test driving a new rav4

[Razgo]

I have hired a new rav4 today for the next 5 days to see how i feel about them with a view to purchase.

Although this is a base model and i would be buying the zr6 it would still give me a pretty good indication.

I will then hire the Klugger as well as i got a quote for Zr6 $49,890 and Grande $57K so not a huge difference in price but not sure if it's worth paying the extra just yet.

Only did a short run down the gold coast and back about 200K and it was quite enjoyable ride. As i am coming from a 2007 Tarago 1.8 tonne i did notice the smaller size but not overly that much different.

They seem a lot larger inside than they do from the outside too. And funny enough stepping into the seat is actually about an inch lower than my Tarago. But the Rav has the much higher clearance underneath.

The first thing i miss was no gadget/change compartment on the right side of dash between wheel and door. Also they could have made the storage indoor compartment a lot larger like they do in the Tarago. small inconveniences though :)

I am very impressed with how toey it actually is both off the mark and with over taking. You punch the pedal and it gives the right answer.

I felt a much stiffer suspension but that was to be expected and it seemed to drive very tight on the road.

A very zippy responsive vehicle with a slight sport feel to it. I will be heading out to Roma about 500K's away this week-end so i will see how things are after that trip.

I can fit my wife's wheel chair int the back with still lots of room for everything else. I am actually surprised ow much i can fit in the back so far :)

I do also miss the arm rest that the Tarago has for both driver and passenger and i keep reaching for that gear shift on the dash to rest my hand lol but its just not there :)

Oh I also too it through some real boggy sand down the coast and it plowed through it like it was nothing. impressed with that too :)

Also i was concerned with the electric power steer assist. I actually didn't even notice it :) perhaps my tarago has it too as i never noticed any difference whatsoever and it had plenty of feed back through the wheel.

Well i will see how the next few days go.

russ

Edited September 15, 2010 by Razgo

[Razgo]

There were 3 things that concerned me.

1. Road noise

2. the drivers seat didn't seem to go back far enough.

3. hard suspension.

This was a 2010 4cyl model.

Is the V6 model less road noise?

my 2007 tarago seems much more quieter than the rav4 so i was used to quiet interior.

Driving from chinchilla to Roma is a good test drive for road noise and bumpy roads and i felt it was a little too still for my liking. so not sure if was just the model i had or not?

They still seem to be best value for money though. I didn't like the Kluger at all. The Prado i would definatly like to own but much more expensive.

zr6 $50K vs $80K for the Prado Kakado.

hmmmm..... so i wondered if the zr6 was actually a little softer on the suspension?

russ

[Buff Hamster]

1. The Rav4 in general are nosier than usual because they lack sound insulation. Also the stock Bridgestone tyres are crap so they are a bit loud as well.

2. The driver seat was fine for me and i'm a pretty big person

3. The suspension softens up after you drive it for a while. All new cars have slightly hard suspension which require a break in period to soften it.

The only major difference between the 4cyl and V6 is the power.

[grandpasmurf]

We've got a V6, the SX6 model.

It's got plenty of go..... no trouble getting into the traffic. Fuel consumption is OK to, unless you use all the power.

The Bridgestone tyres that come as standard seem to be OK in the wet, but are v. noisy. We've done around K38 k's & they

have been noisy since we got the RAV. As soon as I can I will be changing over to another brand, maybe Conti's.

I am 6'3" in the old scale & 100k's & don't have any trouble getting comfortable. Although can't put my seat back far enough

with my granddaughter's capsule behind me. I tried fitting it to the roof bars, but my wife objected.

We've fitted a nudgebar with lights to improve country driving & haven't had any trouble with the RAV. Apart from ferals who

drive to close in parking lots.

[Buff Hamster]

Grandpasmurf i wouldn't go near Conti tyres. They are known to have good grip but are very loud and wear fast.

[Razgo]

Thanks for the replies guys.

It must have been something the rental car i had then? I just couldn't slide the drivers seat back far enough.

hmmm.... I was hoping the v6 or at least the ZR6 had maybe sports dampers and better engine bay insulation?

I was contemplating the prado kakadu but struggling to justify the $30K difference. And for some reason i just don't like the kluger at all. I only sat in the kluger grande at the car yard and it just didn't appeal to me at all.

The general consensus among a lot of people is they go for the kluger as its not much more than the rav4.

But i can't get past the fact that the Rav4 has **** loads of room and has a great power to weight ratio. The 4cyl rav4 i hired had tons of power but when i read so called professional reviews they say its a little under powered?

On road noise insulation issue I think it's possible to fix that? like isn't there a way to insulate teh engine firewall more and underneath?

the road noise wasn't terrible for me but was notable depending on the type of road surface i was on.

I think i can get a Rav4 ZR6 for maybe $45K vs Prado Kakadu for $74-75K

with interest rates going up i am probably better off term deposit the $30K difference until i can afford to upgrade :)

I think there is more space in the Rav4 too as the Prado 3rd row seats fold into the floor loosing that 90ltr well space that the Rav4 has.

I have yokohama tires on my tarago and they are quite as.

hmmm...... still thinking :)

russ

Edited November 11, 2010 by Razgo