Toyota RAV4

By Dan Strong

June 2003

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Track days are yesterday's news and so is off-roading. If you want to put man and machine to the ultimate test there's only one place to head - the car park of your local DIY store.
It took only five minutes for this to sink in, as I sat in our much-admired Toyota RAV4 waiting for a parking space at B&Q. As it happens, the visit marked the start of two weeks of home improvement. But before long, it became obvious that the RAV was the perfect workhorse. Its frugal 2.0-litre diesel engine would help save cash, while the spacious boot and versatile seating would easily swallow the trickiest of loads. As an aside, I also think the diesel RAV4, with its bonnet vent, is better-looking than its petrol sibling. However, with 100 litres of paint crammed in the boot and acres of laminate flooring across the rear seats, I began to wonder whether I had misjudged the car's abilities. Taking corners had become nerve-wracking - not because the weight and bulk of the cargo was proving too much, rather the idea of spilling all that white gloss was too much to bear.
Loading the gear neatly had been difficult because, in a crowded car park, there isn't the room to open the tailgate fully, meaning you can't reach too far into the boot. Most of the paint ended up on one side of the car, rather than spread evenly.
Nevertheless, the Toyota coped impressively with carrying such a load, and the split/fold rear seats were easy to use. It's handy being able to remove them, although slotting them back in place can be fiddly. Folding the chairs created a versatile cargo area, large enough to swallow a petrol lawnmower. And having bought 7ft 6in strips of wood without even thinking about the overall length of the cabin, it was a relief to see it all slot in perfectly, while any concerns I had about damaging the spotless interior proved unfounded. The plastics and hard-wearing carpets survived unscathed.
Other impressions were equally positive. With average consumption of 37mpg (a result of making short yet frequent journeys), the car managed to steer clear of the petrol pumps during its DIY fortnight. It's also smooth at cruising speeds, although the engine is noisy when cold. The imminent 10,000-mile service should improve things. And while I would prefer sharper steering and better rear visibility, the RAV4's reputation as one of the most versatile on our fleet remains intact.

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