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Beyond the RX300 roofline, the RAV4 gains some sporty cues from the Toyota Celica as well. The huge front headlamps capped off with the small rear clusters are some clear examples. The pull-type door handles are also a welcome change that adds character and class to the RAV4. The side protection strip and the black plastic bottom that caused people to laugh at the previous RAV4 have all been removed. In fact, the two-tone paint plus the excellently integrated door protection strips have added more styling points to the RAV4. However, the exterior is not without problems. The biggest eyesore is most definitely the standard rear fog lamp. Of course, being standard issue in the likes of Norway and Finland, the rear fog lamp is nothing more than a piece of accessory here (not counting their usefulness in heavy downpours). But couldn’t Toyota have thought of a better way to integrate this component rather than just drilling two holes and screwing in an aftermarket part?! If we thought Toyota had a booboo with the Camry’s rear fog lamp, wait till you open the rear door. It is still a single-piece swing out door that needs a lot of space to open up. What Toyota should have done is let the glass open independently, similar to the CR-V's. Inside, it’s the same story for the RAV4: a mixture of the good and the bad. A good point is that the RAV4 materials have improved from the older model's. Cheesy elements such as slide-type vent controls were taken out, and the result is a sportier SUV. The RAV4 emphasizes the ‘S’ rather than the ‘U’. The white-faced gauges with central tachometer (that reverses to orange text on black background at night), sporty seats, circular air con vents and the thick sports steering wheel won't look out of place in a Celica. The silver center console with the Allen-Type Screws complete the look. More than just a visual treat, the new RAV4 has excellent ergonomics that thrashes the much older Honda CR-V. The handbrake and gear lever are where they belong, not requiring a stretch and a bend just to pull it up. The ventilation controls are also within easy reach and so are most of the controls on the radio. On the negative side, the window controls are too low to be considered comfortably reachable and the rear fog lamp switch is almost hidden near the bonnet opening lever. |
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