Site RSS Feed2007 Toyota RAV4
Toyota RAV4: Hard to top this one
Fri, Jul 21st 2006
| VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS | |
|---|---|
| type | 5 door, suv - small, 4wd |
| msrp | $22,525 |
| trans | automatic |
| gas mi. | 21mpg/28mpg |
| rating |  |
Let’s cut to the chase on the 2006 Toyota RAV4: Paws-up, totally. It’s an outstanding dogmobile in every way imaginable.
What is not to like about this little SUV? It’s adorable with sharp, clean styling. It feels solid, has great acceleration, corners well and is just a kick in the pants to drive. Gets decent gas mileage (rating 21/28 mpg on the Sport model I tested). And for a small SUV, the RAV4 makes outstanding and versatile use of every inch of interior space, which is the ultimate test of a dogmobile.
I’m a real proponent of keeping dogs in crates or restricted with harness/seat belt combinations so they’re not flying around in case of an accident. In my current van, I have two Midwest 606SS model crates, which are designed to fit side-by-side in vans and SUVs. The crates fit with room to spare in my Voyager minivan with the third seat removed.
When I initially measured the interior space, I was delighted to discover that the crates would fit perfectly side-by-side, with well-placed tie-down hooks to keep them more secure than ever before. However, after I put away the measuring tape and physically put the crates in, I found that they don’t fit. I forgot that the hatch slants backwards. So the base of the crates fit perfectly, but the tops stick out and you can’t close the hatch!
However, upon further review, I found that the crates do fit side-by-side between the wheel wells, with the second seat folded down. Pushing the crates back away from the back hatch still leaves lots of storage space in front of them, and allowed access to the storage space under the floorboard. So it’ll all still work.
OK, next point. First, let’s make something clear: I’m not perfect.
Which is why when I take a short errands in cool weather, I often take my darling 10-year-old retriever Heather with me un-tethered in the passenger seat. I know I shouldn’t, and I had to laugh out loud when I realized the RAV4 was informing me that this wasn’t such a great idea.
With Heather sitting in the passenger seat and the seatbelt unhooked, a weight-sensor triggered an annoying warning light and sound for a few seconds letting me know that someone ought to be belted in . I’m guessing putting the harness on Heather and snapping it into the seatbelt will make the RAV4 happy.
Of course, there’s the issue of airbags, which shouldn’t be on with a lightweight passenger, human or dog. The RAV4 is plenty smart here, too. The weight sensor automatically turns on or off the front passenger airbag depending on the weight of the passenger. With 55-pound retriever Heather in the front seat, the passenger airbag was automatically off. When my brother, who weighs considerably more than Heather, was sitting in the same seat, the RAV4 turned the airbag on.
Hmmm … I’m not sure about having a car that’s smarter than I am!
The tricked-out RAV4 Sport model I test drove had all the spiffy things we’ve come to want in our cars — power everything, two-function moon roof, six-CD changer and a good-quality sound system, comfortable seats with lumbar support and lots of places to put drinks, maps and sunglasses. Essential for me and any dog-sports person who ends up in some questionable terrain, the RAV4 Sport also had four-wheel drive accessible with the push of a button.
The 2006 RAV4s start in the low $20,000 range and go up from there. This one had nearly everything (except heated leather seats, an option on the Limited model) and came in with a sticker price of around $28,000.
Throw in Toyota’s reputation for well-made, reliable vehicles and frankly, I can’t think of anything to fault it. Maybe someday it’ll be offered in a hybrid, like the Prius or Highlander?
Bottom line: The RAV4 is a great little SUV for dogs. Now … if I can just find some crates to fit …
-- Gina Spadafori
Carguy Comments: Toyota’s RAV4 is available in a 2.4-liter four cylinder (with 166 horsepower) and 3.5-liter six-cylinder version that produces 269 horsepower. It rates as a ULEV II in emissions and features 73 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third row seats folded. With the tow package, the V-6 model will haul up to 3,500 pounds.
-- Keith Turner, The Family Car
Toyota RAV4: Here’s something to rave about
Barking Lot Banter: The Toyota RAV4 has everything you’d want in a dogmobile, including space for crates with room leftover for extra cargo, convenient tie downs and easy in/out access. Without being big and brutish, the RAV4 is quietly making a name for itself as a very dog-friendly vehicle.
Comments
We havve a 2007 Rav4 with the added inches of space. I can get 4 sheltie sized crates, my huge grooming kit, two plastic tubs, a pop up tent, x pens, grooming table, cart and all extras and one passenger. More than enough for my needs going to shows. My milage is about 24 in city and 28 to 30 on highway depending on my speed.
2008-06-28 15:08:38
The back passenger door is lower to the ground making it easier for my little dog to get in and out while the back door is fine for my larger dog. I took the back seat out of the Rav so you know MY priorities!
2008-06-17 13:59:18
I just bought a RAV4, so far love it. Does anyone have a barrier of some kind in it? If so, what kind and do you like it?
2008-06-16 22:40:53
we had the rav4 and took our dogs everywhere in it.but with gas we got a prius but the rav4 was fantastic we had awd and we took it to georgia mnts and it just went everywhere we needed to offroad everything.great buy haveing sellers remorse
2008-05-31 09:01:41
My 12 year old black lab Lucy says she loves riding in the Rav.
Lucy the lab’s 2007 Rav4 is another very well made vehicle from Toyota. Great gas mileage, good in winter conditions and plenty of room. 4 cylinder AWD works well.
Great dog, great car.
2008-05-29 20:21:51
I absolutely LOVE my RAV4!! It’s the ultimate dog mobile!!
Andrea and the Bama Eskies
2008-05-24 07:13:58
People? Hmmmm. Four comfortably, but why would you ask? This is DogCars.com!
Gina
2008-02-09 13:49:43
how many people fit in to the r4
2008-02-09 12:01:36
I have a 2006 RAV4 Limited and it is perfect for my 3 dogs (corgi and 2 BCs). With the back seat down, I have three 30Lx21Wx24H wire crates strapped in – two crates face the back and one crate is accessed from the one of the side doors. The two back crates are up on a small platform which provides space to store 2 soft crates plus leaves me access to the storage area under the floor. Plus there is plenty of room for human and dog gear in the other part of the back seat space. For longer trips we put the Thule box on top. A very comfy and stylish dog car! Jo
2008-01-29 16:50:39
We have a Rav4 and the sequoia. Both are great! I have the Rav for my cleaning business and the sequoia is for the boat, and going to dockdog events. We have 2 yellow labs and they love the room in the sequoia so do we:)
2008-01-08 12:17:10
I have a rav4 for my cleaning business and I LOVE IT! We also have the seqouia which a step up from the rav4 it’s great for our 2 yellow labs tons of room for them! We travel to dockdog contests and we purchased it for that reason. Well we also have a boat.
2008-01-08 12:14:23
We recently bought a RAV4 (2008 limited model) to cart around our greyhounds. With the second row seats up, there’s just the right amount of space for one greyhound in the back. With the seats folded down, we can toss in a couple dog beds and comfortably transport two.
2007-12-17 11:34:45
My 2cents. If memory serves the Sienna has backseat windows that roll down. Roomy, and possibly more fuel efficient than the Caravan. Very comfortable and reasonably quiet on long trips. Unless they’ve radically improved the Rav the road noise is something a lot of people mention. Make sure you test drive the vehicle you’ll be buying on an old stretch of highway.
2007-11-04 02:33:12
I recently bought a 2007 RAV4 and love it. I initially wanted a Honda CRV but found that the back seats don’t fold down flat, so putting in a dog crate or 2 was going to be practically impossible, so went with the RAV4 – katt.
2007-11-02 09:26:38
I’ve reviewed the Caravan, and loved the Stow-and-Go seats. It’s also competitively priced, and you can get good end-of-year deals now. I have also had a Plymouth Voyager SE for almost a decade, and it has never let me down. I’ve taken dogs coast to coast and on all kinds of adventures.
I’m hoping to get a Toyota Sienna AWD to review in the near future. Will post as soon as I get one to review…. Gina
2007-09-12 13:11:57
You’re right on this one. I love my RAV4. It’s fun to drive, fuel-efficient and my two pitties love it. We have loaded it up with tons of gear and done lots of weekenders.
DH has a Yukon and that’s got lots of space, but with the price of gas, we take my RAV4 instead whenever we can.
We’re thinking of him taking the R4 and me setting a Sienna or Caravan. (His daily commute is longer) What do you think?
2007-09-12 10:49:53
We currently drive a Honda Pilot and it is great to haul our two Labs. But with gas on the way up, we have checked out the RAV4 and love what we see. Our Labs are well traveled and enjoy the day trips with us to the local dog run in the forest. We will be purchasing a RAV4 this fall and already have the configuration of the new vehicle. Looking forward to the purchase. Considered the Honda CRV, but found it to be just a little to restrictive and the back seats don’t fold flat.
2008-08-11 07:55:17