TOYOTA RAV4

VEHICLE - TOYOTA RAV4
REGISTRATION - 357401
LOCATION - SUBWAY SIGNAL C RING ROAD
DATE - 06.09.2008
THE PROUD OWNER/USER - NOT YET KNOWN

The Toyota RAV4 (pronounced "rav-four") is a compact crossover SUV built and marketed by the Toyota Motor Corporation. The car was introduced in Japan and Europe in 1994 and sales began in North America in 1996 to cater to consumers wanting a vehicle that had most of the benefits of SUVs, such as increased cargo room, higher visibility, and the option of full-time four-wheel drive, along with the maneuverability and fuel economy of a smaller car. The early success of the RAV4 paved the way for other compact SUVs such as the Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander, the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute, and the Subaru Forester. Its name stands for "Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-wheel drive," although not all RAV4s have four wheel drive, which is optional in some countries. In most countries, the RAV4 is the only compact SUV from Toyota. In other markets, it is the crossover counterpart of the FJ Cruiser.

Facelift of 2009

The 2009 year model gets freshened in North American markets with several upgrades the most noticeable being a new 4 cylinder engine. Some of the exterior upgrades include redesigned headlamps, tail-lamps, front grille & bumper and foglight trim. The limited gets a different front grill and bumper cover. The sport model features a bigger spoiler and red badging along with an option on the v6 to have the rear door without the spare. New features/options include turn signal mirrors, backup camera (with monitor built into rear view mirror), satellite navigation, smart keyless entry, a push start button, a multifunction meter display, etc. Much of the interior remains same.

The 2009 RAV4's standard all-new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is a low-friction design optimized for performance and fuel efficiency. It produces 179 horsepower at 6,000 RPM, along with 172 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 RPM (versus 166 horsepower and 165 lb.-ft. of peak torque of the previous 2.4-liter engine). The 2.5-liter engine employs Dual independent Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), which controls timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts (compared to the intake-only previous 2.4-liter engine). The 3.5l V6 engine continues.