I was lucky to drive my friend's brand new XLE AWD for several hours, town and interstate. The positives:
1. Nice pep.
2. I enjoyed the instrument cluster and displays.
3. Roomy.
4. Sporting looking, inside and out.
5. Quiet ride.
6. iPod control and usb options.
Negatives (and these were huge, and may force me into a Subaru):
1. The worst stereo I've ever heard in a car. Flimsy, hollow sound with no soundstage. It sounds like Toyota engineers placed a cheap audiovox boombox inside the dash. The sound literally comes from the center of the dash. My base LE 2003 Camry sounds like an audiophile dream in comparison.
2. The driver's seat. Extremely stiff and narrow seat bolsters. It felt like I was getting squeezed by a python.
3. Harsh ride. The Rav4 seems to want to bound away on all fours like a whitetailed deer when it hits a pavement irregularity.
4. 6.3 inches of ground clearance. Huh? This is supposed to be a crossover, not a sedan. My Camry has this clearance.
I've always been a Toyota guy, but maybe that is going to change. Will I really buy a Subaru? The Forester and Outback are the remaining vehicles on my list. The Outback (2015) drove wonderfully and has 8.7 inches of clearance, but I wonder about reliability.
Sort of bummed. I expected the Rav4 to be a bit more rugged, and a bit more comfortable. The stereo quality is inexcusable, IMHO.
I guess I'm searching for a vehicle Toyota does not make. Something between the Rav4 and Tacoma. more clearance, 30mpg highway, and better seats. I guess that's the Outback.
1. Nice pep.
2. I enjoyed the instrument cluster and displays.
3. Roomy.
4. Sporting looking, inside and out.
5. Quiet ride.
6. iPod control and usb options.
Negatives (and these were huge, and may force me into a Subaru):
1. The worst stereo I've ever heard in a car. Flimsy, hollow sound with no soundstage. It sounds like Toyota engineers placed a cheap audiovox boombox inside the dash. The sound literally comes from the center of the dash. My base LE 2003 Camry sounds like an audiophile dream in comparison.
2. The driver's seat. Extremely stiff and narrow seat bolsters. It felt like I was getting squeezed by a python.
3. Harsh ride. The Rav4 seems to want to bound away on all fours like a whitetailed deer when it hits a pavement irregularity.
4. 6.3 inches of ground clearance. Huh? This is supposed to be a crossover, not a sedan. My Camry has this clearance.
I've always been a Toyota guy, but maybe that is going to change. Will I really buy a Subaru? The Forester and Outback are the remaining vehicles on my list. The Outback (2015) drove wonderfully and has 8.7 inches of clearance, but I wonder about reliability.
Sort of bummed. I expected the Rav4 to be a bit more rugged, and a bit more comfortable. The stereo quality is inexcusable, IMHO.
I guess I'm searching for a vehicle Toyota does not make. Something between the Rav4 and Tacoma. more clearance, 30mpg highway, and better seats. I guess that's the Outback.