D R I V E N

AUV Next Door

There’s always something alluring with the girl next door.  She may not be the prettiest, sexiest or richest, but somehow she always manages to lift your spirits with her honest to goodness smile.  It seems that you’ve known her all your life—she’s dependable, reliable and trustworthy.  In short, she’s like a Toyota Revo.

The Revo is the AUV next door.  It’s certainly not the prettiest or the best handler of the lot, but with a total 2002 sales figure of 11,715 units—it managed to beat the competition, undoubtedly thanks to a well thought-out package.

The Pretender

The Revo has gone a long way since its bare essential taxi-fleet days.  Now, especially in the top-of-the-range SR guise, it gains certain design cues that were once reserved for Lexus 4x4s.  Though not obvious to the casual observer, certain detail elements are nicely integrated.

The headlamps are now bigger and flush better with the grille, creating a streamlined look.  The lower bumper has been changed as well, to incorporate front fog lamps and a chin spoiler that’s not too different from the Camry's.  The grille has been given a ‘honey-comb’ design—accentuated by a single chrome line cutting through the middle with a huge Toyota badge.  From the back, it’s trying to emulate a Lexus LX470 with its new rear lamp cluster.

Obviously done to attract the Zigen set are some of the typical AUV tricks of the trade: two-tone paint scheme, over fenders, added body cladding and stickers, plus the ubiquitous rear spoiler.

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