Get Ready to Blast Off in the 2016 Toyota RAV4
Who wouldn’t love to spend a week driving a sporty bright blue RAV4?
I’ve never been a hug fan of small SUV’s but I immediately loved the Toyota Rav4 SE AWD SUV in Electric Storm blue. I was a little worried that I would be disappointed by a 4-cylinder SUV, but this baby comes with Sport mode. I grinned every time I pushed that button. You can actually feel the difference. The car grips the road better, the engine has a deeper sound and your eyes start to twinkle as your foot presses the accelerator just a little bit harder.
Starting at just $30,665, the 2016 Toyota RAV4 SE all wheel drive SUV is a great value. It is both sporty and comfortable. While it seats the same number of passengers as my Camry, it’s a lot roomier inside, has more cargo space, and the rear seats fold down for even more space. You’re also up off the ground instead of down on the ground like you are in a car.
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- The RAV4 has landed, and a handsome co-pilot emerges, smiling
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- 2016 Toyota RAV4 SE AWD
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- The driver’s seat in the 2016 Toyota RAV4 SE AWD
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- 2016 Toyota RAV4 SE AWD
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- So much space in the back seat of the 2016 Toyota RAV4 SE AWD
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- Los of extra options for safety and comfort in the 2016 Toyota RAV4 SE AWD
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- Love this little shelf above the glove box. Perfect for a phone or tablet, or gloves!
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- Sun roof on the 2016 Toyota RAV4 SE AWD
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- Very sporty mirror. Check out the little bump on the underside. That’s a camera!
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- Arrrg! This grille is ready for action!
What Makes the 2016 RAV4 SE AWD So Popular?
When I talked to our local dealership, they told me the RAV4 is one of their top selling models, and that previous RAV4 owners are almost always repeat customers. Here are some of the reasons – at least in my opinion:
1. The RAV4 is just the right size for a wide range of people, starting with the teen driver whose parent wants him to have a reliable safe vehicle, to the small family, and the retired crowd. It’s not a boring ol’ sedan and it’s not a huge SUV.
2. It has a great fuel economy when driven in Eco mode, and if you get the hybrid model it can get up to 34 miles per gallon!
3. It has a great reputation for being a long lasting vehicle that holds its value.
4. It really is sporty and fun to drive!
Added features on the 2016 Toyota RAV4 SE
You’ll notice quite a price jump between where this vehicle starts and the model we drove. In addition to the standard equipment, the model we drove included a $3,030 Advanced Technology Package. This means more cameras (bird’s eye view!), parking sonar, pre-collision detection, steering assist, dynamic radar cruise control, premium JBL navigation and sound system, and fancy speakers. Then there was the S-Code paint treatment which adds some silver and black accents to bumpers and mirrors. This runs $600. Additional extras ranging in price from $45 to $999 include a mud guard, paint protection film, roof rack cross bars, interior light kit, remote start, wheel locks, and the all-weather floor liners and cargo tray. While a lot of this is really nice, don’t worry – you can still get a really nice RAV4 on a budget. In fact, some of the models start at just $24,350!
Would you own a RAV4? I would!
If we could trade our Camry for this right now, I would. Of course my Camry is older, and wouldn’t be even close to an even trade, but it has the same fuel economy we were looking for when we bought the Camry and it’s a better fit for our family and lifestyle. It’s a lot more fun to drive too.
What I loved
- Sport tuned suspension
- LED Headlamps
- Dual Zone climate control
- Reclining & fold flat rear seats
- Push button start
- All-weather floor liners and cargo tray
What you need to know
- Fuel economy: 22 miles per gallon in the city 29 mpg on the highway; 25 combined
- Takes regular gasoline
- Base price: $30,665 ; price for the model we drove, $37,022
- All-wheel drive
- Front & rear parking sonar
Toyota provided me with the amazing 2016 Toyota RAV SE AWD to drive for a week. I was not paid to take pictures or write about this vehicle and can honestly say, we loved it. As you can see, my kids were huge fans too and couldn’t wait to “blast off” every time we went somewhere!
Categorized:Car Reviews
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