This thing is a blast to drive if for only one reason: The Engine!
Its has so much low-end torque that it bolts from the starting gate like a thoroughbred. I actually have to be careful with my throttle input when exiting parking garages, at green lights and around town lest I chirp and squeal all over the place. However, getting onto the freeway or passing its like hitting the switch into light speed. Well, not really, but it does smile like you're in 100mph gale...
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer @ 18,126 miles
ayao says:
10:21 AM, 06/24/07
What kind of real-world mpg are you guys getting?
kurtamaxxxguy says:
10:55 AM, 06/24/07
also, last I heard, the V6 RAVE4 had a long wait list given a shortage of Toyota V6 engines. Is that still true?
billt9 says:
12:34 PM, 06/24/07
People are getting 24 mpg with the V6.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=browseList1&make=Toyota
I really think it's the way Toyota tunes their pedals.
It resists you a lot more the deeper you depress it.
So essentially you're discouraged from using full throttle.
ayao says:
09:06 PM, 06/25/07
Interesting website, never really knew it existed. Thanks!
tappnel says:
06:01 AM, 07/ 1/07
I agree with the body of the article, this thing is a lot faster than it needs to be. Off the line, it's actually alarming - capable of embarrassing my Cooper S (though emphatically not in terms of handling) and possibly my mildly tuned WRX -at least for the first few yards until the rex's turbo wakes up. Freeway passing is a doddle, you do need to exercise judicious use of the throttle or you'll 'overshoot'. I actually think the car has sufficient torque to hang onto gears longer before downshifting, which it does too readily for my tastes. The over endowed engine is fun, but it makes the car a bit of a one trick pony (better than a no trick pony I guess). The car grips OK and stops well, but handling is far, far from involving.
I'm not getting 24mpg though, this is hardly surprising. The best was about 26mpg (taking it easy on the freeway), generally it's been more like about 20ish (suburban driving mainly).
@kurtamaxxguy:
No waiting list as far as I know. The V6s are certainly rarer - I'm told the split is around 70% 4cyl, 30% 6 cyl. I got hold of a pretty unusual spec V6 (AWD Limited w/ 3rd row) by shopping online. A big MD internet dealer sourced a vehicle from another dealer 90 miles away (there were a couple of others nearer, but not in my colour) and gave me a great deal too. This was at the end of April.
tappnel says:
08:56 PM, 07/ 1/07
alun -
I'm wondering what other vehicles you considered besides a V6 RAV4.
I also have a lightly modified WRX wagon; the missus is talking Odyssey ... I'm thinking more along the lines of 335i wagon (if it ever comes to the US) , Legacy GT wagon, V6 RAV4, Forester XT ... maybe CRV?
Things that might be dealbreakers with the RAV4: side-opening door, absence of cargo area light, electric foibles.
Curious about your thoughts -- thanks.
cbmorton says:
06:38 AM, 07/ 3/07
Our RAV4 V6 is now about three weeks short of a full year on the road and we've been quite satisfied. The side-opening door and silly cargo area light (it's not absent, just poorly located) are occasionally inconvenient, but not even close to deal-breaker status for us, anyway - the rest of the vehicle works so well.
I agree with much of what alun said. In my previous vehicle (Subaru) I was used to having to really wind it out when I needed some acceleration or passing power. Winding out the RAV4 means you end up zooming around, smoking people at lights and blowing passed cars into the weeds. So I learned to keep my foot light unless I actually needed all that power. Handling is competent but unexciting. Mileage has ranged from high teens in town during the dead of winter to 28-30 mpg on summer highway cruises. Our lifetime average is just under 24 mpg.
Coming off a Subaru we looked at the Forester and Outback before settling on the RAV4.