2006 Rav 4 any thoughts?

[pogs]

Hey Guyz,

I know it's the first version of a new model, but what do you guyz think?

Has anyone any experience with this vehicle?

Good or bad?

I am now debating b/t the Forester, CRV and now the Rav 4.

The wife likes the roominess of the CRV and I like the AWD and hp of the Forester.

Your advice is appreciated.

Thanks,
pogs :D

[jww]

Rav4 looks good, and has the stats to prove itself, but hard to beat the record of both the CR-V and Forester which in each case speaks for itself.

Subaru gets AWD better than any of the Japanese - and arguably better than any other manufacturer save perhaps Audi/VW.

The new Outlander will be out this year as well which will add something more to the mix.

jww

[ghog]

In size and overall format, the new RAV is a tribute to the international success of the Nissan X-Trail. I wouldn't buy any of these little trucks without driving the X-Trail too. It beats the old RAV, the CRV and the Subie regularly in head-to-head tests in Europe, Asia and Oz.

[XTrail1]

For the money X-Trail is hard to beat, very fuel efficient, safe, reliable and tough like nails. Want heated seats in the new RAV? Only in the top of the line V6! according to the last salesman I talked to. They kept that ugly tire on the back door, my #1 turn off, but it's a Toyota, will be good and sell.

[pogs]

I am really considering the Rav4, but I am wondering if I should wait until the vehicle goes through it's one year of testing by other buyers. I know that the Forester and CRV are time tested vehicles.

[pogs]

For the money X-Trail is hard to beat, very fuel efficient, safe, reliable and tough like nails. Want heated seats in the new RAV? Only in the top of the line V6! according to the last salesman I talked to. They kept that ugly tire on the back door, my #1 turn off, but it's a Toyota, will be good and sell.

How is the X-Trail doing?

Is it easy to get used to the center mounted console? I suppose that you can get used to anything, but why would they do that?

Does everyone need to know what speed you are travelling? :?:

How is the engine noise? How about the road noise?

I hear it's more truck like compared to the Honda CRV? What exactly does truck like mean?

Thanks,
pogs :D

[jww]

Concerns about the centre-mounted console are entirely red-herrings imo. The general idea is that Nissan has less tooling to do to sell right-hand and left-hand drive vehicles. Unless you have motor-cycle style tunnel gauges, your speedometer is there for all to see anyway.

jww

[ghog]

If you check out the high seating position in the X-Trail, you'd appreciate the X-Trail's large, legible high-mounted gauges. It is much, much easier to look over the steering wheel and slightly to the right than it would be to take your eyes off the road completely, refocus, move your hands out of the way, and peep through the steering wheel and find the small, partially obstructed gauges you'd get with a conventional layout. How long does it take to get used to the dashtop pod? About 30 seconds.

[highlinder]

well i thought i did my home work last year,and bought a 2004 forester 2.5 xs...i found it was smaller that i had thought and the hp was not reacting the way i was hoping .and in july 2005 after putting 40000 kms on the forester ,,i purchased a 2005 toyota highlinder which is just a little bigger than the new 2006 rav4..i enjoy the 230 hp..v6 ..and the extra room..i have no complaints at all.. good luck with your buy..the honda crv is also a bit bigger than the forester.. i have over 16000kms on the toyota..so far so good./

[viper71]

I hv just tested the new Rav4 yesterday.
the ride is not that smooth.

[Pritch]

I tested one out. Not incredibly impressed with the engine (V6). Its not that smooth or quiet...almost...American dare I say it?

Its got plenty of room and some useful features though. Tough call. All I keep hearing in this market is X Trail X Trail X Trail...have to go try one soon.