Talk to me about the Rav4

With a 4x4 F150 and a 4X4 Tacoma in the driveway I'd not be interested in a Ridgeline. I did earlier consider the Honda Pilot, but for a variety of reasons have ruled out Honda. Good vehicles, I just like Toyota better.

Right now I'm debating RAV-4 or Highlander with Subaru still under consideration. There is a lot I like about Subaru, but not having a local dealer and the local shop I use is reluctant to work on them is a factor. The guy I use is a Toyota guru. Having a mechanic that knows Toyota that well is a big factor.

 

The dealer gave me a Highlander loaner for a couple of days. It looks nice, it's roomy, its comfortable, it should have all the elements of the ideal road trip vehicle. Except that I absolutely hated it. It's not a driver's car. It has less personality than wallpaper. It does exactly what you ask it to do, but with no flair, no oomph, no unique quirks. It's boring.

Consider this: Some of my most memorable road trips are because I remember the car that brought me there. First solo trip across country- 1984 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. Napa to Yosemite to SF - topless 2009 Mustang GT. Yucatan peninsula - Volkswagen Thing with missing doors and no roof, and also would violently shake if it went faster than 50kph. None of those were the best cars in the world, but they were all memorable. I don't think I would have ever remembered crossing soldier summit if I wasn't in that caddy, heaving it around switchbacks with more body roll than a Costa cruise liner.

Contrasting this, I don't really remember much when I toured the Olympic peninsula in a generic chevy SUV. I remember the stops, the hotels, the hiking, but not the scenery. It might have been safe and comfortable, but it had nothing that excited my brain enough to wake me up and pay attention to what was going on.

For that reason, even though the Highlander appears to have every attribute that a good cross-country touring car should have, it is still one of the worst cars you could buy. You should get something that puts a smile on your face. A car that keeps you awake on those long straights, a car that doesn't drive like any other car out there. You should drive your Tacoma.

 

Here is a good NEW review on the 2020 RAV4 Off road model.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/aut...ugged-all-rounder/ar-BB13MGgU?ocid=spartanntp

 

Every review I’ve read about the present RAV complains about the transmission.