| Pros | Cons | What's New |
|---|---|---|
Comfortable seats. | 5 seats as standard | Bluetooth connectivity is now a standard feature |
Spacious cargo | Cramped third-row seats | Infotainment system |
A reliable product | Cheap interior materials | A new audio system |
StrongV6 engine option | ||
Optional 7 seating capacity |
$26,085
price269 hp @ 6200 rpm
horsepower246 lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm
torque5-Speed Automatic
transmission3.5L 6cyl 4WD 5A
engine-
basic warrantyThe 2012 Toyota RAV4 belongs to the mid-size crossover SUV, it is a complete family hauler car with V6 and third-row seats. The exterior design of the Toyota RAV4 remains the same and it looks a little bit off as compared to other crossovers in the market. With the seating capacity of five and 7 as optional, it feels kind of roomy but fails to impress when it comes to the interior design as the material quality is not quite appealing.
The 2012 Toyota RAV4 Limited is the most value for money as it has all the necessary and entertainment features. It also has some visual appeal than lower variants with the cool chrome accents and convenience like push start button. But the Inline 4 with its old-age transmission technology doesn’t feel good so it’s better to go with V6 instead.
Toyota offers two different engines with the RAV4, the first one is a 2.5 Liter inline-four that comes as a standard and for quick acceleration, there is a 3.5 Liter V6 as an option. This crossover SUV is a reliable and rugged car that is available in three different trim levels: Base, Sport, and Limited. Some of its standard features are a roof spoiler, tilt & telescopic steering wheel, six-speaker sound system & keyless entry. RAV4 competes directly with Kia Sportage, Nissan Rogue, and Honda CR-V.
Toyota RAV4 arrives this year with three trims - Base, Sport, and Limited, the base trim is priced at $22,650 and goes all the way up to $26,720. Therefore this car has a seating capacity of 5 people as standard and with some additional cost, third-row seats can be added, which might only be good enough for two children. An outdated 4-speed automatic transmission comes mated with the 2.5 Liter inline-four and a descend 5-speed automatic is offered to support the 3.5 Liter V6.
Other than that two different train modes, an FWD and 4WD are integrated into the base and the limited trims respectively. The base variant of RAV4 has some mundane features like a 6-speaker audio system, cruise controls, mp3, and air conditioning. The other variants have 18-inch alloy wheels with a sport-tuned suspension system, dual-zone climate control, and some more which are listed below:
|
Model |
Base |
Sport |
Limited |
|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP (FWD) |
$22,650 |
$24,350 |
$25,330 |
|
MSRP (4WD) |
$24,050 |
$25,750 |
$26,720 |
|
Key Features |
Tilt & Telescopic steering wheel |
18-Inch alloy wheels |
Footwell lights |
|
6-Speaker sound system |
Fog lights |
Dual-zone automatic climate control |
|
|
Two 12V power outlets |
Sport suspension |
Leather steering wheel & gear knob |
|
|
Keyless entry |
Body-colored door handles |
Cargo cover |
|
|
Roofline spoiler |
Chrome grille |
||
|
6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat |
Push start button |
||
|
LED taillights |
|||
|
Rear defrost & Power windows |
We Recommend
The 2012 Toyota RAV4 Limited is the most value for money as it has all the necessary and entertainment features. It also has some visual appeal than lower variants with the cool chrome accents and convenience like push start button. But the Inline 4 with its old-age transmission technology doesn’t feel good so it’s better to go with V6 instead.
The 2012 Toyota RAV4 has two engine options, a 2.4-Liter naturally aspirated inline-4 that puts a total of 179 horses with the pulling capacity of 172 pound-feet. The 2.4L comes mated with the 4-speed automatic transmission and the other one is a 3.5 Liter V6 that has much better power figures with 269 horsepower and 246 pounds of torque.
As per the consumer needs, the two different drive trains FWD and 4WD are also there. As an average family car that is designed to achieve mundane tasks and the power that inline-4 delivers with FWD trim is more than enough. But if you are opting for the optional third-row seats then V6 would be the best option as it will enhance the vehicle’s performance even with the 7 passengers.
|
Model |
Toyota RAV4 |
Honda CR-V |
Nissan Rogue |
Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP |
$22,650 |
$22,295 |
$22,070 |
$18,500 |
|
Powertrain |
2.5-L, NA Inline-4 |
2.4-L, NA Inline-4 |
2.5-L, NA Inline-4 |
2.4-L NA Inline-4 |
|
Transmission |
4-Speed Automatic |
5-Speed Automatic |
CVT |
6-Speed automatic |
|
Drivetrain |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
|
Power |
179 hp @ 6000rpm |
185 hp @ 7000 rpm |
170 hp @ 6000 rpm |
176 hp @ 6000 rpm |
|
Torque |
172 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm |
163 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm |
175 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm |
168 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm |
|
Quater-Mile |
14.8 sec |
16.9 sec |
16.8 sec |
17 sec |
|
0 to 60 MPH |
8.7 sec |
9.1 sec |
9.3 sec |
8.9 sec |
|
Top Speed |
120 mph |
112 mph |
122 mph |
120 mph |
Despite having a 4-speed automatic and second in line powerful engine, the Toyota RAV4 is winning the specs sheet in quarter-mile, top speed, and 0 to 60 mph sections. The 0 to 60 and quarter-mile timings do not matter for a family hauler, but it certainly tells us how the engine will perform with a total of 7 passengers and loaded traffic conditions.
However, Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue spec are quite getting along with each other and Nissan tops the speed up to 122 mph with 15 hp less power than honda. Kia with the third most powerful engine is not bad either, it has a perfect blend of speed, power, and transmission but out of all four cars, Toyota is the one who’s rocking in performance.
The 2012 Toyota RAV4 comes with a decent size engine and offers a good fuel economy of 22 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the straight highways, and 24 mpg in combined city & highways conditions. The fuel tank capacity of 15.9 gallons is sufficient to clock 397 miles on average. While the higher displacement engine, the V6 is a gas guzzler and it will cost more for fuel and maintenance.
|
Model |
Toyota RAV4 |
Honda CR-V |
Nissan Rogue |
Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MPG (City) |
22 |
23 |
23 |
20 |
|
MPG (Highway) |
28 |
31 |
28 |
27 |
|
MPG (Combined) |
24 |
26 |
25 |
23 |
|
Fuel Capacity (gal) |
15.9 |
15.3 |
15.9 |
15.3 |
|
Range (City/Highway/Combined) |
350/445/397 |
352/474/413 |
366/445/405 |
306/413/359 |
The fuel efficiency of RAV4, CR-V, and Rogue is evenly matched but Kia is slightly off by an average of 2.5 mpg and it’s not a big deal. Fuel tank capacity is coincidentally the same number as of the car manufacturers discussed before manufacturing these autos. In-tank to tank range Nissan saves the first spot and Honda takes the second place followed by the Toyota & Kia respectively.
The Toyota RAV4’s interior is lacking strength and solidity, as the company has tried to cut some corners in the material quality of the interior. Its interior is all covered in hard plastic with a scratchy feel to it but Toyota has provided plenty of storage spaces in RAV4 like a compartment just above the glovebox, lighted front cupholders, top compartment with deeper console & two stacked storage bins.
The car comes with a seating capacity of 5 as a standard and rear seats have some good convenience features, such as a 60/40 split, adjustable tilt backs, and aft & fore travel. An optional third row is also available which raises the seating capacity by two passengers and like the second-row seats, the third-row seats can also flat fold and slide into the floor with two quick lever pulls. Other than that, the cabin doesn’t feel claustrophobic and visibility is quite good but the third-row seats are not very comfortable and can only be used by the children.
|
Model |
Toyota RAV4 |
Honda CR-V |
Nissan Rogue |
Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Seating Capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Front Row (Head/ Shoulder/ Leg) (in) |
40.8/ 57.1/ 41.8 |
39.9/ 58.6/ 41.3 |
40.4/ 55.9/ 42.5 |
39.1/ 56.7/ 41.4 |
|
Rear row (Head/ Shoulder/ Leg) (in) |
39.7/ 55.3/ 38.3 |
38.6/ 53.4/ 38.3 |
38.3/ 53.6/ 35.3 |
38.5/ 55.1/ 37.9 |
|
Cargo Capacity (cu-ft) |
36.4 |
37.2 |
28.9 |
26.1 |
Toyota has superior front row and rear row space in the competition and the other three are in a neck-to-neck situation where the interior space is not much different. Honda takes first place with 37.2 cu-ft of cargo capacity followed by the Toyota RAV4 with a number 36.4 cu-ft. Nissan and Kia are providing the worst cargo space, they have 7.5 and 10.3 cu-ft less spacious cargo respectively than RAV4. Besides all the storage spaces some interior related features are listed below:
The base trim of this car is equipped with pretty basic technology and there is not much for entertainment in this trim, and what you get is a 6-speaker system and an mp3 compatible CD player with Bluetooth connectivity and a useful USB port. If you want speed-sensitive volume controls, navigation system, touchscreen system, and much more then opt for the upper trims or choose a pack that Toyota offers.
Toyota offers a Navigation Value Pack for those who want some additional infotainment-related features that come either as optional or in the upper trims. This pack includes a 6.1-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, satellite radio, alarm, backup camera, and Toyota’s Entune. Entune includes real-time information on traffic, weather, fuel prices, stocks, and sports. All the infotainment related features that come as standard and optional have been listed below:
The Toyota RAV4 has a straightforward crossover SUV look but it gets a new sleek and rugged design. After some subtle changes, this car gets newly designed headlights, front grilles, front bumper, and better fog lights. Besides all these updates, the high stance of this car will offer great road visibility. Its vertically wrapped tail lights and triangular C-pillar reminds you of the Nissan Murano.
|
Model |
Toyota RAV4 |
Honda CR-V |
Nissan Rogue |
Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
3360 |
3305 |
3276 |
3186 |
|
Length (in) |
181.9 |
178.3 |
183.3 |
174.8 |
|
Width (in) |
71.5 |
71.6 |
70.9 |
73 |
|
Height (in) |
66.3 |
64.7 |
65.3 |
64.4 |
|
Ground Clearance (in) |
7.5 |
6.3 |
8.3 |
6.8 |
|
Wheelbase (in) |
104.7 |
103.1 |
105.9 |
103.9 |
Toyota is the heaviest of them all, it is the second-longest and has the second-highest wheelbase as Nissan secures first place in these departments. While Honda and Kia have almost the same wheelbase of 103.1 & 103.9 inches respectively. It would be easy to maneuver Honda in cities because of its shorter wheelbase and overall length but it will create some issues in the ground clearance, as it has the lowest clearance of 6.3 inches while Nissan has the best followed by the Toyota & Kia. Some exterior features Of the Toyota RAV4 are listed below:
The Toyota RAV4 has existed in the market since 2006 and is the first one to get a crossover SUV design and that made it the first choice as a family car. In 2012 consumers still consider it as one of the best daily haulers and a brand like Toyota which is renowned for its safety and reliability makes it an easy pick. Let’s keep aside the brand for a second take a look at the safety features that RAV4 is packed with:
If you are constrained by the budget and still want to go with an SUV for family & mundane errands then the Toyota RAV4 won’t disappoint you. It has an average engine performance, decent handling, and overall good fuel economy, and I don’t remember a single person who likes to do track timings with a family hauler. Although it’s not made for serious off-roading, it sure can handle some potholes. Overall it’s a good family car.
Car Name | 0-60 MPH | Quarter Mile | Top Speed | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 Toyota RAV4 Ranked #7 | 8.4 sec | 16.4 sec | 113 mph | |||
2012 Jeep Wrangler Ranked #1 | 6.6 sec | 14.2 sec | 112 mph | |||
2012 Ford Edge Ranked #2 | 6.8 sec | 15.4 sec | 122 mph | |||
2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Ranked #3 | 7.3 sec | 15.5 sec | - | |||
2012 Nissan Xterra Ranked #3 | 7.3 sec | 15.6 sec | - | |||
2012 Lexus RX 350 Ranked #4 | 7.4 sec | 15.4 sec | 122 mph |
Car Name | MPG City | MPG Highway | MPG Combined | Fuel Tank Capacity | Range (C/H) | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 Toyota RAV4 Ranked #3 | 22 mpg | 28 mpg | 24 mpg | 15.9 gal. | 349.8/445.2 mi. | |||
2012 Honda CR-V Ranked #1 | 23 mpg | 31 mpg | 26 mpg | 15.3 gal. | 351.9/474.3 mi. | |||
2012 Chevrolet Equinox Ranked #1 | 22 mpg | 32 mpg | 26 mpg | 18.8 gal. | 413.6/601.6 mi. | |||
2012 GMC Terrain Ranked #1 | 22 mpg | 32 mpg | 26 mpg | 18 gal. | 396/576 mi. | |||
2012 Jeep Patriot Ranked #2 | 23 mpg | 29 mpg | 25 mpg | 13.6 gal. | 312.8/394.4 mi. | Jeep USA | ||
2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Ranked #2 | 23 mpg | 28 mpg | 25 mpg | 16.6 gal. | 381.8/464.8 mi. |
Car Name | Length | Width | Height | Ground Clearance | Wheelbase | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 Toyota RAV4 Ranked #12 | 181.9 in. | 71.5 in. | 66.3 in. | 7.5 in. | 104.7 in. | |||
2012 Nissan Murano Ranked #1 | 189.9 in. | 74.1 in. | 67 in. | 7.4 in. | 111.2 in. | |||
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ranked #2 | 189.8 in. | 76.3 in. | 69.4 in. | 8.6 in. | 114.8 in. | Jeep USA | ||
2012 Subaru Outback Ranked #3 | 188.2 in. | 71.7 in. | 65.7 in. | 8.7 in. | 107.9 in. | |||
2012 Lexus RX 350 Ranked #4 | 187.8 in. | 74.2 in. | 67.7 in. | 7.3 in. | 107.9 in. | |||
2012 Chevrolet Equinox Ranked #4 | 187.8 in. | 72.5 in. | 66.3 in. | 6.9 in. | 112.5 in. |
Car Name | Trunk Capacity | Passenger Volume | Max Trunk Volume | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 Toyota RAV4 Ranked #6 | 36.4 cu.ft. | 108.2 cu.ft. | 73 cu.ft. | |||
2012 Nissan Xterra Ranked #1 | 36.3 cu.ft. | 98.8 cu.ft. | 65.7 cu.ft. | |||
2012 Ford Escape Ranked #2 | 29.2 cu.ft. | 99.5 cu.ft. | 66.3 cu.ft. | |||
2012 Ford Edge Ranked #2 | 32.2 cu.ft. | 108.4 cu.ft. | 68.9 cu.ft. | |||
2012 Lexus RX 350 Ranked #3 | 40 cu.ft. | 100.9 cu.ft. | 80.3 cu.ft. | |||
2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Ranked #4 | 34.2 cu.ft. | 108.3 cu.ft. | 78.2 cu.ft. |
Car Name | Cargo Volume | Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area | Max Cargo Volume | Bed Length | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 Toyota RAV4 Ranked #1 | 73 cu.ft. | 36.4 cu.ft. | 73 cu.ft. | - | |||
2012 Jeep Liberty Ranked #2 | 62.4 cu.ft. | 26.1 cu.ft. | 62.4 cu.ft. | - | Jeep USA | ||
2012 Subaru Forester Ranked #3 | 63 cu.ft. | - | 63 cu.ft. | - | |||
2012 Subaru Outback Ranked #4 | 71.3 cu.ft. | 34.3 cu.ft. | 71.3 cu.ft. | - | |||
2012 Hyundai Tucson Ranked #5 | 11.4 cu.ft. | 25.7 cu.ft. | 55.8 cu.ft. | - | |||
2012 Chevrolet Equinox Ranked #6 | 10 cu.ft. | 31.5 cu.ft. | 63.7 cu.ft. | 212 ft. |
Car Name | Towing Capacity | Payload Capacity | Weight | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 Toyota RAV4 Ranked #9 | 1500 lbs. | 1070 lbs. | 3360 lbs. | |||
2012 Nissan Xterra Ranked #1 | 5000 lbs. | 881 lbs. | 4143 lbs. | |||
2012 Jeep Wrangler Ranked #2 | 3527 lbs. | 1000 lbs. | - | Jeep USA | ||
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ranked #3 | 3500 lbs. | 2030 lbs. | 4470 lbs. | Jeep USA | ||
2012 Jeep Liberty Ranked #3 | 3500 lbs. | 1150 lbs. | 4076 lbs. | Jeep USA | ||
2012 Ford Edge Ranked #3 | 3500 lbs. | 1324 lbs. | 4056 lbs. |
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User Overall Rating
Posted On: August 3, 2024
Its a good car it has some faults but I bought it brand new and its still running and the oil does need changed often but other than that it is a good starter car and good for short travel but not good for offroad or state to state
