Used 2002 Toyota RAV4 Consumer Reviews
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drive on freeway before you buy
I bought the RAV4 for reliability and comfort. I am an older female with a disablity. I have had this SUV for three months and wish I would not have bought it. It does not hold the road and vibrates the steering wheel at 65 mph. I am getting no help from the dealer..I am told it is because "I don't know how SUV's drive". Well, the car drifts all over the road...I thought a new vehicle should atleast hold the road. Beware before you buy.
1st Time Toyota Buyer
I got rid of my '96 GMC Jimmy and bought the RAV4. The 4-cyl. has good acceleration and nimble handling. I'm dissapointed in the gas mileage--21 mpg in the city. I've tried switching to an 89 octane with no better results, so I'm sticking to 87. The rear headrests can block your view, so if you routinely drive alone, I'd suggest removing them for the clearest view. I'm tall--5'10" and there is plenty of leg room on the driver's side. Annoying rattle behind the glove compartment at speeds in excess of 30. Rear seats remove and reinstall with ease. Nice feature to haul around the dogs.
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $2,999164 mi away
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $10,500184 mi away
- Base 4dr SUVMSRP: $6,875191 mi away
Great Car but horrible seats
I love my Rav4 with the exception of the seats. Toyota really skimped on the comfort factor. The seats are not supportive and feel like they are made out of foam. Other than that I have never had ANY problems with my RAV4. It is the most reliable car I have ever had. Great storage, especially with the large pack "trunk". Handles great, has a great turn radius. Easy to drive but it could definitely use more torque going on hill and passing cars on the freeway. In the next couple of months I am looking to sell my RAV4 and I am looking at Lexus and Acura. The number one feature I am looking for are ergonomic seats and dash board placement which the RAV4 certainly does not have.
The Safety Factor
I have a 2001 RAV4. Last Wednesday night, my brother had an accident on the freeway - he ran headfirst into the center divider doing 70 MPH and walked away without a scratch. If you are looking for a reliable, safe car that gets good gas mileage then the RAV4 is a great vehicle.
Watch out for minor annoyances
Problems: The 3-spoke steering wheel doesn't move down nearly enough to get a comfortable grip. If you like to drive, holding one hand or both on the bottom spokes, you will NOT like the Rav4 steering wheel. The other major flaw with the car is the pathetically weak factory stereo. My car had the 'upgraded' stereo which results in two more useless paper tweeter speakers. Unfortunately, at this time, Crutchfield doesn't support the 2002/2001 Rav4, so speaker upgrades are tough. I replaced the factory head unit with a Sony unit which resulted in more power but ZERO bass, and distortion above 30% power. If you love good music, buy a Nissan.