TOYOTA RAV4 CROSSOVER REVIEW

My car

I owned this 56 reg Rav4 for two years and 80k miles. I can not understand why it appears as a crossover and not in the 4X4 category (and yet the appalling Honda CR-V is classed as a 4X4) - apart from the Land Rover Freelander it is by far the best in class off road.

The slightly firm ride gives you total confidence when off road, yet is not too firm for many motorway miles. Level of equipment, storage and versitility inside is just fantastic.

In 80k miles it never once put a foot wrong - basic servicing was all it ever needed.

And averaging over 45 mpg - for a motor this size was quite exceptional.

I will be getting another soon!

My car

I bought this car new in December 2010 and I have now put 1600 miles on it. It is my first 4wd car but I can't fault it. I live out in the country and off a hilly track where snow/ice is a big problem in winter. My RAV has waltzed up and down the track in snow/ice without any problem. The ride is quite firm for a 4x4, but I quite like it. I prefer to have stiffer suspension and tighter handling than than softer suspension and more wallowy cornering. The car corners very neatly for a wagon of its size and makes for easy driving. Averaging between 38-41mpg on a combination of country roads and city driving. Although I have been driving it very economically, and think if I had a heavy foot it would be sore on juice. The car has plenty of oomph about it, and the torque is great for getting past cars.

All the toys/gadgets are nice e.g. heated seats, climate control, multichanger/mp3 player etc. I had the JBL premium sound system installed under warranty by Toyota so the car now has higher spec speakers and A sub in the boot door. The sound system sounds good, and really thickens out the sound. However not sure if it is really worth the £900 extra. Was a really tidy job though, the amp is hidden in dashboard.

I have had no trouble with car so far, and dealer service has been really good. I have been using Toyota in Ayr and everyone has been polite and helpful.

My car

Well last week, getting ride of my BMW 335 fro a brand new Rav 4 was the best thing I have done for work, with 4 wheel drive!!--- BUT---Very disappointed with the spare wheel issue !! (NOT ONE). Ihad a puncture last week, simple small nail in the tread of the tyre, to which I had to keep the air in it long enough to get to the garage open in the snow. I followed the instructions to use the repair kit, which didn't work??

I got to the tyre place after a mid way blow up ! only to find, that as I had used the repair kit, then it was standard policy that (even though the tyre was repair at £15) I couldn't have it repaired and needed a new one. I checked this with four garages and got the same answer ! A £15 repair, cost me £129 to get me going again. I rang Toyota customer care, and they said they would ring me back that day… A week later they rang me back only to say, there we are then. Move on!!!!

The customer care person was obstructive, and kept over talking me and not letting me finish, and basically nothing they can do. A manager is suppose to be calling me back, but if I am luck to get a call, it could take another week. So in short, if your broken down with a simple repairable puncture on the motorway, you can have a go at the repair kit that doesn't work, and cost you a new tyre, or call the AA to get you towed, just for a puncture !!!!!

Toyota Customer services manage has just called me back, saying case closed and they will not discuss the matter any further !

My car

This WAS my dream car until I actually bought it new in 2003. Then my troubles really began. The car itself is most desirable but the reliability is diabolical. This car has been a money pit since the beginning. At 12,000 miles the first shock absorber failed and had to be replaced. 12,000 miles later it failed again, along with the other one. Despite the fact that my car has been serviced by the Toyota dealer every single year, there have been multiple faults which have cost a fortune to correct. First the shock absorbers, then a sensor, then the water pump, belt, then, again, a sensor. The car has never been off road and although only having done 40,000 miles to date, has already had its 70,000 mile service. Each time, William A. Lewis seem to find more problems. I have spent more on this car in 40,000 miles than all of my previous cars put together. If I had my time again, I would not go near Toyota. Toyota tell me that I do short journeys and that is why the sensors have failed. Not true. They say that my style of driving has caused the shock absorbers to fail. Now I am stuck with a "rogue" car. The parcel shelf creaks and now I am told the brake discs need replacing. Is Toyota wrong? Is the dealership of William A. Lewis wrong? Or do I expect too much in expecting a Toyota to be reliable for more than 12,000 miles? To top it all the paintwork is so soft that a fingernail scratches it. Do I expect too much? You decide.