It's obvious that Toyota isn't happy that the Honda CR-V is the best selling SUV and crossover in the US. Although the RAV-4 offers three rows of seats and an available V6 engine it still isn't selling better than the CR-V. This is the what the revised RAV-4 looks like in Japan, so I wonder if this is what we will get here as well?
The Japanese RAV-4 has a different more Avalon/ Camry like front end with a revised tail end that is missing the externally mounted spare tire. It's interesting that Toyota originally placed the spare on the outside of the this generation's RAV-4 in the first place, since all the other vehicles in its class do not have it mounted this way. Probably a way for automakers to move away from the "SUV" stigma....who knows. But at least the back end of this revised version does look a lot better.
I guess we will have to wait until sometime next year to see if this is the same revised RAV-4 that we will get here in the states.
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Comments (23)
It is a decent car.
But why not do a hybrid version of it? Give the affliction of the Americans, a hybrid RAV4 would make sense.
Posted by rene | October 9, 2007 2:05 AM
Posted on October 9, 2007 02:05
A battery powered HumVee in Irak, THAT would green America's image.
Posted by Steadler and Waldorff | October 9, 2007 2:09 AM
Posted on October 9, 2007 02:09
nope, i doubt it would come here in 09, cause in the japanese site, it is called the vanguard. at the same time, they still have the rav4 on sale. i believe that if they bring this here and market it as a toyota, it would kill lexus' RX350, as this car is a 7 seater, V6 engine only and pricing is place inbetween the rav4 and the RX350. :p
Posted by Ken | October 9, 2007 5:06 AM
Posted on October 9, 2007 05:06
Nope, we have the 2.4 Liter 4 cylinder and nope, it hasnt killed the Lexus by a mile.
Posted by rene | October 9, 2007 6:12 AM
Posted on October 9, 2007 06:12
Why isn't this coming with the 50gal crude oil barrel rack on the back? It should also have Zyclon B dispensers (the only good engineering to come out of germany LOL!) all around so we can kill civilians with great impunity. Stoopid Japanese dont' know squat!
Posted by zippy | October 9, 2007 8:31 AM
Posted on October 9, 2007 08:31
I made a 1500-mile trip over the weekend.
The check engine light on my first-generation Matrix came on, and gas mileage shot up to 35 to 38 mpg highway (almost all of the trip).
Perhaps I've not looked at enough other manufacturers lately, but the Japanese seem to have an idea of how to eke some environmental green out of their traditional engines.
If you look back at the car advertising from the '70s, the Japanese cars all branded themselves as environmentally friendly... long before it was cool or pc to do so.
Posted by Tom Underhill | October 9, 2007 8:56 AM
Posted on October 9, 2007 08:56
Tom Underhill (how do you get your name underlined like that?) has it right: way before it was hip, Japanese cars were getting uber-good MPG. Now they are still getting killer gas mileage, just with higher emissions ratings and more HP.
Still, I wish this was our Rav-4, not what we currently have. Do not get me wrong, the current RAV-4 looks awesome (I think it looks better than the CRV), but this looks even better.
Posted by Allen | October 9, 2007 2:39 PM
Posted on October 9, 2007 14:39
the car is called : vanguard, and yes RAV4 drives better than my new CR-V
Posted by abdul azis arjoso | October 9, 2007 5:22 PM
Posted on October 9, 2007 17:22
the car is called : vanguard
Posted by abdul azis arjoso | October 9, 2007 5:23 PM
Posted on October 9, 2007 17:23
This is the JDM-only Toyota Vanguard, the 7-passenger variant of the RAV4 in Japan. It is slotted below the Kluger (Highlander in US) and acts as the 7-passenger version of the RAV4. The 7-passenger RAV4, sold in North America, is not sold in Japan.
This can be argued as a precursor to the facelift for the RAV4, but I predict Toyota will change a lot more than the modified fascia on the Vanguard.
William
TheCarBlogger
Posted by William Lee | October 9, 2007 8:24 PM
Posted on October 9, 2007 20:24
Any chance they may put in a better seat???
Posted by Steve S | November 5, 2007 2:20 PM
Posted on November 5, 2007 14:20
Dear sirs| madam
WE ARE KATONGA TRADERS, WE WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE 2 UNIT USED TRUCKS AS , ISUZU DUMP TRUCKS ELF 2TONS AND TOYOTA PREMIO 1 UNIT AND RAV4 2UNITS USED, WE ARE INTERESTED IN 5UNITS, SO IF YU HAVE THEM GET BACK TO US WITH PRICES OF MODELS ,90 96.and above.[ MOMBASA PORT]
WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON,
KAKOOZA JOHN.
katongatrading@yahoo.com
Posted by kakooza john | February 1, 2008 9:31 AM
Posted on February 1, 2008 09:31
Dose any body know when will be toyota vanguard avaliable in the UK
Or is there any option to get a Toyota rav 7 seater in UK
Posted by Sunil Kingsley | February 6, 2008 3:09 AM
Posted on February 6, 2008 03:09
Dose any body know when will be toyota vanguard avaliable in the UK
Or is there any option to get a Toyota rav in 7 seater in UK
Posted by Sunil Kingsley | February 6, 2008 3:09 AM
Posted on February 6, 2008 03:09
Dose any body know when will be toyota vanguard avaliable in the UK
Or is there any option to get a Toyota rav 7 seater in UK
Posted by Sunil Kingsley | February 6, 2008 3:09 AM
Posted on February 6, 2008 03:09
The rear barn door is still designed for the United Kingdom or Japan. In the U. S. the rear door should be hinged on the left side.
Posted by John | March 29, 2008 11:17 PM
Posted on March 29, 2008 23:17
I had a Celica before and loved it. It gave me 300K miles. If Toyota fixes the first item of the two below, I think lots of people would come back to Toyota. There were 2 main reasons I chose my 2007 CRV over RAV4. First, it was easier to buy Honda than Toyota because I knew exactly what I would get and how much I wanted to pay vs Toyota with too many options/packages thus unpredictable price. Second, the RAV4 still has sided door in the back so I can't not carry any long item.
Posted by havan | March 31, 2008 10:02 AM
Posted on March 31, 2008 10:02
i am seriously thinking about getting a rav4 ...
did a lot of research and test drives..
it's by far the best in my books.
i just can't get over the freakin door that opens onto the road!?
what the!!
couldn't they fix that. geez.
Posted by juls | April 19, 2008 11:58 PM
Posted on April 19, 2008 23:58
I wonder when this new "RAV-4" will be available in the US. I need a small 7 passenger car by July 08 and am beginning to figure this one won't be here anytime soon. Read another article about the 2009 RAV-4 having almost no changes over the 2008. Anyone out there have a clue what is up?
Posted by Tom Samuels | April 28, 2008 11:43 AM
Posted on April 28, 2008 11:43
Maybe professional auto reviewers focus mostly on looks, but the new car difference between the 2008 and your proposed 2009 is seems minor to me. I'd guess that most family car buyers are not intensely interested in the cosmetic "look" unless it is really bad, which the 2008 is not. What I want is a car with all existing RAV4 features that is hybrid. Have you seen gas prices in the US? Even the comment about rear door hinging is more important than the "look" of the spare tire. Do you use these cars or just write columns on them?
Posted by bill | May 8, 2008 9:16 AM
Posted on May 8, 2008 09:16
it is nice, but it is very big
Posted by rema | June 11, 2008 10:59 PM
Posted on June 11, 2008 22:59
Not so big change! I hoped that Toyota come at least with better facelift. The question is: what bring the new version of RAV4 in 2010? 2011?
Posted by Peter Pferde | June 12, 2008 11:50 AM
Posted on June 12, 2008 11:50
To Steadler & Waldorff who remarked on 10/9:
Irak? Where's that? Wherever you are, maybe you should revisit spelling 101 and then comment on environmental policy...
Posted by Rob in DC | June 22, 2008 10:02 PM
Posted on June 22, 2008 22:02