2005 Toyota RAV4

Owning and driving my Toyota RAV4 is really a lot of fun. by the way, this will not be a review geared toward those who are tech-oriented-just for the average driver.

Having said that, I have driven and enjoyed this car for a year now. I purchased my 2005 in 2006 with 10,000 miles on it, and overall am very pleased with my car. I purchased it in silver and of course, automatic with 2 wheel drive. Prior to purchasing this car I had a Saturn SC2, and have always owned small cars. I found that while the customer service at Saturn was wonderful, the quality of the vehicle was not. That is why I returned to Toyota.

I was torn between purchasing the 2006 RAV4 which of course is bigger and had options that were very appealing, and selecting the 2005 RAV4 that is smaller and I felt was "cuter". I really prefer a smaller vehicle. I am on the short side (5'2-5'3") so feel more in control of a smaller car. Additionally it is easier to park. The overall look of the 2005 is more attractive to me, and more unique than the 2007.

It was decided that I would drive both of the vehicles to determine which I preferred. The 2006 was a smoother ride, and I did prefer the interior of the car. However, when evaluating the increased cost of the 2006, and the fact that I really did prefer the look of the 2005, I went with that year/model. However, I must admit I was very disappointed and frankly shocked when I found out the 2005 RAV4 did not have keyless entry. The dealership didn't feel it was important to mention that until I was in the office of the financial manager. While it isn't the most expensive Toyota SUV, it seemed ridiculous that it did not have keyless entry in this day and age. They talked me into purchasing lo-jack instead.

As I have some back problems I definitely wanted adjustable seats. The driver's seat has adjustment for height and I tend to recline it. The back seats can be folded flat, and they recline, and are able to be removed, so ideal if you need to transport anything (I've transported my dogs, as well as a large television set, vacuum cleaner, etc). Behind the back seat there is 29.2 cubic feet of storage area.

The car comes with the following as standard equipment :

*Air conditioning

*AM/FM/Cassette/CD audio system with six speakers

*Cruise control

*Tilt steering wheel with audio controls

*Power windows

*Power door locks and power mirrors

*Variable intermittent windshield wipers

*Illuminated ignition key ring

Of course there are various options. They added Lo-jack as I mentioned previously, and I later added keyless entry/security system on my own. I felt much happier more satisfied, and secure after the keyless entry was added.

My thoughts on comfort:

Everyone who has been in my car has found it to be pretty comfortable. I've driven for a few hours at a time, and had no difficulties, though my back can be problematic. My neighbor has a Toyota Highlander, and of course that is a lot larger, more costly, and therefore more comfortable car than mine. The front seat has sufficient leg room. I haven't sat in the backseat, but like most smaller SUVs it could be roomier I've been told.

For whatever reason, I have not found the steering wheel to be comfortable for me to use. I haven't figured out why. It does adjust. I've tried both positions, and it just seems a little awkward to me.

Set up:

The display panel is all set up in a reasonable way, so have no complaints about that. The power windows, stereo, CD player are all fine, and I'm pleased with them.

The cargo space works well for me.

Driving the car:

This car is not extremely quiet, nor is it noisy in my opinion. It takes turns well, accelerates smoothly and efficiently, stops safely. I haven't noticed any particular blind spots, as I had in my Saturn.

Mileage:

I find I am getting about 22 driving on the streets and about 27 on the freeways. It isn't fantastic, but it is pretty good.

Final thoughts:

The Toyota RAV4 is not a luxury car, but it is a reasonably priced, nice-appearing, reliable car that is enjoyable to drive and is very convenient for my dogs. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a small SUV. Do consider the lack of keyless entry, and if it is important to you, have them add it for you. Also, I do need to take the car in soon as my check engine warning light illuminated as well as the VSC Trak/Trak off lights. I took it to a Pep Boys as well as Midas, and both indicated it is my Catalytic Converter. Midas looked it up on the internet and advised me it is on recall for my car. I called the Toyota dealership and the service manager said it isn't the catalytic converter but the computer for it. I guess he was referring to the sensor.

This is a fun and reliable car, and I do not regret purchasing it at all though I must admit it is much more pleasant dealing with Saturn salespeople than Toyota. I wish that salespeople would get the clue that people need to be able to trust them, and not feel beaten up when they leave. While I usually get bored with cars after a few years I may keep this one for several years. Oh, and other than getting oil changes, regular maintenance, I have had no problems other than the glitch mentioned previously, and that will be taken care of at no cost to me.

When I do buy a new car, I will most likely do it online and get a definitive price on both my trade-in and the car to be purchased, whatever is necessary to eliminate the need to feel manipulated and taken advantage of. For now, this Toyota RAV4 is perfect for my needs and I am giving it 4 stars!

Thanks for reading!

Suzi