With the appearance of the 1997 Toyota Rav4 a new category has been initiated, that of the mini-SUV or the cute-ute as some would call it. The 1997 Rav4 appears in two models, the two-door and the four-door available in both the two-wheel and the four-wheel drive. This is powered by 2.0-liter twin cam four-cylinder engine. This car boasts a lockable center differential and an accessible torque-sensing, limited-slip rear differential. Even though this sport utility lacks a low range set of gears, its ground clearance of 7.5 inches for the four-door, 7.7 for the two-door is good enough to make light off-road duty feasible.

The Rav4's unique design is a welcome departure from strangely twin looks from other SUVs in the market. Toyota stylists came up with a wide body design with tucked-in sheet metal at the windows, a slanting hood with large air intakes, kicked-up rear quarter section sculpted around its 16-inch tires and a rear, dominated by its side-opening door.

 

Inside this mini-sport utility, Toyota engineers fell back to its time tested formula of traditional design relying on practicality, safety and durability. The instruments and gauges are well-located and with-in easy sight, seats are swathed in luxuriant fabric, and an optional lush carpet envelopes the insides. Standard features include dual outside mirrors, intermittent front and rear wipers and a rear window defogger.

 

There are front door pockets and dual cup holders for easy storage. Safety is well-ensured with the inclusion of dual airbags, three-point seatbelts and headrests in all outboard sites, side door collision beams, energy absorbing steering column, strategically-located chassis impact-absorbing reinforcements and a rear center high-mount stop light. Variable seat anchors are added to the front seats only on the four-door model.