2001 Toyota RAV4 4WD review from North America
"A great all-purpose everyday vehicle"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Rear brake squeal at 7,000 miles, dealer replaced drums according to TSB, covered under warranty.
Check engine light on at 16,000 miles, dealer updated ECU according to TSB, covered under warranty.
A couple minor rattles, fixed most of them myself.
General comments?
Bought this car used with only 7,000 miles on it, 2 years old, but looked brand new. Toyota certified used vehicles are definitely the way to go, saved quite a bit over buying new, and got great 6yr/100K warranty.
It's no hot rod, but has good performance if you get the 5-speed manual like I did. 4WD is great in the snow even with summer tires on. Would have liked ABS, but really don't miss it, the braking is outstanding anyway.
Interior is quite roomy for it's overall size, and the seats are comfortable on long trips. There is some road noise on the highway, but mostly due to the type of tires.
Sure there are a few rattles and other minor issues here and there, but I'd choose a couple small problems over one large problem any day.
It is definitely a great compromise vehicle, it may not do one thing outstanding, but does many things quite well. Good fuel economy for an SUV, but on the low end for a car.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 2001 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0L I-4 Manual |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 2 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 7000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 40000 miles |
| Previous car | Volkswagen Jetta |
| Date of Entry | 20th April, 2004 |