Sailing successfully along since 1996 North American Introduction, Toyota’s funky little RAV4 received a major makeover last year that not only made it roomier and more powerful, but also saw its styling mature to a more mainstream look. The new shape was penned at CALTY, Toyota’s design center in California, and has been likened to a scaled down BMW X5. In other words, funky became handsome.
As might be expected after such a recent and thorough redo, this year’s changes are minimal, consisting of exterior and interior color revisions including the addition of Spectra Blue Mica, Rainforest Pearl and Frosted White Pearl to the available palette on both the base and fully loaded “L” models. Base models contrast body color with gray finish bumpers and body side molding. The upscale RAV4 goes the monochrome route with all bumpers, moldings, door handles and outside mirrors painted body color, and also includes air conditioning, cruise control, AM/FM/cassette/CD with six speakers, power windows and door locks, power actuated heated mirrors, foglamps, rear privacy glass, a tonneau cover, carpeted floormats and distinct badging.
In either trim level, buyers can ponder the choice of a front wheel drivetrain, or a full time 4 wheel drive system that provides additional surefootedness without sacrificing the RAV4’s decidedly sporty handling.
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