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Of course, by the time their CRV came out, Honda ironed out
most of the faults that their designers saw with the RAV4. Instead of
giving their own mini-SUV its own distinct image, Honda relied on a true
and tested tactic by offering the same package with an almost flat-floor
interior, a more powerful engine and more spacious cabin. The sales effect was huge as it outsold the RAV4 by a ratio
of almost 2 to 1 worldwide. In
fact, the CRV proved to be so good in the Philippines that for a time Honda
assembled nothing but CRVs just to meet demand.
The CRV became the choice not only for the yuppies, but also for
starting families and some midline execs that wanted a smart alternative
to a three-box sedan. Toyota designers have gained new blood since then.
Starting with the funky Echo, the once stodgy reputation of
Japan’s biggest automaker started to turn for the better.
Going into battle with a new skin, engine and a revised
suspension, the table turned on the perennial best-seller and benchmark:
the CRV. Toyota stylists have decided to junk the Tonka-toy looks of the old RAV4, and instead introduce a Lexus-like design. Borrowing heavily from its Lexus RX300 (Toyota Harrier) big brother, the RAV4 is an excellent combination of lines and angles and look both butch and avant-garde. Though the difference between their widths is a mere 35 mm,
the overall styling of the RAV4 gives a very grown-up appearance.
The bulging well arches as well as the huge 16-inch 235 / 60
H-rated tires give the petite Toyota a very aggressive look.
The abrupt angle cut-offs that carries to the front, rear lights
and mirrors help give this car a pit-bull look.
Though the old RAV4 is known for its sharp, car-like handling
wrapped around a cutesy-shell, this new one shouts its sporty
pretensions from a mile away. On the other hand, the four-year old CRV is very
straightforward and uncluttered in its design.
It doesn’t shout anything, but rather it likes to whisper:
utilitarianism. Unsurprisingly,
the CRV has a huge interior and luggage space.
The two-piece hatch is a clever design as well, as it doesn’t
require the same Noah’s ark-sized opening needed for the RAV4’s
hatch. There are also some
other neat touches that are all designed to maximize the interior space
of the CRV. Unfortunately, the target consumer probably couldn't care less about the interior space of these vehicles. There are some 300-pound people who’d try to squeeze into a Mazda Miata for the sake of the looks (pity on the Miata). The RAV4 and the CRV are the cars for the yuppies, not for the mid-forties dad or mom. The design should be a combination of dynamism and fun and using this gauge, the Toyota wins by a mile. |
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