Thom Blackett’s Opinion of the 2006 Toyota RAV4’s Quality:
Recent reports indicate that Toyota’s reputation for quality is taking some hits, primarily associated with the Avalon sedan. The complaints are well below the magnitude of widespread buy-backs and weekly recalls, but the numbers have been sufficient enough to draw some negative press for the automotive golden child. Like the Avalon, and the Camry recently under our care, the 2006 Toyota RAV4 Sport we tested had a few quality glitches.

Over the course of a long-distance drive, a niggling little rattle emanated from the glove box area, not enough to be worrisome but plenty to be annoying. Also noted were plastic rocker panel covers that stood ready and willing to pop off with the slightest provocation, low-grade and flimsy plastic covering the lower seat frames, and hard plastic plastered throughout the cabin. Even a little padding on the door sills and dash cap would be an improvement over what’s provided. Exterior build quality appeared to be much better, accented by tight, uniform gaps. One exception was the wide space around the tailgate, expansive enough to fit a plump fingertip into.

Ron Perry’s Opinion of the 2006 Toyota RAV4’s Quality:
It’s a Toyota, so little else needs to be said. Body panel gaps on our test sample were tight, but I did find a slightly larger gap on one side of the hood than the other. A loose part of cladding on the rear passenger’s side was the only other thing I found that would need attention down the road. Inside, I didn’t see any issues with our RAV4. The plastics were of good quality and the faux-brushed aluminum trim worked well as an interior accent. All of the interior pieces were tightly fastened and the doors even had a solid sound to them when slammed shut. Toyota builds cars that are known for their reliability and quality, and that is one big reason they are so popular with car buyers.

Christian Wardlaw’s Opinion of the 2006 Toyota RAV4’s Quality:
Given the $28,000 price tag of our 2006 Toyota RAV4 V6 Sport 4WD, I expected better interior materials. Unlike Perry, I thought the brushed silver plastic trim looked like a grade-school art project. Everything is covered by hard plastic panels, and the gloss levels don’t match up to the inoffensive matte finish of the dashboard. I also thought the headliner looked fuzzy and felt cheap. The cloth on the seats looked and felt good, but appeared to fray easily, so if you’re the proud owner of a pooch, keep those nails trimmed.

The good news is that the RAV4’s controls, buttons, stalks, and switches all have Lexus-grade quality of operation and damping, and both the interior and exterior are assembled with care. However, with the redesign, the overall cabin ambience is more like a Ford or GM product that a traditional Toyota.