The big news is that used cars for sale in Orange County like the Toyota RAV4 are available at Toyota of Orange! Hooray! Hooray! The world is good again. Fouser those of you who are not in the know, the Toyota RAV4 has ripened like a fine wine over time. The Toyota RAV4 started out as a compact crossover SUV with commuters as the priority and has now become one of the most popular family vehicles in the Toyota lineup.
Used cars particularly the 2014 version of the RAV4 have done away with the remains of the vehicle’s goals of being an SUV, such as a tailgate-mounted tire, there is now only four-cylinder power and no third-row seat. Nevertheless, the redesign brought some vital changes, such as an updated transmission, improved safety features, and updated safety gear.
Driving
In former times, essentially a few models before the 2014 version, there were astonishingly fast V6 models of the RAV4, but the 2014 RAV4 did away with these upgrades for a better ride and more car-like handling.
Used cars for sale Orange County specifically the 2014 Toyota RAV4 has 176 ponies and a four-cylinder engine under the hood, but before you start to get bummed out, the six-speed automatic with sport-shift mode makes up for it all.
When tested, the vehicle can go from 0 to 60 mph in under nine seconds. Yes, it isn’t the fastest time, but quick enough for many families’ needs. The 2014 RAV4 is responsive, has well-weighted eclectic power, and has a good sense of center. The all-wheel drive is an upgrade, and it is a good system to have in your vehicle when you are driving in inclement weather conditions and has excellent on-road handling.
You won’t find much of a range when it comes to how the RAV4 rides and handles, but if you are looking for a better ride, go for the 17-inch tires on the LE and XLE trims.
Technology
Sales representatives of used cars for sale Orange County tell us that significant standard features include:
- 17-inch steel wheel with covers.
- A 60/40-split, folding, and reclining rear seat.
- Cruise control.
- A tilt/telescoping steering wheel.
- Air conditioning and
- a CD stereo with a 6.1-inch touchscreen, MP3 jack, USB port, and Bluetooth connectivity.
Other features include 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lights, heated front seats, a power moonroof, a navigation system, roof rails, push-button start, and a power liftgate.
Standard safety features include:
- Front side-impact airbags.
- Anti-lock brakes.
- Active front head restraints.
- A backup camera.
- Side curtain airbags.
- An electronic stability system with traction control.
Significant available safety features include lane departure warning, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights.
Safety ratings are excellent, but the RAV4 has one ‘Poor’ rating in the new IIHS small overlap frontal test. Otherwise, the RAV4 achieves amazing safety ratings with eight standard airbags, including knee airbags. Bluetooth is also standard across the board; a rearview camera is also included, while Limited models include blind-spot monitors with cross-traffic alerts.
LE, XLE, and Limited models of the 2014 Toyota RAV4 are offered. At the base level, the RAV4 LE comes with power locks, windows, and mirrors; air conditioning; cruise control; tilt/telescoping steering; steering-wheel audio and phone controls; and an AM/FM/CD player-controlled, through a 6.1-inch LCD touchscreen. We tend to think that the base RAV4 LE or mid-range XLE models are the best deal. The XLE adds dual-zone automatic climate control, a sunroof, and fog lights, to which the Limited adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Limited include a power driver seat and those 18-inch wheels.
Other noteworthy options on the RAV4 include navigation on the XLE and Limited, with Entune app connectivity and satellite radio, and on the Limited, a JBL audio system with 576 watts of power and 11 speakers.
Audio systems are amazing in the RAV4. For 2014, there are four different levels of Entune touchscreen audio, with the top two levels incorporating the App Suite—Bing for search; iHeartRadio and Pandora for audio streaming; MovieTickets.com, OpenTable®, and Yelp for going out; and real-time traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports, and stocks.
Comfort
The 2014 RAV4 isn’t larger than its predecessors, but smarter packaging makes it more passenger-friendly. Base versions are outfitted with cheaper upholstery and less supportive seats, while XLE versions come with more firmly bolstered seats and nicer fabrics. The Limited models have synthetic leather upholstery.
The interior isn’t anything different from previous generations since you still find hard plastic throughout the cabin. On a positive note, the old buttons and dials were replaced with larger ones, making it easier for the driver to use the controls, and the technology interface is more instinctive. Also, the RAV4 comes standard with a 6.1-inch touchscreen radio and a backup camera. The 2014 RAV4’s interior space has 42.6 inches of front legroom, which is quite exceptional.
This generation of the RAV4, introduced in 2013, has an overall different look, but the differences are most noticeable around the rear.
That’s where you may usually see the tailgate-mounted spare tire, which was a RAV4 staple in the past, but now is missing. It’s under the cargo floor in 2014 models, which changes the RAV4 from activity vehicle to family workhorse. It’s far more of a tall hatchback than it used to be, with the profile and stance very similar to competitors in the marketplace.
Overall
If you are a car buyer seeking value for money, a smooth ride, and lots of good standard features, then the 2014 Toyota RAV4 is a great choice.