Toyota RAV 4 (1999)

The 1999 RAV 4 is largely unchanged compared to the '98 RAV 4. There are only two minor styling differences--a slight modification of the taillights and a new pattern behind the dashboard instruments. Now, that's progress, hunh?! Actually, the vehicle is selling so well that Toyota saw little need to change anything.

One thing we wish Toyota had changed since they came out with the RAV 4 in '98 is the front seats. They're kind of chintzy--with minimal support under the thighs and knees and not much support behind the back. Plus, they're small seats--hardly commensurate with your standard-issue, huge American butts. Then again, this is a car for young people, so big seats do not take on the same importance they carry in, say, a Ford Crown Vic.

The RAV 4 is a fun vehicle to drive. It's great around town, but it's not a car for lots of long-distance driving. At high speed in poor weather, it can be downright scary. Ray drove the RAV 4 down to Cape Cod in moderate rain and winds gusting to 20 mph. With its short wheelbase, less-than-supple suspension and large surface area to catch the wind, the RAV was all over the place. In contrast, we've had the opportunity to drive the Subaru Forester in similar conditions, and the Forester felt considerably more secure due to its lower center of gravity.

Around town, though, the RAV is great. And we still remember how well it performed in Boston's humongous April 1 snowstorm several years ago. Even on unplowed roads with two feet of heavy snow, it handled the conditions admirably.

Given that this is a Toyota, it almost goes without saying that the ergonomics are pretty good. Controls are straightforward and easy to understand. It's nice to be in a car that has immediately understandable controls--for example, the climate-control switch is blue for cold air, red for hot, and there are obvious diagrams for where you want the air to end up. We were able to get a comfortable temperature readily, regardless of the outside air temperature, and the four-speed fan seemed to be more than adequate. What a refreshing change from the German cars, where we've always had to pore over the owner's manual to figure out how to get a little air out of the dash.

There are two cup holders on the console of the RAV. While convenient to reach, they do, at times, conflict with the stick shift. An automatic transmission would not present a problem.

Road noise is pretty loud in the RAV 4...but, heck, what do you expect? This is not exactly a Lexus RX300 or an Infiniti QX4.

Anyone from Toyota reading this review? If so, Ray humbly requests that you add about three or four inches to the wheelbase, and at the same time move the rear seat a little farther back. The cargo room is sufficient, but it would be nice to have a little more legroom in the back seat. A little additional wheelbase width would make the RAV 4 more stable. Not that we're any judges of style, but in our humble opinion it would make the RAV 4 look better too.

The RAV 4 has a 2.0-liter, transversely mounted four-cylinder engine. We drove the stick-shift version, which seemed to have adequate power and compared favorably with competitors like the Honda CRV and the Suzuki Vitara with the V6 engine. In terms of reliability, this engine should be great. The air filter and plugs are easy to get at, and so is the oil filter, though it requires a special wrench that grips the filter from the top. The belts look tough to reach in the RAV, but, thanks to tensioning devices, it's actually a pretty easy process.

Unfortunately, the RAV does have a small engine compartment, which is made a little worse by the addition of the ABS system, so servicing will be a bit of a challenge. Overall, however, we expect the RAV to be below average cost in servicing, and it should have a better-than-average repair record--mainly because it's a Toyota, and Toyota does a great job engineering and designing their cars. You should have no problem getting this car to last a long time, assuming you treat it decently and make sure it gets its recommended service.

The RAV 4 is cute and fun to drive--despite its tendency to blow around. If we didn't have to drive on the highway for extended periods of time, we would like this car a lot. Plus, with a list price of $17,183 for the all-wheel drive version, it's a good deal.

Just about everyone should like the RAV 4--everyone, that is, except perhaps blue-haired seniors. If the sense of security of all-wheel drive is important to you and you want something cute and fun to drive, then break out your wallet and head for the local Toyota dealer. It's a great, decently priced, urban-bop-around vehicle.