Toyota RAV4 Range : RAV REVS UP

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Toyota's latest generation RAV4 isn't only one of the biggest compact 4x4s, it's one of the cleanest too. Steve Walker reports.

It's easy to forget what compact 4x4s were like before the Toyota RAV4 appeared. In short, they were crude, very little fun to drive and with a propensity to fall over. The RAV4 showed that this sort of vehicle could handle and be well finished. The latest models stretch further upmarket again.

Toyota was amongst the first manufacturers to get its foot in the door of the compact 4x4 market and its RAV4 models proceeded to show that offroaders didn't have to be cumbersome, wobbly and unrefined. Success was forthcoming but so were numerous other entrants into the RAV4's market sector. These days, compact 4x4 land is as crowded as virtually any other segment but the RAV4 continues to assume leadership. The latest model is aiming to take on a greener hue with the aid of Toyota's Optimal Drive technology. After all 4x4 vehicles were unfairly tarred with the same environmentally-unfriendly brush as the high-end luxury models with their gas-guzzling V8 engines, sales trends took a turn for the worse. Today, buyers have come to the realisation that not all off-road vehicles are a blight on the planet and that the compact 4x4s that most people buy produce no more noxious substances than a conventional family car. That's good news for the RAV4 which is looking to underline its green credentials in its latest guise. What's less encouraging for Toyota is the sheer volume of rivals in the market that the Japanese marque helped originate. It seems there's a compact 4x4 for every occasion, so why should you still choose the RAV4? As far as the oily bits go, you'll have a choice of two powerplants, the RAV4 range being somewhat smaller that it was in the past. The engines have been enhanced in most meaningful departments in recent times and the range opens with a 2.0-litre VVT-i petrol unit. It has a healthy 156bhp to call upon but the 198Nm of torque won't appeal to 4x4 buyers who've been used to the low-end muscle of a good diesel. For those seeking a little more pulling power, perhaps for towing or mild off-road adventures, Toyota offers the 2.2-litre D-4D engine. This has 148bhp but a meaty 340Nm of torque and will be a more satisfying engine in most respects when fitted to the RAV4.

"The latest RAV4 has Toyota's Optimal Drive Technology as a not so secret weaponâ€¦."

The engines aren't the sole choice that RAV4 buyers are faced with. The petrol option is available in two-wheel-drive form as a more affordable alternative to full 4x4 mechanicals. Here It uses a standard six-speed manual but it can also be specified with the Multidrive S CVT automatic gearbox and the full 4x4 transmission. The diesel is only available as a 4x4 but can come as a manual or with six-speed automatic transmission. Like the Multidrive S CVT, the auto `box has steering-wheel paddle shifters so owners can overrule the shift programme if the fancy takes them and enjoy a sportier drive - but these are only present in plush SR trim. Few people buy RAV4s to take them off-road. It'll manage a muddy lane at a pinch but if you're thinking of undertaking the Camel Trophy, you'll need to rearrange these words into a familiar phrase: tree up wrong the barking. This generation RAV4 runs in front-wheel-drive mode most of the time but when slippage is detected, the car instantly switches to four-wheel-drive mode. A switch can `lock' the vehicle in all-wheel-drive and there's hill start as well as downhill assist controls but don't expect hardcore features like a low-range transfer box. Horses for courses and all that. Across each successive iteration, the RAV4 has got bigger and better equipped. This third generation model represented the most radical change yet. Cute and chunky was replaced with bold and aggressive. The new vehicle is a whole lot more angular and a good deal more spacious than RAV4s past. The latest facelifted cars tweak the front-end styling with changes to the bumper, grille and headlight design. There are also indicators integrated into the door mirrors and a redesigned taillight cluster treatment at the rear. The RAV4 remains at the more practical and family-orientated end of the compact 4x4 market. What it lacks in funky, urban styling it makes up for in capacity and user-friendliness. Rear seats that fold flat to the floor with one pull of a lever are one reason why the RAV4's load capacity is as big as it is and it also helps that the middle row of seats can be slid backwards and forwards over a range of 165mm, optimising either luggage space or rear passenger leg room. The seat folding action is particularly slick. Whereas some rivals may also claim flat folding rear seats, the reality is that you will often have to spend time dismantling the head restraints or risk a hernia from flipping seat bases up before the operation can be completed. There's none of that palaver in the RAV4, a one-handed operation seeing the seat vanish flush with the load bay floor. There are only two trim level options open to RAV4 customers at the moment but neither is what you could call Spartan. Standard equipment includes dual-zone climate control, a Bluetooth phone system, automatic wipers and headlights, a six CD autochanger, 17" alloy wheels and heated door mirrors that retract at the touch of a button. This basic trim is called XT-R but the 4x4 versions also get leather upholstery, keyless entry and start, heated front seats and electric adjustment for the driver's seat. Step up to the range-topping SR model and various styling enhancements are added, features like privacy glass, extended wheelarches and 18" alloy wheels. A neat reversing camera with a screen in the rear-view mirror also makes an appearance. The RAV4 is priced at the upper end of the compact 4x4 segment but the generous equipment quota along with the advanced engines and gearboxes should ensure value for money. The modest size of the latest RAV4 range could be taken as indication that the 4x4 boom has been halted buy a combination of market forces and bad publicity that small off-road vehicles unfairly received for their green credentails. The arrival of the smaller Urban Cruiser model might also be a factor in this change. By offering a limited number of very well-equipped models, Toyota is concentrating its efforts on a smaller group of customers but it should have what it takes to succeed. Key rivals include the Nissan X-Trail, Land Rover Freelander, Mitsubishi Outlander and Renault Koleos. The latest RAV4 is intent on combating the idea that 4x4 vehicles are bad for the environment and it has Toyota's Optimal Drive Technology as a not so secret weapon. The manufacturer is eager to promote the improvements it has made to its engines which bring greater efficiency and grouping all the arcane mechanical tinkering together under the Optimal Drive banner makes it easier for the public to get a handle on. All of the RAV4 engines and gearboxes benefit from Optimal Drive and they're very efficient as a result. The 2.2-litre diesel delivers 48.7mpg and 154g/km CO2 emissions. The 2.0-litre petrol, meanwhile achieves 37.7mpg and 177g/km with the Multidrive S gearbox. The entry-level 2.0-litre 2WD model is fractionally more economical than the 4x4 version with the Multidrive S gearbox but not enough to make much of a difference. Economy increases to 38.2mpg and emissions drop to 174g/km. The 2.2-litre D-4D uses a D-CAT catalytic converter in automatic form to help minimise emissions. The main benefit of the front-wheel-drive model, both for prospective buyers and for the Toyota marketing department, is its low asking price which comes in at £3,400 less than the next most expensive RAV4. The Toyota RAV4 remains one of the big name players in the compact 4x4 segment and it's also one of the biggest players with a versatile, family-friendly interior. The latest range isn't as diverse as it once was, especially if you discount the entry-level 2WD model, but it's hard to argue with the generous equipment levels that Toyota offers as standard. Optimal Drive technology across the entire engine and gearbox range gives the RAV4 low running costs and commendable environmental credentials. The RAV4 was one of the first 4x4s to prioritise road-going performance but as it's become more substantial and practical, rival models have slotted in to fill the sporty 4x4 void. Today, the Toyota still drives well but it's the family buyer prioritising costs, equipment and versatility that will find Toyota's effort most appealing.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Toyota RAV4
PRICES: £18,995 - £25,295 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 11-13 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 154-177g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.2 D-4D] 0-60mph 9.8s / Max Speed 119mph [est]
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.2 D-4D] (combined) 48.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Seven airbags, ABS with EBD, hill start and downhill assist controls [est]
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4395/1815/1720mm