Toyota Problems

Toyota's fifth-generation RAV4 model is built in three different plants in Japan, one in China and one in Ontario, Canada. The three plants (Obu, Takaoka and Tahara) are located in Aichi prefecture, and will service different world markets (including Europe and Australia).

Toyota have sold their RAV4 model in both all wheel drive and front wheel drive guises, but have no opted to sell a rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive model. The difference between all wheel drive and four wheel drive comes down to AWD vehicles lacking locking hubs or a low-range option in the transmission.

Toyota's RAV4 soft-roader is rated by the manufacturer to tow up to 1500kg if using a trailer with brakes, or 750kg if the trailer doesn't have brakes. That is the maximum, which means I wouldn't plan on towing boats with the RAV4 as even small boats will be over 750kg once you include the weight of the trailer and associated gear.

The Ascent, SX, ZR and Hybrid models use a 205/55-16 tyre, while some SX models were available with a 215/45-17. If in doubt, check the writing on the side of your tyre for either of those numbers.

Corollas do not come with an alarm standard, though all new cars sold in Australia for the last couple of decades have immobilisers fitted to the factory ignition system. To disable these you will need to be handy with wiring, or get an auto electrician to do this for you.

You should be able to get an example of the current crop of large seven-seat SUVs for under $40k, and we recommend the Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-9, Toyota Kluger and Hyundai Santa Fe, in that order. 

You'll also be able to get a new mid-size SUV for well under that price, with Mitsubishi offering the base Outlander with seven seats for $29,990 drive away at the moment. 

You can also get the Honda  CR-V VTi-L for just under $40k and the Nissan X-Trail. Our pick would be the Honda, but bear in mind it lacks a lot of active safety equipment fitted standard to the other brands.

The Holden Spark has been discontinued in Australia, with the company citing low volume as the main issue. But if that doesn't deter you, it's still a solid buy at under $15,000. Dealers have plenty of stock still on showroom floors, and you can get really good prices on 2017-plate models for less than $15k, drive-away. Shop for the LT if this is the car you like most, because it has a better features list than the LS.

Probably best to steer clear of the regular Barina, which is admittedly bigger, but definitely not better. The current-generation model could find its way to the automotive graveyard this year, too. 

The Mirage isn't as good as either the Barina or Spark, so unless you just want a very inexpensive car, it's not high on our recommendation list. The Yaris is lagging behind the times in terms of features, but there's a reason it's a go-to for many budget car buyers: it's a strong offering for space and comfort. 

All of that said, the Kia Picanto is the budget car we'd most likely recommend, because it has a strong and long warranty and is the only one in the mix with auto emergency braking (AEB). Plus it has a reversing camera as standard (the base model Spark doesn't). 

While it won't get car enthusiasts interested enough to look up from their copy of Chrome Pipes and Mullets, the RAV4 is a reliable and fairly low-cost mode of transport. They aren't really off-roading machines, but they will still handle dirt roads and a little bit of hard-packed sand, and they can rack up hundreds of thousands of kilometres with ease, so long as they're serviced regularly.

I doubt that you have any comeback on Toyota, but have the engine checked by a Toyota dealer for the cause of the failure and then you will have some idea of the possibility of a claim.

Unlocking the steering on a Toyota Corolla is simple. Insert the key into the ignition, turn it to position II (when the red lights show on the dash), and wiggle the steering wheel left and right. The steering should then unlock. On older cars you may need to switch the ignition on and off a couple of times to unlock it.