The delectable RAV4 (Recreational Activity Vehicle 4-wheel-drive) is a compact crossover SUV and a product of the Japanese automaker Toyota. The crossover was the 1^st ever made and it was born out of buyers demand for a vehicle with more cargo space and the option of a full 4-wheel-drivejust like the regular SUVs but with drive feel and maneuver of a compact car. The 1^st models were launched in Japan and in Europe in 194 and in Australia and North America in 1995.

Though the RAV4 is in its fourth generation of production, the 2008 model features in its 3^rd generation and was a deep refresh for Japanese who were already seeking cheaper options for compact crossovers. This is based on the fact that the RAV4 was placed on the upper tax bracket due to its larger exterior dimensions and engine displacement ultimately making it expensive to own.

Here on Naijauto.com, check out Toyota Rav4 2008 review and prices in Nigeria.

The RAV4 is accronym for Recreational Activity Vehicle 4-Wheel Drive.

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The 2008 RAV4 comes in 3 trims; base, sports & limited which features a number of changes from the other models in the 3^rd generation RAV4 models. The new features includes a new 4-cylinder engine, a tweaked front and rear end and a third row seating arrangement available in the base and limited trims.

Base trim

Unique features on base trims are: 

• 16-inch steel wheels with optional 17-inch alloys types,
• rear tinted windows,
• full power accessories,
• keyless entry,
• cruise control, 
• tilt-telescoping steering wheel
• six-speaker stereo with CD/MP3 player and auxiliary audio jack

Sports trim

• The Sport adds the following features:
• 18-inch alloy wheels,
• a sport-tuned suspension,
• fog-lights,
• heated side mirrors and several exterior details

The range-topping Limited trim includes 17-inch wheels for a smoother ride, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an in-dash six-CD changer (optional on other trims). We also find that the rear tires attached to the back door isn't available on the sport trim.

One of the unique features of the RAV4 2008 is the absence of the attched tires on the back door in its sport trim

Limited trim

On the Limited trim, options include:

• leather upholstery,
• heated front seats and
• rear-seat DVD entertainment system.

Optional on the Limited and Sport trims are:

• sunroof
• upgraded nine-speaker stereo system with satellite radio capability and Bluetooth

3.1 Interior

The 2008 RAV4 has a very comfortable cushioned interior design with more leg room in the rear seat space which is even more space than some larger SUVs. The controls are simple and user friendly and there is also lot of cargo room. The cargo room is made possible as a result of the reclining seats and they can slide forward and backward to make more room for both passengers and cargo alike. Though the optional third seat row is said to be for kids, it can be maneuvered to turn the interior from the normal 5 seating capacity.

The 2008 RAV4 has a very beautifully designed dashboard and comfortable cushioned interior design with more leg room in the rear seat space

3.2 Safety features

The 2008 model of the RAV4 didn't leave little to the safety of it's drivers and passengers. It is fitted with Anti-lock Brakes (ABS), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with Traction Control (TRAC) are standard. In the government frontal crash tests, the 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4 received five stars for the driver and four stars for the front passenger. In the side-impact crash test, the RAV4 got five stars for both the driver and the rear seat passenger.

The 2008 4-cylinder RAV4 models have the 166-hp 2.4L DOHC (2AZ-FE) engine before the 179-hp 2.5L 4-cylinder (2AR-FE) became the base engine starting from the 2009 model. The optional 269-hp 3.5L V6 makes the V6 RAV4 one of the fastest Toyota vehicles. All three engines are very reliable and all three have a timing chain; there is no timing belt.

Toyota Rav4 2008 specs
	Base trim	Limited trim	Sports trim
Overview
Engine type	Gas	Gas	Gas
Transmission	4-speed automatic	4-speed automatic	5-speed automatic
Drive train	Front wheel drive	Front wheel drive	Four wheel drive
Total seating	5	5	5
Performance
Torque	165 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm	165 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm	246 ft-lbs. @ 4700 rpm
Base Engine Size	2.4L	2.4L	3.5L
Horsepower	166 hp @ 6000 rpm	166 hp @ 6000 rpm	269 hp @ 6200 rpm
Horsepower	16	16	24
Turning Circle	34.8 ft.	36.8 ft.	34.8 ft.

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Toyota Rav4 2008 test drive

>>> Understanding key car performance parameter: What do torque, horse power, capacity mean?

5.1 Driving experience

Remember the Toyota RAV4 was built to give you an on the road driving experience like a sedan and high vision like a SUV, well, we can say that driving a RAV4 feels more like driving a tall car than an SUV. It has electrical steering which is light, easily to control and responds fast. Combine this light steering feature with its thick suspension and what you have is a perfect car for off road driving and simple enough also to be used for regular errands. The large side mirrors make up for the thick rear pillars and road imperfections are easily waved off. The RAV4 has proper wind sound control though nothing about its road noise is clearly stated.

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The RAV4 has a comfortable tall build yet gives you the feeling of a sedan drive

5.2 Fuel economy

We can tell you that the compact crossover SUV doesn’t just give you a sedan driving feel but it also boasts of better fuel economy than most sedan cars. And for an all-wheel drive, non-hybrid SUV, its gas mileage is quite economy friendly.

The 2008 AWD Toyota RAV4 2.4L 4-cylinder reaches 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway (11.8/9.4 L/100 km) and can go for up to 415 miles on a 60L tank.

>>> 12 top fuel economy SUVs in Nigeria

By recommendation, you should use the 5W-20 or 0W-20 oil for the 4-cylinder engine and 5W-30 oil for the V6 and change the engine oil regularly (See what are 5W-20 and 5W-30 means).

• Keep the engine coolant and other fluids clean and topped up.
• Use only recommended transmission fluid; wrong transmission fluid type can cause problems.
• In 4WD models you also have the transfer case oil and the rear differential oil that need to be changed in recommended intervals.

>>> Tips to maintain used Toyota RAV4

>>> Toyota Rav4 2008 manual

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Pros: 

• It has good fuel economy, especially the 4-cylinder model.
• It is reliable
• It has comfortable ride and car-like handling,
• It has decent cargo space and plenty of storage areas
• Very small turning radius.

The roomy cargo space makes the RAV4 travel efficient.

Cons:

The RAV4 common problems aren’t major flaws. They are mostly minor flaws that can be fixed with a few thousands of naira. Although some of these flaws are with factory fitted components, they do not necessarily depict the RAV4 is any less a super user friendly SUV.

• Front seats lack support on long trips and this causes discomfort for the driver after driving for long hours
• The RAV4 has no manual transmission available (See Top 6 manual transmission cars)
• Its driver compartment is clustered making it a non-suitable for choice for drivers with long legs
• Rear door opens toward the curb. 
• There’s complaints about a leaking water pump of the engine cooling system.
• The steering shaft makes a clunking sound when turning the steering wheel left or right when it is worn out which is not expensive to fix.

One major issue with the RAV4 is its driver compartment is clustered making it a non-suitable for choice for drivers with long legs

>>> Toyota Rav4 2008 for sale in Nigeria at best prices

There are certain tips when buying a Toyota RAV4 like most other cars you need to look out for. We listed a few of them here that are peculiar to the 2008 Toyota RAV4:

• When test driving, watch out for a whining or humming noises from the drivetrain.
• Listen for knocking or rattling sound from the steering when driving over small bumps or rough road.
• When the car is parked, try turning the steering left and right; there should be no clunking noises.
• Check the engine oil level. If low, it could be an indication that the engine burns oil fast if not it may just need refilling. Check for leaks too.
• If any of the warning lights come on after the engine is started, this indicates a problem. Some of the issues causing the "Check Engine" light to come on could be quite expensive to repair. For example, some of the issues with an evaporative system could require a replacement of the charcoal canister; which is a few hundred dollar repair.

>>> See the 10 most common repairs you need to do when the check engine light is beaming

The Toyota RAV4 is a nice choice in compact crossover SUVs if you are looking for something easy to drive and maintain. It has good fuel economy, the parts are affordable and easy to get. For more fuel economy, we recommend the 4-cyliner model. Like we always say, your car is as good as you maintain it. So if you take proper care of your RAV4 it shouldn’t give you problems and you will enjoy using it for a very long while.

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