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| 2003 Toyota RAV4 |
The Toyota RAV4 seats five occupants in an interior designed with a 50/50-split, folding rear seat. Cargo volume measures 29 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 68 cubic feet with the backseat folded. Toyota’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine develops 148 hp and teams with a four-speed-automatic or five-speed-manual transmission. The RAV4 is available with either front-wheel drive or full-time four-wheel drive.
The Toyota "RAV4" steers with a particularly light touch and is easy to drive and maneuver. Slight transmission hesitation at lower speeds is also noticeable. A new sport-package option with fender flares and a hood scoop highlights Toyota's smallest SUV for 2003. It offers front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive without low-range gearing.
This Sport Package combines with the other available packages, like the L (luxury) Upgrade, Quick Order, Leather or Power Packages to comprise the wide range of variability that can be the Toyota RAV4 compact SUV.
The Toyota RAV4 comes in either front-wheel or all-wheel drives models and can be fitted with either 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions. The RAV4 has large 215/70R16 tires to give excellent traction while the 4WD models enjoy even larger 235/60R16 tires. This full-time 4WD system uses a viscous coupling center differential to split the power 50/50 front and rear. The Toyota RAV4 also employs independent 4-wheel suspension with a MacPherson strut in front and a double wishbone system in the rear.
Meanwhile the interior details feature special sport fabric seats and color-keyed heated exterior mirrors and door handles, exclusive to the package. Though our Best Buys, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and Mazda Tribute don't offer true off-road ability, they do mix ride comfort, cargo capacity, and versatility with all-weather traction. CR-V has a bit more on-road refinement and cargo space.