Toyota RAV4 SUV (2006-2012) | owner reviews: MPG, Problems & Reliability

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Everything you would expect from toyota in terms of reliability and build quality. My only minor niggles are the co2 emissions/tax bracket, the driving position when most comfortable for me means the top of the steering wheel obscures my view of the direction indicator lights and the top portion of the dials on the dashboard. The only other thing is my own fault as i now wish i had bought the five door model for the additional load space. That said, i have been and continue to be very happy with the rav. It will be seven years old in six weeks time and still drives like new! Oh and don't forget the extremely good residual value. I would have every confidence in recommending this model range to anyone looking for a reliable value for money 4wd suv.

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Very good

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Lovely to look at and drive but you feel every bump and there is not enough leg room or boot space.

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Better than the sum of its parts.

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Great except had puncture and no spare tyre, not even a space saver option which would be good for when you go on holidays etc

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Car is excellent. Local franchised dealer very good.

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Its a pleasure to drive and superb in the snow and ice this winter

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I will never buy another toyota nor deal with this garage again.

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All repairs required have been quite expensive to put right but it is still an enjoyable to car to drive and is looking good going into its 11th year. Market value holds up well when compared with similar models.

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Good quality and value for money

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This is a very good quaility car, however there have been a few problems with the cluch smelling when reversing " i was told this was normal for this car" there was a problem with the glovebox press button open /close failed and a recall on the steering rack clunking on full lock went in but still not fixed

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Bought at 29K miles now at 86K. Had front discs at 50K and rears at 60K and steering rack changed at 65K (water got to small bearing of input shaft) Steering rack changed by local garage for £320 including reconditioned rack and labour so not bad. No other problems at all. Best car I have ever had for winter with Lattitude Cross tyres, (I travel mostly country lanes). The original Bridgestones were not as good in cold and wet but lasted 45K miles from new. I tried Pirelli STR but they were poor unless you drive hard enough to get heat into them and very poor in winter, I got rid it after only 15K miles. The car is good on long distance and I much prefer this Rav4.3 2.2 engine which has been faultless, unlike the previous car which I had from new, with the VW 2.0 diesel engine and needed a new turbo at 38K miles and never felt consistent from one day to next. Inside space is very good but dash and controls are bland and dated.

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Love my Rav4 and can see nothing I could afford that's equally or better equipped (2013) to swap it for. No need anyway, because it's reliable, mpg is good (if anticipate ahead) and would miss the keyless entry/start! Cheap supermarket diesel clogged the egr, run flat tyres can be expensive and the failed head gasket at 85k - Toyota supplied and fitted a new engine Free of Charge (yet 85k and 6 years old)! Don't use dealers if can help, because they service on what their manual says, NOT what the car needs. Would miss the 180bhp engine too, as also had a 2.0 16v Williams F1 tweaked Renault Megane convertible at 150bhp and the Rav4 felt to pull stronger and never spins the wheels on any surface!

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I have a 4 x 4 to go off road and from time to time i have towed discos out of trouble so for a small off road car it's been it's weight in gold. With the problems with it at the moments you have to remember it's 18 years old and for the 10 years or so i have had it it's work hard off road which is what it was built for

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The car is great, only let down by a stiff/sieved brake caliper that warped a disk and created worrying braking wobble and feeling. It is a tad heavy on the fuel (diesel) but to be expected in a performance tuned 4-wheel drive, but it more than makes up for it by the performance and the way it rides and handles.

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Almost perfect, just the rear hatch that doesn't open fully is the only criticism i have

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Good car-gearbox toyota say a crunchy gearbox is normal!

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Perfect for what i need it for

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Not as well built as the previous generation of rav 4s, and the customer service from toyota uk is appalling when something goes wrong.

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Great car, my do anything, go anywhere wheels - not sure what i could replace it with that has the same collection of things i want.

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It's the best vehicle i've owned

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Good handling, good performance, very comfortable and would buy another one if the new model had a spare wheel. I am a caravanner and cannot afford the dash to the channel ferry or eurostar with run flats.

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The cars build quality is far superior to the fords that i previously owned. It is comfortable and reasonably economical and fairly cheap to insure for the type of car.

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Its a nice, racy, 4-wheel drive that has always been reliable, if a bit pricey on fuel

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On y fifth rav, first model in 1998. Excellent value

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Excellent car,very reliable, not the most exciting to drive

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The car is reliable but the engine sounds very harsh under acceleration. This was the top model in the range, the sat nav is hopeless, the radio has failed and the garage is talking well over a hundred of pounds to fix it. The seats are uncomfortable on long journeys. Overall it feels like a cheap car.

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Good value

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It took 6months and 4 garages to repair this car and cost over £4500 not pleased at all

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Expensive to run, not a comfy ride and unreliable. In the wet, or cold it fails to start sometimes due to the electrics being damp, or so i have been told.

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Excellent visibility from high driving position, very comfortable, spacious, seems well-built. Good spec (bluetooth, cruise, auto lights & wipers, 6 gears, electric mirrors & wdws) despite being the 'basic' model

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First toyota and first 4x4 i have owned. I owned various vw's in the past. My rav4 is better built, more reliable and more comfortable than any car i have previously owned, and i have had 17 cars to date.

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Basically a good car, spoiled by (what should by now be fundamental equipt): first time you realise screenwash reservoir is empty is when it doesn't work (no warning light). To operate the on-board computer - it's like going back to cars of the 1970's : two push buttons within the speedo binacle ...access through the steering wheel (not on a 'stalk' that all others have now days) a definite safety issue here. Unecessary two warning lights and constant, irritating 'beep' alarm every time the outside temp varies between 3-4c. Has never been easy/instant to obtain replacement tyres - despite being a standard car on standard wheels. Frequent problems with carbon deposits in emissions control valve ...fixed twice under warranty, but costing £112.00 every time since!! Headlights not particularly good - however, due to car having plastic lenses, it doesn't allow for more powerful (hotter) bulbs to be fitted ..also, nowhere available to fit extra spotlights.

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Fun to drive. Practical for snow and ice.

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Reliable car because it's japanese. It's my 6th car, 5 of them have been japanese, the other one was rubbish. It's my second rav4 and i would by one again.

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It has always been a reliable car, a nice ride, but in todays market is way too expensive to run.

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The problem is still ongoing and toyota have not given me a solution to the erratic gear changing

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As a 'y' reg (bought new) with over 100,000 miles on it, it's a very good ad' for toyota. Exhaust is original - running costs have been minimal. The brakes are worrying sometimes - they screech as though the piston is in direct contact with the disc (without a pad), but this is not always so. Despite that, i would recommend the rav-4 to anyone. Our next car will be a real 4x4, buying (in sep-nov 2011). Which model, as yet, we arr undecided.

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Excellent comfort and spacious - good visibility - well built - very well specified for the base model - nice gearbox - quiet

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Excellent. Does exactly what i need (in-town comfort but with the ability to go limited off road when required). Comfortable, stylish, chic, big enough without being excessive.

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During its 5 years life, the car never failed on me. except once and it was the dealer's problem. they replaced my old battery with smaller one that wasn't for my car. after 3 months the battery died and the car didn't want to start. I had to start the car from my wife's car battery. I took it to the dealer since the battery was still under warranty and they apologized and put new battery for me which i'm about to replace soon. before this car i've owned a 2001 toyota echo which i didn't like much but it also never had any problems with it. when i see my workmates talking about their problems with cars i realize how reliability is important and that toyota made very reliable cars and i will really consider another toyota as my next new car. I only wish they design things that are more exciting and a bit more comfortable. I'm waiting for the next generation of landcruiser v8 to come. I really like the current landcruiser v8 but the design is quit old now and hopefully in 2012-13 they make a better looking model and i will buy it.

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I have owned several rav4's now all brand new and i cannot find another vehicle to match it in it's price range - i will be purchasing another one soon

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Very economical advanced technology 4x4 vehicle, good ride & good acceleration with a reputation for reliability.

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Excellent

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The car is a good product with first class dealership support.

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I was planning to keep it for three years but the reliability, practicality and low running costs mean that i have kept it for seven years.

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We have just exchanged our '07 RAV4 for a new one. Sad to see the old one go after 110,000 miles. I always keep receipts in the glove box and the following my interest readers. 10 services completed in accordance with manufacturers guidance at £2350. Three with main dealer, seven local garage. 8 additional tyres purchased ( two last month) at £1100 and £130 additional parts not included in service including £8 for fob battery and £80 brake pads. That's it over ten years. Unbelievable value at less than £350 per year and no days lost due to mechanical breakdown. The car interior kept its appearance well although the odd bit of hard plastic did become brittle but nothing apart from centre storage holder lock broke. Outside after a clean the paint still looked bright ( car did have a treatment on collection) and so we had the same again on our new one. Overall driving was never a problem but performance was dropping and becoming a bit noisier. I think the clutch was nearing the wear limit too. I never did like the radio as it was a bit dated and simple even when we got it but the six CD player worked well until the end. What a difference is the new Rav 4 sound. Overall I wanted to write this review to pay thanks to those who built and designed our RAV4. Great car and that's why we resisted the temptation of other SUV's and went back.

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Very happy with car

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Exactly what i wanted in all details. Have had 2 previous models and with this one they seem to have answered all the small niggles.

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It has been extremely reliable and apart from normal wear and tear of tyres, everything is original including clutch and exhaust

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Ridiculous engine management system that trips with one filling of poor petrol and costs c. £250 each time to repair. Well known fault that is just a nice earner for toyota.

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95% good

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Quality product; does what it says on the tin; avg mpg of around 44 been a pleasant surprise

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I have been really pleased with the rav4. Attracted by it's looks initially - 3 door is sportier, but to drive it s super - comfortable, quiet and visibility is brilliant. It is very reliable and drives fantastically in the snow. The only downside is the fuel consumption.

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It,s like the great wall of china it goes on and on but built to last and admired from even out of space.

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Let down by toyota knowing there is a a problem with the gearbox and dual mass flywheel in these cars and not admitting to the problem and ordering a recall to fix it

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I love my car, and get a buzz every time i sit in it.

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Practical, reliable, fuel efficient for its class, good looking.

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Excellent car in all respects bar fuel consumption which i think is excessively high at around 27-28 mpg despite pretty standard driving style.

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Brilliant in the ice and snow

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Excellent car

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The toyota rav 4 is an excellent car and does exactly what i bought it for, it must be one of the better suvs on the market today.

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For a four wheel drive car it produces good economy(36mpg av) and has a good build quality and ride handling for the type of vehicle. In normal circumstances i would willingly purchase another rav4. However circumstances change with the introductin of hybrids and the fact that i would never, ever, purchase a vehicle that does not have a spare wheel,preferably full size.

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Wonderful cross between 4x4 for country living and motorway cruising.

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Never had a car for more than 3 years before changing it- but this one has done everything asked and has remained in the fold since buying as a demonstrator. 120k and absolutely no problems (touch wood) apart from replacing the rear number plate bulb - comfortable, all weather confidence, bit of adequate speed (ST180) when needed, swallows luggage, garden centre stuff and DIY bits... regular Toyota service has been reasonable and even the Bridgestones do well... Really reluctant to think of getting rid of it - so maybe a light touch bit of bodywork tlc and keep it for the duration - unless they come up with a revised ST180 diesel with a bit of a lighter interior. It just works :)

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Seems ok

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Overall i like it. A practical vehicle which suits my work and lifestyle.

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Good car, meets my needs (potholey country lanes and farm tracks) but bit annoying not to have spare wheel as standard.

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Excellent

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Nice to drive and very reliable. Leather seats could be more comfortable

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No Red thumbs down

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It's a toyota so it doesn't go wrong! But it's a rav and so it has that stupid side opening rear door. My wife loves it - her choice!

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Just about fits the bill, but very thirsty

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The car has been a pleasure to own and drive all who ride in rmark on the pleasant ride. Only complaint would be tailgate opening angle but easily sorted with stay kit. Very pleased otherwise!

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Due to recent toyota problems, they are willing to help with anything. Excellent response from toyota

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My car is super reliable and the franchised dealer is very good to deal with. The car delivers good economy and is very practical. In the price range it delivers everything that i want in a car.

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Yes Green thumbs up