One of the most popular mechanics on YouTube has recommended that used car buyers looking for a rugged and reliable SUV consider a certain model that is widely available for a competitive price.
Scotty Kilmer has worked on vehicles for more than 55 years and regularly posts videos in which he shows viewers around a wide range of new and used cars and gives advice that can help drivers avoid expensive problems with their vehicle.
In a recent video, Scotty takes a look around a 2015 Toyota RAV4, stating that they have a very clever all-wheel drive system that he has never seen break down.
He explained: “I know a lot of people who own these things and they have no idea about this [all-wheel drive] system, so those of you who own them, now you know what that little button does. Stop the vehicle, push the button, and you now have four-wheel drive up to 20 or 25mph, so you can drive through the snow and ice or go camping or fishing.
“If it ever breaks down you might be forking out money like no tomorrow, but on the other hand, I’ve never seen one of these break yet. As long as you don’t drive through six feet of water and flood the whole car out, it’s a really good system. It’s been out a while, this one is a 2015, and I’ve never seen one break.”
Built between 2012 and 2018, the fourth-generation Toyota RAV4 is a mid-size SUV that typically sells for around £6,000 to £10,000, depending on mileage and condition.
The vast majority of examples sold in the UK were fitted with a 2.0-litre diesel engine, which can accelerate from 0-62mph in a fairly brisk 10.5 seconds and return an average of 53.3mpg.
Whilst some have argued that competitors, such as the Mazda CX-5, can be more pleasant to drive, most owners have found the Toyota RAV4 to be an incredibly reliable model.
Getting into the Toyota, Scotty suggested that the interior is comfortable and has plenty of space for bulky items, particularly with the rear seats folded.
He added: “As we look inside, this is my favourite, look how well the cloth seats have held up. With leather seats, you could get cracks and they get hot and cold. These seats are much comfier
“She [the owner] has her bike in here because there’s a lot of room. Sure, the truck [boot] itself is relatively small, but you put these seats down and you’ve got a large space in here.”
When driving the RAV4, the mechanic praised the ride quality and acceleration, and noted that the ride height gives drivers good visibility.
He continued: “We’ll give it some gas, it shifts smoothly and has plenty of acceleration. Sure, it’s not a race car, but when you step on the gas, it takes off very smoothly. There’s plenty of horsepower in that 2.5 engine.
“It’s also fun to drive because they handle good and [the driving position is] up in the air. It’s not too high and not really low. If you go a long way in one, you’ll understand why they sell more RAV4s than anything else.”