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Japan? Kentucky? Does where it was made change anything?

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#22 ·
Waitara said:
I'm shopping new Rav4s and some dealers have several on the lot from different factories. I've noticed the Japanese ones have different tires, and what looks like a different windshield. (more reflective - maybe a metallic UV coating?)

Any differences worth seeking one over the other?
Click to expand...
I have a 2004 RAV4 over 200,000 miles made in Japan and it has been flawless. If you can find one made in Japan my suggestion is buy it. Others are made in Canada
Waitara said:
I'm shopping new Rav4s and some dealers have several on the lot from different factories. I've noticed the Japanese ones have different tires, and what looks like a different windshield. (more reflective - maybe a metallic UV coating?)

Any differences worth seeking one over the other?
Click to expand...
I have a 2004 Toyota rav4 made in Japan with over 200,000 miles and it's been flawless. My opinion better quality built in Japan then Canada.
 
#25 ·
I dont think we get a choice here on the east coast. Our ‘21 Rav4 came from Woodstock CA. We only have it for a few weeks but the bride loves it. She gave up her ‘07 Accord for it... a great car ( built in Marysville OH).

’21 Rav4 exl premium
 
#26 ·
Canada built '19 Rav4 hybrid Limited loaded with all three packages so it has everything that could go wrong on it. Nothing has in 12.5k miles except the gas tank fill issue which was a design problem shared by cars from all the factories.
 
#27 ·
Waitara said:
I'm shopping new Rav4s and some dealers have several on the lot from different factories. I've noticed the Japanese ones have different tires, and what looks like a different windshield. (more reflective - maybe a metallic UV coating?)

Any differences worth seeking one over the other?
Click to expand...
I also prefer Japan built. However, I recently purchased a used 2017 Rav4 LE (Japan built) and had to fix rubber trim that lays in the roof channels and also a trim piece on hood that came lose. So you tell me.
 
#28 ·
toyodaornot said:
Built in Japan = better perceived build quality. If I had a choice between the two I would always stick with Japanese builds.
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Not true in my opinion. I have a 2011 Highlander limited built in USA.. no issues.. bought a 2016 RAV4 built in Japan. After 4 years sunroof rattling. Dealer wants $1100 to fix bcoz it’s out of warranty. Toyota won’t help.
 
#29 ·
Here is my personal observation based on real comparative data...

After a lot of research, we decided on a RAV4 as our second vehicle. We have owned Toyotas since 2000. We bought a new US built 2017 Limited. It is garaged and gets very little usage (7,000 miles total in 3 years). Our everyday car is a 2014 Prius PlugIn (built in Japan). Based on my research, I also helped our son buy a used Japan built RAV4 XLE. It is his daily driver, so gets lots of use and is parked outside.

On to the data in least to most worrisome order...

1. Our US built RAV4 had a careless dent on the roof pillar(?) above the rear door as delivered, probably dealer related when they installed the cross bars of the roof rack. Least of my concerns, but still an issue.

2. We have already had to replace the battery. This is despite making sure the car did not sit idly for long periods of time.

3. I have noticed and submitted a complaint to corporate Toyota about paint durability due to chipping and etching. We have a dark grey metallic, and not the white that was subject to a TSB. We already have have half as many chips on the hood (as well as in other unusual places like on rear side fender) than on the Prius which has over 70,000 miles of Los Angeles commuting. It appears the adhesion between the paint and primer is the weak point. Even worse, two bird droppings on the hood that were promptly cleaned off within a day have etched the paint. By comparison, the Prius is parked outside in our driveway under an overhanging tree (where it can be recharged and allow the RAV4 to enter and exit the garage). It gets exposed to a lot of environmental conditions, dust, blowing winds and lots of bird droppings which aren't as diligently cleaned off. Not a single one has etched the paint! Our son's RAV4 (metallic red) also has no etch damage. Are domestic restrictions imposed on paint materials and processes for environmental concerns the culprit, or is ours a unique "lemon" on the paint? Time will tell...

Bottom line...buy a Toyota RAV4, but stick with Japan built.
 
#30 ·
Waitara said:
I'm shopping new Rav4s and some dealers have several on the lot from different factories. I've noticed the Japanese ones have different tires, and what looks like a different windshield. (more reflective - maybe a metallic UV coating?)

Any differences worth seeking one over the other?
Click to expand...
I have a 2020 RAV4 Limited Hybrid. How can I tell where it was built? I've had no problems, other than the fuel tank not filling all of the way.
Thanks for any information.
 
#36 ·
Good care along with preventive maintenance and keeping the unit garaged go a tremendous distance in vehicle condition and durability.

Given the ambient social and labor conditions cultivated and continually nurtured by Capitalism in the U.S., Japan wins the build quality contest and it isn't even close. Canada, while being significantly more socially conscious than the dumbed down and ignorant U.S. suffers from proximity stupidity.
 
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#37 ·
Waitara said:
Canadian-built VIN. I've been very pleased with the build quality on my American-made Japanese-branded cars, except for an Alabama-built Honda with panels aligned by Helen Keller.
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My wife is sleeping but if she wasn't I was about to really laugh out loud on that last bit! Haha!

I just picked up a 2021 Limited HY and very happy with it after a week! I'm sure your 2020 will serve you well too! I have a J-built car, but in our state they pretty much try to get everything from the "Motherland" if they can; it's a Hawaii thing. And yes, although the forums make it sound like Toyota is out to screw everyone about the fuel tanks, credit must be given that they heard the issue and are trying to fix it properly. Sounds more like the different dealerships are giving different levels of service (nothing new in any country).

It's kinda telling when Toyota USA releases a RAV4 manufacturing video for North America and use TMMC staff to showcase it... not the US plants (ha jk I'm sure it's just the Canadians were too nice to say bugger off when the cameras came).
 
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#38 ·
northwoodshyun said:
I had a 2007 Camry with "JT" VIN, which came with a set of horrible Bridgeston tires and burned a lot of oil from the start.
I have a 2014 Camry with "4T" VIN, which came with a set of Michelin tires from Indiana plant and is still running very well. I don't think it really matters. I like USA built RAV4 because it comes with Michelin and not Firestone tires.
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I have a 4T 2019 Camry with Firestone tires. Bridgestone owns Firestone. My 2014 4T Rav4 came with Toyo tires, the $300. ea model. Hard to believe, and they are still going at 60,000 miles.
So, it is a crap shoot as to tires I guess.
 
#39 ·
RussC said:
We own a Japanese Rav 4 Prime and a Canadian Rav 4 Hybrid.

I can’t tell the difference.

Parts are identical and most of the assembly is automated using robots so I would not be concerned which country it was assembled.
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You are in a great advantage point - I would love to see the mirror shake difference (when closing the door) and whether the Nippon version has the material between the headlights and the hood that has been in other discussions.
 
#40 ·
I did a special order XSE back in Sept. '20 since there was no inventory available in my area. I went for the panoramic sunroof and at that time my dealer told me those are only made in Japan. So I guess order that feature if you want to assure you get a Japanese made model.
 
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