Toyota RAV4: 5 Features We Like and Don’t Like About the Compact SUV

In previous reviews, we’ve doled out plenty of praise and criticism to the RAV4. We’ve commended its sharp styling and spacious second row but lamented its coarse engine and transmission. Now that we’ve spent a few months in the small crossover, we can nitpick some of the finer details. Here are five Toyota RAV4 features we like on our XLE long-termer, and five others we don’t.

What We Like

HVAC controls

Sometimes, pressing a physical button is better than fiddling around with a touchscreen. We like the physical HVAC knobs on the RAV4 not only because they’re large, but also because they have a grippy, rubbery surface that makes it easy to toggle to just the right temperature.

Phone real estate

You don’t have to put your phone in the cupholder, because there’s a handy slot in the center console area underneath the climate controls. It’s conveniently located by a USB port.

Seats

Our XLE tester doesn’t have fancy leather seats. But we’re not complaining, because the fabric seats are pretty cozy. Neither too soft nor too firm, we remain comfortable driving in them for a few hours at a time.

Cargo area

The RAV4 offers plenty of room for your gear in the trunk, although it’s not as spacious as the Honda CR-V’s cargo bay. On a recent road trip from L.A. to Reno, Nevada, and back, photography director Brian Vance was able to fit luggage for four inside the cargo area, plus a portable crib and stroller.

Interior pattern

A repeated pattern adds visual interest to an otherwise ordinary interior. You’ll find the pattern on the seats, the speakers, the phone storage cubby in the center console area, the nearby coin holder, and other areas. Another interesting visual cue is the stitching on the dashboard.

What We Don’t Like

Liftgate

The power liftgate is particularly slow to open and close compared to other vehicles, something Vance also noticed on his road trip. It gets a little annoying when you’re trying to load your gear in a hurry. Fortunately, one thing you can adjust is the tailgate’s lift height.

Touchscreen

Our model comes with the standard 7.0-inch touchscreen (an 8.0-inch unit is optional on the RAV4). It’s not a multicolor display, only featuring blue and white, and it’s a bit slow to respond.

Empty buttons

We’re really nitpicking now, but there are some non-usable buttons by the driver’s left knee. Only a few buttons in the row have a function, such as the tailgate button on the right. Granted, the RAV4 XLE is several rungs down from the top trim level, but blank buttons serve as a constant reminder of the features you’re missing out on.

Door handles

The handles look stylish, but they are slanted at an angle, so it feels awkward and a little uncomfortable closing the doors.

No Android Auto!

The 2019 RAV4 has Apple CarPlay but no Android Auto. Fortunately, Toyota remedies this error for 2020. On these new models, the feature is standard equipment.

Read more about our long-term 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE:

• Arrival
• Update 1: Which Trim Level Should You Get?

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Source: WORLD NEWS