But the SUV category is pretty broad, from compact to
crossover. My favorite model was the Jeep Liberty. The controls were simple but
effective. The radio had a vacuum fluorescent display (in the Chrysler style)
with easy to use knobs and buttons. The cruise adjustments were right where you’d
want them, and the displays were easy to read without being overly simplistic.
The ride, brakes, and drivetrain earned top points in my book. Sadly, these
models are being phased out (they weren’t so hot on gas mileage, either).
I’ve had the displeasure of driving the Nissan Versa. The
surprisingly nice Chevy Traverse. The Equinox, which does not rate very high in
my book, and even a couple of Fords.
And I will say this. Anyone that thinks that the Japanese
make a superior vehicle today, based on the crossover and SUV market, has their
head in the sand. Ford and GM have made such major leaps in recent years that
it’s almost unbelievable. Meanwhile, Toyota has taken their share of punches,
and they haven’t fared well. All of that aside, let me tell you about the
biggest piece of shit I have driven to date. The Toyota Rav4.
Where do I begin with this SUV? Toyota is known for building
some of the best ‘appliance’ cars on the road. Ones that are pure vanilla and
blend in. You put gas in and they go. No muss, no fuss, no fun. Which is just
what a lot of people are looking for. Sadly, this car fails on the very essence
of that fundamental.
If you’ve ever driven a 90’s Tercel, this car is a lot like
that. It accelerates like nobody’s business, probably because it feels so damn
light. But the issue is, it’s either going, or it’s not. Touch the throttle
lightly and the engine responds with plenty of power, along with a symphony of
coffee cans banging together through a gearbox that sounds like it came from a ’49
Farmall.
 | ||
| Mass is rather...lacking...in the door. Additional force is required if you want to actually close it. Additionally, I found that dew and condensation drip directly into the drivers power window switch in a way that's almost planned. |
The brakes respond in kind, meaning there’s no modulation,
whatsoever. The problem here is that you delay in braking because you want to
avoid whiplash, however this means that in big city driving, you’re always
braking late, and the 30 cars behind you that would like some notice of your
stopping, are probably cursing under their breath as they avoid smashing into
the back of you.
And speaking of smashing into the back of you, while I
cannot fully explain the root cause, I have narrowly avoided two rear end
collisions as this car has attempted to accelerate while I was trying to slow
it. Once at a stop light when I was just about stopped and the engine decided
to tach up to 4000 RPM’s and began to pull forward. Yes, there was a car in
front of me and if the light hadn’t turned green I’d be in a lot of trouble
right now.
 |
| "Like a Rock"....the steering wheel, not the car. |
So let’s talk about steering. Whoever designed this interior
should have been given more than a $30 budget. The steering wheel is like a
Playskool toy. Extremely hard, cheap plastic. No variable resistance in the
turning. The gauges are bright and clear, except for the Temp gauge which, in
the darkness, resembles a floating red toothpick because A: There is no lighted
origin of the pointer, and B: Some fool left all graduations off of the gauge!
How useful!
 |
| HCFE! |
Also, somewhere a Ukranian tractor is missing its radio.
 |
| You would think such a large display would spend less time displaying "No Message". For that matter, this message is present for any station not transmitting RDS info, which are quite a few. And let's not get started about the reception. |
The seats were handcrafted by the Amish from the densest oak
they could find, and then covered by the finest polyster Toyota could specify.
A mere 4 hour ride has you wishing for a red vinyl bench seat from an old
Thomas schoolbus. At least then you stand the chance of getting bounced out the
window and escaping this interior.
 |
| I spent a lot of time studying the dashboard to find out what gear I was in. Shifting out of Park blindly was not advised. The shift gate has the accuracy of a keelboat adrift in the Indian Ocean. |
So…the brakes have no give, the ride is un-appreciably
rough, the engine extremely unrefined, the seats are hard, and the gear shifter
has plenty of unnecessary lateral movements required to get to D.
 |
| You will forever be guessing which options you were too cheap to order. |
At least the carpet is absorbent.
