Toyota Rav4 for a long time topped the ratings of reliability of compact crossovers sold in our market. Yes, it has some problems with comfort, but the "Rav" is loved for other things - you can drive it for a long time and a lot.
But I was just talking about the third generation crossover. About modern Toyota begin to swear more and more often, allegedly and corrosion stick and small breakdowns more. Let's find out what has changed with the transition to the fourth generation Rav4 XA40, and is the statement that the Toyota has not the same? Maybe it's just a rumor?
Gasoline problems.
If to look at the aggregate part, a little has changed by and large - 2-liter gasoline engine 3ZR-FE (146 hp) remained former, new 2AR-FE (2.5) has retired former 2.4 and the company 2AD-FTV 2.2 (150 hp) diesel engine was not seen for Rav4.
I have no serious reason to discourage you from any of the listed engines. Yes, they do not put "millionaires" here for a long time, but each of the listed engines with normal care is able to reach 400 tkm without overhaul of the piston. Of the problems they all have in common are rather harmless, but chronic cooling pump leaks, i.e. the pump.
Considering the units separately, it is difficult to argue that it is better to choose 2.5 2AR-FE from gasoline engines. Voracious, but it is tractive, resourceful and reliable. From weaknesses only the usual for Toyota timing coupling which as on related Camry, can harmlessly "rattle" at start.
The two-liter 3ZR-FE sometimes has a chafing of the ground wire due to a poor location. Also, like the 2.5, 2-liter is chain, but the chain is not the most durable - sometimes it stretches to 200 km and needs to be replaced. Otherwise the engine is undemanding and reliable.
The frayed minus wire of the 2.0 version.
Plus diesel, minus reliability.
The 2AD-FTV (2.2) diesel is notable for oil consumption and tendency to fouling. Moreover, solid deposits quickly form not only on combustion chamber surfaces, increasing the already inherent lubricant consumption. The valve of recirculation of gases EGR also clog cavities intake soot, from what they have to clean often, or once and for all disable the valve programmatically, to which many owners RAV4 resorted.
The turbine itself is here - it does not ask for a drink. If suddenly "underinflated" or "overinflated" occurs the culprit is usually a jammed actuator, like in VAG engines. Preventive lubrication with heat-resistant compounds will be very helpful.
2AD-FTV requires periodic cleaning of the intake line and the EGR valve, which is actually the culprit
As in the case with many diesels, injectors with a pump are picky about quality of fuel and terms of fuel filter replacement. Certainly, to fill up such Rav4 with impunity also will not work - such economy sooner or later will cost expensive replacement of the fuel equipment. But with periodic preventive maintenance and careful operation the engine is capable to serve not less than petrol engines.
Longevity of Variator
Toyota continues to equip its products with light and economical variators Aisin. The model K111F has already been installed on the previous generation of Toyota RAV4 and has earned a good reputation, and to be more precise, this CVT belongs to the caste of some of the most reliable.
The variator can only be seen in the 2-liter models. Earlier than 200 tkm one shouldn't worry about it, and with due care, that is without overheats and timely oil changes, it is capable to depart all 300 tkm. There are cases of breakages at 50 ktkm, but fortunately they are very seldom.
The variator Aisin K111F belongs to the caste of one of the most reliable.
About weaknesses of "automatic" U760F, working with 2.5-liter unit, you can learn in our review of Toyota Camry. I will only say that under the hood of Rav4 such a box is working with no less devotion and efficiency, allowing 300 tkm drive without serious mishaps, but again, on condition.
Periodic change of automatic transmission oil will be obligatory if you are going to drive the car indefinitely long.
The diesel gets one of the most problematic gearboxes - Aisin U660F, known from the Camry 3.5 sedan. Only under a hood of Rav4 an "automatic device", surprisingly, behaves more amiably, even despite the fact that the torque of heavy fueled 2.2 is similar to petrol 3.5, but the weight of the automobile is more. Probably, low revolutions of the diesel reduce the risk of "frying" of friction clutches and less wear products are formed.
There is no malfunction with all-wheel drive. Even if one wants to pick on something, one can mention propensity to snot through rear reducer seals. In search of the real weak points, one should look lower, that is the running gear and steering.
Change the rubbers.
Owners of the first batch of Toyota Rav4 XA40 have encountered unexpected warranty replacements of some parts and components with a clearly underdeveloped design. The most massive problem in the running gear are the longitudinal rear suspension arms. The former "soft" silent blocks were rattling at the pits, instead of them dealers installed rubber blocks without holes. The car becomes more rigid, but without ominous noises in the back. It is clear - the owners of Toyota will always choose between comfort and reliability.
Silent-block of rear longitudinal arm
The second weak spot, which is eliminated mainly under warranty, is the steering rack, which makes a knocking noise when driving over the bump and shaking the steering wheel from side to side. The problem is not so mass is mainly due to the fact that many owners, moved from the previous generation Rav4 and took the rattling in the steering column for granted and is already familiar.
Rav4 XA40 front suspension
The Rav4's suspension life is generally longer than that of many competitors. The only thing, bushing the front stabilizer have become a real expendable, often not living up to 50 000 km. Silentblocks of the front levers live up to 100-130 thousand km, shock absorbers about 150 000 km. The rear suspension after the upgrades described above passes more than 200 000 km without knocking.
The brake discs are worn out earlier than it would be desirable, and it is difficult to outlast the second set of pads. By 50,000 km, the residual thickness, as a rule, is already close to the minimum permissible value. There was no such a thing on the previous Rav4. Does the quality really go downhill?
The brake discs in the Rav4 are replaced not much less frequently than the pads
Electrical trivia
If to take into account that the model becomes more and more complicated, such conclusion is quite natural. For example, concerning units Toyota invent something new seldom, and here, as we see everything is very and very reliable, however, without perfection of electrics and comfort options today nowhere and improvements could not pass without leaving a trace.
Though, at the same time, nothing especially terrible has happened. The first versions of Rav4 have been noticed in independent life of the electric trunk lid: either it would not open up to the end, or would not close. In such cases, it is usually necessary to change a rather expensive control unit of the door. Fortunately, the manufacturer has eliminated the defect in time, and it has not led to mass protests of motorists for the right to drive a reliable car.
OEM head unit sometimes fails and hangs up too, but all it needs from you is firmware update. This is not you to re-solder, as in the price competitor Hyundai Santa Fe.
Some motorists have experienced premature battery death in the first two years of ownership. Though there are many factors, the alarm system could also make its contribution or severe Russian winters, but experts in electronics assert that the problem is not in additional equipment and even in the battery, but in banal insufficient charging in positive temperatures. What is even more interesting, it cannot be cured in any way, as it was designed by the manufacturer "for our benefit".
The mileage in the Ravchik is registered only in the dashboard. If the previous seller has changed the data, even a dealer scanner will be helpless. Evaluate the circumstantial signs and service data
Sweats and hardly any rust
Many people after getting acquainted with the weak points of the latest Toyotas are interested in the question of corrosion: Does it rot or not? In case of Rav4 all is not so critical. Appeared chips on the hood and arches, of course, it is better to plaster, but pockets of rust on the body panels do not just pop up - either there was a chip or scratch, or an accident.
There is some trouble with Toyota Rav4 optics. Headlights sometimes mislead when trying to determine the real mileage by indirect signs - in 50,000 km they become muddy as if the mileage was 300 thousand. When buying a car, it is better to buy a protective film or varnish at once:
Rear lights, in its turn, have often been replaced under warranty due to the unexpected appearance of sweat from the inside of the optics:
Door stops quickly stop locking intermediate positions. Basically, this will be another nostalgia for those who owned the previous generation model.
The rear view camera also is quickly covered with a scattering of scratches and after 100 000 km of exploitation even absolutely clean lens feels as if the lens is covered with a layer of dirt. From now on you have to orient with parking sensors or try to polish the camera:
Interior and mileage.
The interior of the Toyota Rav4 after 100,000 km is sad to look at. Interior materials for the most part are frankly cheap. Even in 50 000 km, a steering wheel is already wiped, a side of a driver's seat is pressed through, foam of a seat cushion is gradually starting to crumble.
Some photos from the examination of used cars before buying:
toyota rav4 xa40 leather driver seat
Leather driver's seat cushion. 50,000 km
toyota rav4 xa40 seat wear 50,000 km
Backrest of leather driver's seat. 50,000 km
toyota rav4 xa40 fabric seat
As you can see, the fabric seat has held up better over the years
toyota rav4 xa40 steering wheel wear 100,000 km
Steering wheel after 100,000 km
toyota rav4 xa40 shift knob
Automatic transmission selector handle. 70,000 km
The crickets from the center console also do not make themselves long. All this should be considered while determining the mileage by indirect signs, as there is no other way - the mileage is not prescribed in any of control units, even the dealer scanner diagnostics is useless in this respect. Only experience and intuition will help.
Is it worth buying a used Toyota Rav4 XA40
Yes, Toyota isn't the same anymore and has been for a long time. It is an inevitable part of development and complication of systems. There will be minor problems, but thanks to the ancient units, the Rav4 to this day does not have to worry about major repairs on major components. Even with the variator which has gone 150,000 km, still leaves a chance for, let not the most comfortable, but carefree future.
Telling the truth, if one needs uncompromising reliability without a glance on fuel consumption, it is better to stop the choice on madly expensive on the second-hand market version with 2,5 and a traditional automatic. Do you want lower consumption? I shall not dissuade from a diesel, too, but you should expect that sooner or later it will take away all you have saved at service. So choose.
By the way, the choice on the used Toyota Rav4 XA40 market is quite large, but really good specimens are not stagnant for weeks on sale. There are a lot of used cars, with twisted mileage and even technically dead options. Do not skimp on a good pre-purchase inspection or a quality auto finder.
Competitors
Toyota Rav4 has been playing in the compact crossover market for decades and has earned a reputation as one of the most reliable. However, today it has a worthy competition in this regard was "Koreans" in the face of Hyundai (Tucson, ix35), Kia Sportage, as well as other "Japanese" - Mazda CX-5, about which we wrote not so long ago, Honda CR-V and Nissan Qashqai. There are, certainly, more comfortable variants. And "Europeans" make such cars, in particular Volkswagen Tiguan, Skoda Yeti, as well as Ford Kuga, which dropped out of the market of new cars.
