With all the hassle going on in the auto industry right now, it’s very hard to find respect. Well, this is exactly what the 2014 Toyota Rav4 is looking for. After all, the original RAV4 is credited for inventing the crossover utility vehicle (CUV) segment and now the fourth generation is here to reclaim it.
You know Toyota, these guys never stray too far from their path and this is precisely what they’ve done with the new RAV4. Toyota has kept all the good bits of the third-gen model, but they polished each and every screw that needed this.
Nonetheless, it’s not all that simple. Yes, Toyota’s Recreational Active Vehicle may have been the first to teach people that high ground clearance isn’t just for muddy people, but the competition’s caught up.
By the time the second generation had matured on the market, the Toyota RAV4 became a lady favorite. This trend continued with the third generation - think about it, you must know a woman that drives or used to drive a RAV4.
This was not a problem at all. On the contrary, women are extremely practical when it comes to choosing a car. Their approval of the Toyota RAV4 meant that the model was doing a great job.
Alas, in all this jack-of-all-trades process, the RAV4 lost its edge on the competition. Nowadays the Honda CR-V is stronger than ever when it comes to the buying decision. And to stay in the area of global models, the newborn Mazda CX-5 isn’t exactly something to go by either.
Well, if there’s one certainty about the 2014 Toyota RAV4, then this is definitely not one of those toy crossovers only destined for the city. As you open the door, the massive rubber skirt on its lower side tells you this car means business.
But let’s not rush into the cabin yet, we’ve got ourselves an exterior to analyze. By the way, the RAV4 is obviously targeting families even more than before. While it's just a bit wider and a tad lower, they’ve made it considerably longer (+8.07 inches / 205 mm).