 I have owned multiple RAV4s; and my family has purchased 6 Toyota cars/SUVS in the past nine years.  Our feeling is that the management is profiting by diluting the quality of the brand.  The 2012 RAV4 is a relatively competent vehicle, in that it handles all kinds of weather with little drama. It also has large and flexible capacities to move people and goods and very good visibility.  The platform has not evolved over a decade of changing oil prices and it remains highly inefficient at 23 miles per gallon in combined driving over 36000 miles for the 4 cylinder model.  The 4 speed transmission belongs in the stone age.  The brand dilution is most notable in some of the interior materials and the quality of the electronic interfaces.  The seat materials in the base and sport models are poor.  The seats have relatively good padding but they will stain if water is poured on them inadvertently.  Either the company did not test the materials or is profiting from the sale of Scotchguard.   The arm rests on the doors are akin to sand paper in the summer; make sure when you test drive this car you do not have on heavy coats as this flaw will become apparent in the warmer months.  Most of the interior is lower quality harder plastics, which scratch with ease.  The stereo options are uninspired.  In our case we experienced electrical problems just after the warranty expired and the dealership had little sympathy.  As mediocre as the ownership experience was for this car, it appears the newer models are even less desirable.  I look for Toyota to refocus on solid engineering platforms and the highest quality customer experience and to eschew their search for marketing gimmickry and the bottom line that keeps their cars in a constant state of recalls.