the the large JBL speakers mounted in the front doors. He said they shout "aftermarket" and remind him of the 1970s when he yanked the door panels off his cars to install new speakers.
The 60/40 split flat folding second row seats are a breeze to change. In one effortless lever pull, the seat fell flat to easily accommodate the 6-foot long blowup shark, dubbed Hammerhead Hannah, for transporting. And with one pull, the seat immediately snapped back into place.
The only real annoyance during my trip was the constant squeaking from the hard shell cover protecting the spare tire. While it looks richer than soft covers, every time there was a slight bump in the road it rattled. And given California's roads, there was a whole lot of shakin' goin' on.
Kelly Toepke, News Editor, at 16,759 miles
jriz says:
10:51 AM, 05/21/07
That's what that rattle was!
jsc4321 says:
12:08 PM, 05/21/07
I don't get why you guys keep comparing the gas mileage with the EPA standards and feel that the RAV4 is a little disappointing since it doesnt quite me the standards. First off, all of your numbers matches, if not betters, the 2008 standards. Besides, this car has 269 hp and I'm surprised by the mileage you guys have been posting.
bimmerjay says:
12:54 PM, 05/21/07
Kelly only said it was "slightly short" of the EPA rating - how does that indicate disappointment? How else do you compare 26.3 mpg to either 27 or 29 mpg? Her comments were just stating the hard facts. IIRC the recent blog entries on the RAV4 have been positive about its fuel economy.