Best Used Toyota Compact SUV - RAV4, FJ Cruiser

Compact SUV’s were introduced to the North American market by domestic automakers in the early 1980’s as an alternative to the large, pickup truck based sport-utility vehicles that were currently in vogue. Small SUV’s were appealing to a wide cross section of buyers for a variety of different reasons. Some people liked the idea of a vehicle which was larger than a car and had four-wheel drive, but was also simpler to navigate through urban traffic than its larger cousins. Others were serious off-roaders who appreciated the relative lightness of these mini-SUV’s, as well as their short wheelbases which made them easier to maneuver through tight trails or between obstacles in the wilderness.

As the decade wore on, Japanese automakers began to introduce their own compact SUV’s, largely because  they had no full-size platforms upon which to base a larger vehicle. As this began to change, and car companies around the world started to flesh out their sport-utility lineups with compact, mid and full-size offerings, companies like Toyota continued to refine their smaller SUV’s until they were worthy competitors to the best that Detroit-based car companies had displayed in their own showrooms.

Toyota was able to take advantage of two strengths during this period of evolution. The first were their highly developed small car platforms, which enabled them to take advantage of excellent pre-existing templates which could provide their SUV’s with better handling and road manners than a standard SUV. It also permitted them to dip into a pool of high tech low-displacement engines which could produce good power while sipping fuel. The company’s long heritage in the world of hardcore 4x4 vehicles represented by their decades long Land Cruiser line also served to inspire the company to make some inspired choices when it came to compact SUV development.

There are some excellent compact SUV choices from Toyota on the used market. Toyota’s main small SUV focus over the past decade or so has been on families looking for an economical, capable people mover and enthusiasts who are interested in weekend exploring, camping or dune riding. These vehicles are inexpensive and feature the legendary Toyota build quality that has kept people coming back to the brand for years. This article takes a look at two of the best used Toyota compact SUV’s currently available, highlighting their strong points and explaining the options available to those in the market for an economical, competent and interesting daily driver.

2001 – 2005 Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 hit the scene in 1994 as one of the smallest available sport-utility vehicles in North America. While at first some dismissed the RAV4 as being too cute to actually be useful, with time the larger, four-door versions of the vehicle grew in popularity. In 2001, the RAV4 underwent its first re-design, stretching in size and permanently adding two extra doors. This single-trim RAV4 was a much more complete vehicle when compared to the original, and quickly cemented its position in the marketplace as one of the top compact SUV’s.

The 2001 – 2005 Toyota RAV4 rides on the same chassis as the Toyota Corolla, and can be had with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Initially, the only engine available was a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder which produced a lively 148 horsepower. In 2004, the RAV4 would benefit from a larger engine that bumped power up by another 21 horsepower. The SUV makes use of either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic, and anti-lock brakes are optional, along with a limited-slip differential for four-wheel drive editions of the vehicle.

Inside, the RAV4 makes good use of its elevated ride height and larger platform to provide good visibility from the driver’s seat, along with a larger cabin than the outgoing model. Not only is passenger room improved, but so is cargo space, increasing to a very generous 68 cubic feet with the rear seats removed. A lack of good rear leg room is the only noticeable defect with the interior re-design. The RAV4’s controls and accommodations are so simple as to be mistaken for austere, but there is a decent amount of functionality to be found in the heating and stereo buttons and dials. The SUV can be upgraded from a long list of optional equipment such as cruise control, air conditioning, a roof rack and leather seating.

With good fuel economy and a very low purchase price when buying used, the 2001 – 2005 Toyota RAV4 is one of the strongest values in the compact SUV market.

2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser

Toyota may have been late to the retro-styling party when compared to other major automakers, but they managed to hit one out of the park on their first try with the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser. Drawing inspiration from the original two-door Land Cruisers of decades past, the FJ Cruiser resembles an oversized Tonka truck with its funky bulging fenders and bumpers combined with an upright design. This is precisely the image that Toyota was hoping the vehicle would portray, since the FJ Cruiser is intended as a toy for those who have grown up and left their sandbox behind them.

The FJ Cruiser is powered by a 4.0 liter V6 engine which generates 239 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. Through the use of variable-valve timing, this rugged vehicle sees 19 miles per gallon in city driving and 22 on the highway. A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard on the front-wheel drive FJ Cruiser, but a 6-speed manual is available depending upon which type of four-wheel drive is ordered: full-time or part-time.

The FJ can tow 5000 lbs, which is impressive, but four-wheel drive versions of the compact SUV are also loaded up with a great off-road suspension system, an electronically locking differential and Toyota’s A-TRAC active traction control system, which is designed to deal with even the most challenging of mud pits and river beds. Manual transmissions also come with a low-range creeper gear for descending tricky hillsides or navigating from rock to rock.

The 2007 FJ Cruiser is specifically designed for use in a wilder setting than most city streets can provide, but the vehicle feels at home on boulevards and highways and doesn’t impart suffer from some of the rougher characteristics typically found in a full-size off-road SUV. This unique-looking, capable compact SUV is a steal when purchased used, and will provide thousands of miles of trouble free Toyota-style driving enjoyment.