Test drive Toyota Rav4 5 doors 2003 - 2006 SUV

Duel in the "parquet" spirit

Toyota Rav4
The compact all -around is first shown to the general public in 1994. In 2000, a new model appeared, which was restored in September last year.
Only a five -door version with a 2.0 liter of a 2.0 liter, 110 kW/150 liters are delivered to Russia. p., aggregated with two gearboxes - five -speed mechanics or four -speed automatic.
Depending on the level of the RAV4 configuration, official dealers costs from $ 31,700 to 35,200.
Mitsubishi Outlander
In the European market, he made his debut in 2003, and in May of that year sales began in Russia.
The domestic market is supplied with two gasoline engines 2.0 liters, 100 kW/136 liters. With. and 2.4 l, 118 kW/160 liters. p., mechanical or sectral automatic gearbox. The latter is aggregated only with the most powerful engine.
Depending on the level of equipment, the price of the outlander is $ 27 990-34 990.
Parquet all -terrain vehicles - oh, how the sellers of such technology do not like this combination, preferring to call all -wheel drivers of the SUV segment as you like, not this well -aimed and already familiar term. But it is he who, perhaps, best of all, reflects the essence of machines, constructively focused on light off -road and at the same time incorporated many advantages of an ordinary passenger car - such as speed, maneuverability and high comfort. Which of us did not dream of such a community of all -wheel drive and good riding capabilities, considering it the most suitable for domestic conditions. Of course, the SUV is not an all -terrain vehicle, and such a car is expensive, frankly, they are rather weak, but they allow themselves to feel protected from the vagaries of nature. No wonder the snowstorms and snowfalls should begin - our brother is drawn to extreme exercises on the corresponding machines. In this case, these are just SUVs.
Toyota-rav4 after a change in the model and recent updates is still a sales leader in his segment, but Mitsubishi-outlet, which appeared on the Russian market in May 2003, recently acquired a new 2.4-liter gasoline engine and a sequential automaton. As they say, there is no reason to evaluate all this in action. Experts, of course, may object: is it correct to compare cars with different engines? But, firstly, 150 liters were removed from 2 liters of RAV4 working volume. p., which is only a little inferior to the 160-hideous herd of the outlander, and, secondly, these cars play in almost one price category (in our case, Toyota was even more expensive).
So it is doubly interesting what to prefer: time -tested and consumer sympathies of a long -liver or beginner who plays sports and a very attractive price.
 
In search of differences
Before looking for the advantages and disadvantages of machines in business, it is useful to study them on the lift: the view from below will allow to evaluate the off -road abilities of each. Here - a rare, unreasonable unanimity in the form of open motor compartments, protruding details of the production system, engines and automatic gearboxes. It is good that for us nature took care of a couple of tens of centimeters of fluffy snow, which is only one damage from which: if you get stuck, you will definitely soak to the thread, digging up the car.
Nevertheless, the inspection nevertheless bowed to the idea that Mitsubishi was better protected from road surprises: his engine partially covers the subframe’s ski, the road clearance is slightly larger, and the pendant levers are most vulnerable, and not the exhaust system. In Toyota, she performs along the entire length of the car. However, even these small advantages of the outlander are doubtful due to the large base and overhangs of the body.
Turning to the inspection of appearance and interiors, you feel a much greater difference in approaches.
 
Toyota-Rav4.
At the very beginning of his successful career, RAV4 made the impression of a playful and youth beach car - though surprising with a very serious internal content. Over time, the car became more solid, acquired a thoroughbred exterior and turned out to be a full leader in his segment. Last renewal was affected by the front bumper, fog lights and rear lights. The general trend towards growing up is emphasized by additional electronic systems (including course stability). Now, according to the first impressions, this is far from youth car. The balanced style and thoughtfulness of the Toyota technique is able to position much more solid people.
Similar associations arise when meeting the interior. Even the use of the skin in the upholstery of the seats does not violate the impression of functionality. The former playfulness of the style is felt only in three white different -caliber dials of devices and a very convenient three -spoke lamb.
However, in this kingdom of rationality, not everything is perfect: there are claims to the front seats. Of course, it is impossible not to evaluate the high (as in a large alternate) landing of the driver. Three adjustments allow you to quickly find the optimal position, especially since it is much easier to do it with an automatic box. But the profile of seats announces: a short flat pillow and slippery, as if from gutaline, a leather surface - things are poorly compatible. Sometimes from the seat you just slide off, having a bad word for any support.
The low pillow and the lack of space for the feet also do not contribute to comfort at the back. Two will be relatively comfortable here, which is even emphasized by a pillow and back separated in half. In this case, each half is regulated separately - both longitudinally and along the corner of the inclination. In addition, the seats are easily folded or dismantled. Not a good and cargo compartment - spacious, well planned.
 
Mitsubishi-outlet.
If Toyota gravitates to the appearance of an alternate, then this one looks like an ordinary station wagon. Unless the overall style is more aggressive, but the voluminous and wide arches of the wheels hint at the solid size of the tires and the slutty capabilities of the suspensions. Nevertheless, a completely combat SUV is hidden behind the classical appearance. This is emphasized not only by constant full -wheel drive and road clearance, but also by assertive, sometimes even a deliberately rude approach to the design of certain details of the exterior, whether it is a characteristic beak of a radiator grill or mighty roof religions.
Inside, at first glance, not as saturated as in Toyota. Emolfovata front panel and central console: too freely, windows of blizzards, watches and three twins of the climate installation are too free. Interesting: it seems to be a similar level of configuration, a juicy, bright combination of devices, comfortable steering wheel and a machine lever, but in comparison with a tattoo of something lacks. The gaze cannot catch on any special detail. And suddenly you fall into the dense and tenacious embrace of a well -defiled seat. Here it is - what was missing! Like a wave of a magic wand, everything falls into place at once, dividing the interior into the main and secondary.
Of course, here you can complain about a limited (Japanese!) Range of longitudinal movement of the seats, but it is difficult to complain about the landing itself. Outlander is clearly more convenient for the rear passengers. Spacious knees and feet of the legs, there is a reserve in height and at the same time the ability to change the slope of the split back. But you can’t move the rear seat, as, however, to dismantle it. But the trunk against the background of Toyotovsky looks like a mockery. Someone immediately christened it with a box for beer bottles. Indeed, it is similar in shape and size: after all, the entire space is eaten by a full-size 16-inch stock.
 
In the snow, like a parquet

Toyota-Rav4. From the first minutes of movement, it pleasantly surprises a very energetic reaction to the action of the accelerator. Perhaps the car did not mature in this, remaining cheerful. The groovy character of the engine is to their liking and machine gun. Outwardly, it is quite old -fashioned, with a direct selector of selection of gears and an overdive button, without any manual control modes there. But what kind of work works for - you just wonder. Sometimes RAV4 seems even slightly harsh, so sensitively it monitors not only the position of the accelerator, but also the speed of its movement. After a few minutes of movement, you completely forget about the nuances of the automatic box and its presence in general, completely focusing on driving a machine.
But acoustic comfort leaves much to be desired. After a couple of minutes, you can no longer look at the tachometer. As soon as the engine speed is selected by four thousand, your ears will immediately be an sound attack, which will stop only after the tachometer shooter falls below 3000 rpm. This is the fee for abuse and cheerfulness.
Toyota suspensions allow you to continue commendable grades. Being comfortable on the road trifles, they surprise excellent, and most importantly, equally smooth damping of larger irregularities. In most life situations, RAV4 does not fail, perfectly working out the surprises of roads - engineers managed to find a middle ground between comfort and energy intensity.
Having imbued with the young enthusiasm of the car, we hurried to the landfill, anticipating how we get sick of slippery on slippery coatings. But Toyota was more cunning. The course of course stability, which does not manifest itself in ordinary situations, suddenly realized: she blinked a warning window, squealed with indignation with a zoomer and actively joined the work. Hopes to turn off the electronics quickly collapsed - the creators did not provide a cherished button. Perhaps it is safer, only boring and uninteresting. Take at least a situation when, having allowed to feel the beginning of a skid, the system is taken to actively slow down the necessary, in its opinion, the wheels, completely not considering that the driver has already taken corrective actions. The result is obvious: you fight not so much with the machine as with constant intervention in your actions.
The behavior of RAV4 in deep loose snow seemed not very correct. Until some point, the car demonstrates good cross-country ability, confidently breaking through even a twenty-centimeter virgin land. But as soon as the depth of the cover becomes critical and the wheels are slightly slipped, the assistants are immediately taken up to the matter: the target stability systems and the anti -wings. One strangrates the engine, and the other slows down the wheels, supposedly trying to fight the screening of the car. In fact, all this only strengthens their amplitude - the driver has to seriously fight sharahahi from side to side. It seemed to me that in our particular case, the electronics only interfered.
Mitsubishi-outlet. First of all, I looked at the front panel: is it really not disconnected here? Thank God, she simply does not! Yes, yes, as if predicting our wishes, the creators did not supplement the driver with assistants - they say, let him fight himself. So, immediately into battle? I think no. We must sit down, look at the capabilities of a new engine and transmission.
It is curious, but in comparison with the Toyota, agility did not increase here. Moreover, at first, the outlander even surprises smooth, soft switching and reactions to your actions. As if contrasting himself as a competitor, he does not demonstrate a gram of sharpness, touching the invisibility of the enforcement of gears and good acoustic comfort. Remembering that invez -II - an automatic machine adapting to the driving manner, I try to angry the car, setting a quick pace. It seems that it succeeded: now the box pulls the transmission to the speed limiter and much more sharply reacts to the accelerator. The engine seems to wake up on his command, giving, finally, to feel his capabilities. No, nothing uniformity appeared in his character, but in comparison with the two -liter version, the range of average revolutions became richer. Nevertheless, even visually revived, Outlander did not become faster than Toyota.
But the rigid shaking of pendants on irregularities immediately remind of sports. Say what comfort is when the driver must feel the car to the subtleties. Well, the position is quite fair - all the more so since with an increase in the speed of the disposition of suspensions, they soften and they cope with most obstacles. So the outlander, slightly scaring muscularity, turned out to be comfortable and comfortable on more serious potholes.
Its controllability is distinguished by more calm, suspended reactions, less nervousness when slipping occurs. At the same time, the feeling of the machine is supported by good feedback. Sometimes, however, in deep snow, the steering wheel bites slightly with rapid rotation - the productivity of the hydraulic wrap is clearly insufficient. The absence of electronic assistants allows you to very quickly taste all the advantages of all -wheel drive and experiment not only with slippers, but also with manual gear shifts. And here the outlander already looks extremely alive and energetic: it is able to go sideways, and it is spectacular and quite safe. Feeling a little rider, you are ready to forgive him all the shortcomings of earlier.
Needless to say, Mitsubishi is preferable in terms of patency. Like a knife butter, it cuts loose snow, confidently changes the trajectory of movement, goes around obstacles. Of course, small leads are also present here, but with the help of the steering wheel and traction it is not difficult to deal with them.
 
I am in the world sweeter than everyone ...
The difference in approaches, as they say, is evident: if Toyota-Rav4 conquers sympathy with goodness, then on the side of Mitsubishi are bright, interesting finds in terms of driver's emotions and sensations. The hot drivers will probably be more impressed by the outlander: it is perfect for the implementation of the driver’s self. Those who value primarily the overall stability, although they do not exclude emotions, should take a closer look at Toyota.
SUMMARY
Toyota Rav4
+ A thought -out, functional interior, convenient trunk, excellent dynamic capabilities, good smoothness.
- Unknown seats, low level of acoustic comfort.
Mitsubishi Outlander
+ Excellent ergonomics of seats, space for the rear passengers, verified handling and sledged capabilities.
- Mal the trunk, the interior is boring.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Sergey Voskresensky
Photo: George Sadkov
 

A source: The magazine "Driving"