Toyota RAV4 RANGE
Toyota Havent Gone About The RAV4 Makeover By Halves. The Latest Version Of Their Sporty Compact 4x4 Looks Set To Consolidate Its No 1 Sales Position. Andy Enright Reports
A common question among motoring journalists when attending press launches is to ponder what exactly they are driving. It may sound an inane question but when all the car makers bluster is broken down, it often transpires that your hardworking hack is merely driving a new front grille and headlight cluster. This makes writing a thousand word article a pretty tough ask. Thankfully Toyota have made things a little easier in this case by introducing a revised RAV4 range that really has undergone a multitude of improvements.
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Youre probably familiar with the RAV4 line-up, but for those that arent, heres a brief biography of Toyotas compact 4x4. After soaring insurance premiums killed of the hot hatch in the early nineties, manufacturers of small 4x4s stepped into the breach to cater for style-conscious urbanites. These cars were often pretty flaky to drive and soon developed a rather fey reputation. The RAV4 offered something different in blending GTi style performance and chuckable handling with an elevated driving position and chunky good looks.
The result was a compromise of course, but far less of one than other manufacturers had ever dreamed could be possible. It took them years to catch up. Today, there are plenty of cars following the RAV4's lead -
Land Rover's Freelander,
Honda's CR-V and Nissans X-Trail to name but three. Unwilling to let these pretenders eat into the RAV4s European Number One sales position,
Toyota have treated the car to a comprehensive freshening. Out go the old and rather confusing - NV, NRG, GX and VX trim designations and in come the easy to grasp XT3, XT4 and XT5 grades. As well as boosting the safety provision, bumping up the equipment count and improving the ride quality of the RAV4, Toyota have been unable to resist the inevitable.
The latest RAV4 even sports a revised front grille and headlamp cluster. Certain things dont change. Prices are still reasonable - the range opening at £17,250 - and the basic formula that has seen the RAV4 shift over 1.4 million units since its introduction in 1994 prevails.
Far from being a flagging franchise, the RAV4 family is on a relentless up, with year on year sales climbing by around 18 per cent. The latest car will no doubt accelerate that trend. Safety has always sold well in this corner of the market and the RAV4 breaks new ground in being the first compact 4x4 to offer curtain airbags as standard. These have been introduced to complement the driver and passenger bags that are standard on every variant.
All models are equipped with anti lock brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution while the top version adds Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control and Brake Assist.
"Unwilling to let pretenders eat into the RAV4s European Number One sales position, Toyota have treated the car to a comprehensive freshening"
As before there are two engines to choose from although the 147bhp 2.0-litre VVT-i petrol engine is now Euro4 emissions compliant. The 114bhp D-4D diesel version carries a £1,000 premium which, over the course of three years taking into account fuel economy, depreciation and residual values, makes it marginally the better buy. Both three and five door body styles are available and the petrol-engined car is offered with an automatic gearbox.
Equipment levels have been plumped up across the range with air conditioning fitted to every model as well as an intermittent/variable wiper system, while five-door cars now get electric rear windows. The materials quality of the RAV4 cabin has also been put under the microscope with metallic finishes for the dashboard and classier darker trims being used to contrast the brightwork. All versions get chromed door handles and fabric covered sun visors with courtesy lights. XT5 models also receive satellite navigation, cruise control and branded aluminium scuff plates.
The slow-selling front-wheel drive versions and the rather unspectacular 1.8-litre engine have been dropped from the range and Toyota has concentrated on finessing the ride and handling of all models. The steering has been re-geared and firmer mounting bushes have been introduced to give a little more feel to the tiller while the front springs and shock absorbers have been tuned to give a more comforting ride. Not that too many customers would notice.
Theyd probably be drawn to the subtly revised exterior that features revised rear light clusters, a chunkier front bumper assembly, sharper fog lights and a redesigned spare wheel cover. At the front, theres a revised front grille and headlamp cluster. All variants come fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels, a hard cover for the spare wheel and a body styling kit that comprises colour keyed bumpers and wider wheel arches. This RAV4 is lighter and faster than its direct rivals and is far more comfortable over poor surfaces.
The 2.0-litre VVT-i engine feels willing and quick, the 147bhp unit making sixty in 10.8s on the way to 112mph. The D-4D diesel isnt too much slower, hitting 60mph in 11.
9 seconds and topping out at 106mph. Where it really scores is in offering an average fuel consumption figure of 39.8mpg, although the manual VVTi engined versions showing of 32.1mpg isnt to be sniffed at.
Opt for the automatic gearbox and that figure is shaved down to 30.4mpg. The old adage that if something aint broke then theres no need to fix it probably applies to the Toyota RAV4. It didnt need all these improvements to remain the best selling compact 4x4 across Europe.
That it has only puts more pressure upon its competitors and a little less on us in terms of review-writing difficulty. We extend our most sincere appreciation.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Toyota RAV4 range
PRICES: £17,250-£24,450 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 10-12
CO2 EMISSIONS: 190-224g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.0 manual 3dr] 0-60mph 10.8s / Max Speed 112mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 manual 3dr] (combined) 32.1mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin font, side and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] (length/width/height) 4265/1785/1715mm
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