Where's The Spare? Customer Comments and Reviews of the New Toyota Rav4

2013 Toyota Rav4 

Well, we have had the new 2013 Toyota Rav4 at Collingwood Toyota now for about 3 weeks and it has certainly had an impact on our February floor traffic and our sales numbers - both up.
Customers are excited about the new Rav4's look and performance.  They are buying them almost as fast as they are arriving on the lot, which is great news for any dealership in the middle of February. 

"Where's The Spare?"

 

Far and away, the leading customer comment is:  "Where is the spare tire now?". 
Well...it's not on the back anymore.  The new Rav4's temporary spare tire is hidden under the cargo floor in the back where it is easily accessible.
Once that question is answered, the next most common comment is: " I didn't like the tire back there anyway." 
 This comment is usually followed by:
"What type of engine does it have? 
Good question.  The 13 Rav4 has a 2.5 Litre, 176 HP engine with a 6-Speed Automatic Transmission.  This combination provides better acceleration and improved fuel economy over the previous Rav4's 4 cylinder/transmission combination. 

"Is it the same size as the old Rav4?"   
The overall length has been reduced by 50 mm compared to past models.  However, the cargo space has been increased from 1015 litres to 1087 litres - an increase of 72 litres.
Another plus with the new Rav4 is its increased manoeuverability.  The new Rav4 is easier to park and manoeuvre and the lower height helps improve handling and aerodynamics making the vehicle more stable while driving.  

"What else does the new Rav have?"

Toyota really did a great job designing and engineering the new Rav4.  Some of the great features that customers have been excited to see on the new Rav4 include:

• BackUp Camera
• Lane Departure Alert
• Rear Clearance and Backup Sensors
• Blind Spot Monitor
• Drive Mode Select
• and more

 

Generally, the customer comments have been great.  Rav4 owners are loyal to their brand and based on early impressions, this Rav4 is a hit.

 

FAQ: What is my car worth?

A Common Question: What is my car worth?

Collingwood, Ontario:

A common question that we get at our dealership from car buyers almost daily is:
 "What is my car worth?"
This is a common question in the car buying process.  Consumers will walk on to a dealership lot and they will usually know the price, features and sales programs of the vehicle they are interested in. However, they will not know what their trade-in vehicle is worth.

Auto websites don't give the full answer

Now, don't get me wrong, car buyers have usually spent hours online researching the car they are looking to buy. And during that time, they have probably checked to see what their trade-in is selling for online by checking out different automotive websites like, kijiji, autotrader, wheels etc..
However, they still will not know the value of their trade, because, each used vehicle is unique.  A number of variables have to be factored in when appraising a vehicle.  Variables like, kilometers, body condition, accident history, repair history, and service history to mention a few.   These key variables will factor in to the actual value of each trade-in.

Have a Dealer do a proper appraisal

Dealerships will review the same online used vehicle websites as consumers to establish what they can expect to sell a trade-in vehicle for in the current used vehicle marketplace. 
David McArthur, the Sales Manager of Collingwood Toyota has done thousands of used vehicle appraisals in his 20 plus years in the car business.  David states: " Once establishing a retail price for a trade, the dealer has to allow for the cost of overhead. The final piece of the equation is estimating the reconditioning costs.  Obviously, nicer or well maintained trades requires less reconditioning. In summary, the formula is: Retail Price less overhead and reconditioning equals trade-in value."

Larry Smith is a Product and Media Specialist at Collingwood Toyota .
1-877-445-1414