Now that Toyota is here, the whole place looks better. Toyota sold almost 57,000 RAV4s in 1996, No. 2 in the segment behind the Wrangler and within about 20,000 of the 80,000 total sales of the Tracker, Sidekick and Sportage. It feels very much like a car. The 16-inch tires help with the ride. The same feeling extends to the interior, with wild seat patterns.
Rear seats fold forward or backward, which increases the vehicle's functionality.
Toyota recently introduced a L package that added several popular features for a fixed price. That's good, because the RAV4 requires lots of optional equipment that is standard on other mini-SUVs. The Sportage, the second vehicle from South Korea's Kia, first went on sale here in January 1995, earning praise for its cute exterior and clever packaging. It also has the industry's first knee air bag, which offers greater protection than just a chest air bag, according to Kia. Standard equipment includes rear-wheel antilock brakes, power windows and mirrors, and intermittent wipers.