2014 TOYOTA RAV4 Review

Right now we’re looking at the dashboard’s original lines and it all spells coherence. This looks like the industrial design that took over the US back in the 60s, but it’s also got modern accents. Of course, it’s not all bells and whistles. For example, the carbon fiber wannabe trim would do so much better in a trash bin. BMW X6 M memories arise.

Start pushing the buttons and you’ll understand why Toyota is Toyota. Everything is within reach and where it’s supposed to be. At the center of the dash, we find a 6.1-inch touchscreen controlling the infotainment. The system isn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, but you can live with it. Fortunately, both the US and the Euro-spec models get a JBL audio system with 576 Watts of power arriving via 11 speakers.

There are a few glitches in the ergonomics through, such as the area on the driver’s lower right side, where the seat heating and Sport buttons are literally hidden.

Regardless of that, the driving position is pretty high for a crossover, offering an SUV-like feeling. This boosts your confidence inside the city, where Toyota’s RAV4 feels surprisingly manly, especially with a manual transmission. As you downshift or turn the car around, you feel there’s a solid drive system underneath. Who knows, maybe you’ll start climbing Aston Martin Cygnets one day.

Don’t worry though, the electric power steering’s revised setup makes it even lighter, perfect for urban use. This compensates for the larger exterior dimensions of the RAV4, so you can still move around with decent agility.

Still, the RAV4 gets its fair share of inexperienced drivers and, in this case, the parking maneuvers require the rear view camera offered on the superior trims.

As we head outside the city, the wire balancing act of the suspension becomes obvious. It’s really difficult to build such a car without adaptive dampers and get the balance between the ride and handling right.