Toyota RAV4 (94-00) - Review

Review by Parkers on
RAV4 is one of the best used 'soft-roaders'. It's pricier than most, but offers good on road manners, a choice of bodystyles and decent performance. And being a Toyota, it's very well built.
3 out of 5

Other Toyota reviews

4 out of 5

Performance

Just one engine choice: a petrol 2.0. In speed terms it gets close to hot hatch performance with a 0 to 60 mph time just below 10 seconds. The heavier 5-door version is inevitably slower, although top speed is just below 110 mph for both models. The penalty for going fast though is poor fuel economy and lots of noise. Annoying on a long journey.

3 out of 5

Handling

The RAV4 is very much at home on the road, with safe, predictable, car-like handling which is helped by the permanent four wheel drive system. It is stable at motorway speeds, and off-road it is capable, but never outstanding. Not having a low ratio gearbox limits its abilities. Ride - like many soft-roaders of this age is slightly jarring.