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2008 Toyota RAV4 Review

STYLING | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

modern-rugged theme
Cars.com

contemporary but conventional good looks
Kelley Blue Book

organic, two-tier dash
Car and Driver

no longer a cute ute
MyRide.com

The 2008 Toyota RAV4 is fresh and inoffensive on the outside, polarizing and modern on the inside.

“Toyota says the third-generation RAV4's exterior styling follows a ‘modern-rugged theme,’” reports Cars.com. Kelley Blue Book decides this makes it “more substantial and less 'cute'” than the previous generation, but discovers that typically clean, play-it-safe Toyota styling is the rule, with the exception of “the triangular rear C-pillar and vertically-wrapped taillamps.” MyRide.com notes that “fewer superfluous curves and less cladding” than the previous RAV present “a more finished appearance.”

Toyota opts for carefully modern on the inside, with a sweeping two-tier dash whose “swollen protuberances at first look Jetson-ish,” says Car and Driver, “but in fact break up what would otherwise be a dull sea of plastic.” MyRide.com is critical, calling it a “horizontal gash running the width of the car,” and finds its only redeeming feature to be “a bi-level glove box.” Kelley Blue Book explains that “the center cluster, door trim and steering wheel spokes are brushed metallic-look plastic,” again lending the RAV4’s interior an air of modernity.

Conclusion

Once past a few avant-garde interior details, the 2008 Toyota RAV4’s styling comes off as successful and interesting.


Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Like all of these compact utility vehicles, the 2008 Toyota RAV4 offers a choice of four-cylinder or V-6 powertrains (except the Honda), with front- or all-wheel drive. Where they differ is that they each have different ways of prioritizing between carlike on-road handling and off-road ability. For instance, the Ford Escape is styled like a more traditional SUV, but its carlike underpinnings help it handle and perform quite well, despite its aging design. The Honda CR-V is an excellent, very space-efficient design with plenty of room for five, though it’s not much fun to drive, nor does it have any significant off-road ability. The Hyundai Tucson bears an older design that doesn’t perform as well as its most updated peers; it also feels smaller inside. The new Vue that’s been introduced is much improved, especially inside, with a fresh design. And the Mitsubishi Outlander, like the RAV4, has a very small third-row seat, for those who want two extra positions for small children on occasion; although it doesn’t match the RAV4’s V-6 engine for power, the Outlander V-6 feels very sporty behind the wheel, with good handling, though its ride is firm and somewhat noisy.

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See the Toyota RAV4 in Other Years:

2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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