I agree with all of the
I agree with all of the author's (John's) comments. I own a 2003 Maxima and the original Bose head unit was starting to cut in and out in 2015 and I replaced it with an aftermarket Pioneer with Apple CarPlay and I don't know how I would now live without it. Apple maps was really poor when it first launched, but has gotten much better in recent years and I use it every time I travel. My old Garmin GPS hasn't come out of it's pouch since. I also love the phone, text to voice-voice to text, iPod and Amazon Music capability. So many cars these days are coming out with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto which is great. Manufacturers need to stick with designing cars and leave the infotainment to the experts. I would like to see Toyota step up their game and offer CarPlay in it's next RAV4. When the RAV4 was redesigned for 2013, I took one for a test drive and was really disappointed in the lack of power. Almost dangerous trying to move in with traffic from a standing start. Last year, I took a 2017 RAV4 hybrid for a test drive and the power is much better than the gas only version. Now for technology: while the premium head unit seemed easy enough to use, albeit with dated looking graphics, I had to comment to the salesman that my next car will have to have CarPlay or I won't consider it. (I'm hopeful that my Maxima will continue to give me many more years of service before I get to that point.) I'm also not enamored by the faux leather in the RAV4. At that price point, it should offer leather, a power passenger seat and rear seat air vents. I wasn't able to test the headlights, but I've seen the reviews. Toyota's Safety Sense is a big selling point, and standard in at least the XLE and Limited Hybrid trims. (I'm not sure about the other trims.) When I am ready for my next vehicle, the RAV4 hybrid will still be at the top of my list - I just hope they have CarPlay by then.