Toyota swaps diesel in new RAV4
Toyota Australia has axed the RAV4’S turbo-diesel engine in favour of a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain.
It has also raised entry-level pricing and specification for the crucial midsize SUV that is now in showrooms in fifth-generation form.
While the RAV4 line-up still kicks off with the GX petrol FWD, it is now $1190 dearer, at $30,640 plus on-road costs with a six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching, or $32,640 with a continuously variable transmission, CVT, with a mechanical launch gear.
No other variant gets the three-pedal set-up that is only expected to account for two percent of sales.
The next-step-up GXL petrol FWD exclusively uses the CVT. It costs $35,640 – $150 more than before – while the Cruiser petrol FWD is priced from $39,140.
All four of these petrol variants are motivated by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that produces 127kw of power at 6600rpm and 203Nm of torque at 4800rpm – a 20kw-16nm improvement over its predecessor.
Claimed fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions on the combined cycle test have been improved by up to 12 percent, at 6.8 litres per 100 kilometres and 155 grams per kilometre for the manual and 6.5L100km and 147g-km for the CVT.
The previous-generation RAV4 was available with a 110kw-340nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine, but it has made way for a full hybrid system that combines a 2.5-litre atmo fourcylinder unit running on the Atkinson cycle with one or two electric motors.
Toyota Australia vice-president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley said the move away from diesel was related to hybrid’s rise in popularity, despite its availability overseas.
“I don’t see diesel finishing anytime soon in our other vehicle line-ups, but of course other powertrains on diesel are quite credible and optional for us going forward,” he said. The hybrid set-up’s internal-combustion engine develops 131kw at 5700rpm and 221Nm from 3600 to 5200rpm, while the front electric motor pumps out 88kw-202nm.
While FWD is standard with the hybrid powertrain, electric AWD can be optioned for $3000, adding a 40kw-121nm rear motor. As such, the former’s combined power output is 160kw, while the latter musters an additional 3kw.
Hybrid pricing starts from $35,140 for the GX, $38,140 for the GXL and $41,640 for the Cruiser. All six petrolelectric variants come with an E-CVT as standard.
FWD variants drink 4.7L-100km and emit 107g-km, while their AWD counterparts manage 4.8L-100km and 109g-km. The AWD variants can direct up to 80 percent of their torque to the rear wheels.
Checking in at $47,140, the adventure-focused Edge petrol AWD tops the RAV4 range but stands out from its siblings with its 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that produces 152kw at 6600rpm and 243Nm from 4000 to 5000rpm – a 20kw-10nm gain.
It is mated to an eight-speed torqueconverter automatic transmission and a mechanical AWD system.
Typically, 100 percent of torque is sent to the front wheels, but an even split between both axles is engaged when extra grip is required.
The Edge petrol AWD sips 7.3L100km – a 14 percent improvement over the preceding 2.5-litre unit – and pollutes 166g-km.
Standard equipment in the GX grade includes 17-inch alloy wheels with a space-saver spare, dusk-sensing LED headlights, LED daytime running lights and tail-lights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, power-folding side mirrors with heating, a rear skid plate, rear mud flaps and three driving modes – eco, normal and sport.
Inside, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, satellite navigation with live traffic, DAB+ digital radio, a six-speaker sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, one auxiliary input, one USB port, one 12V power outlet, a 4.2-inch multi-function display, manual air-conditioning (petrol), dualzone climate control (hybrid), keyless start (hybrid), fabric upholstery and a Urethane steering wheel feature.
The RAV4 comes standard with a suite of driver-assist systems.
Cargo capacity is claimed to be a class-leading 580L, and can be increased by stowing the 60-40 splitfold rear bench.