TOYOTA RAV4 CRUISER

$44,990 DRIVE-AWAY 17.5 POINTS

VALUE

The Cruiser tops the RAV4 tree and is good buying at this price until the end of June. Default gear includes heated front seats, leather-highlighted upholstery, 11-speaker audio, moonroof and powered tailgate. The spare is a space-saver The threeyear warranty isn’t great; nor are the six-month/10,000km services. The upside is the first six trips are capped at $180 each for a three-year total of $1080.

DESIGN

Its 577L cargo capacity puts the RAV4 at the sharp end of the mid-sized SUVs. Interior storage isn’t great, especially for rear occupants, and there are no rear air vents. That wasn’t a big deal when the car launched in 2013 but it is a notable omission against newer opposition. Ergonomics are good up front but a digital speedo would be handy.

ENGINE

A 2.5-litre cranks out 132kW/233Nm but being naturally aspirated the RAV4 needs to wind up the rev range to perform at its best. It is matched to a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive and uses a combined claimed fuel use of 8.5L/100km or 11.4L around town.

SAFETY

Toyota updated the RAV4 in 2016 and all models come with a full suite of active driving aids — something that can’t be said for the Honda. ANCAP rates the car at a high 34.56/37 points despite deducting a point in the frontal crash test when the driver’s head brushed against the airbag.

DRIVING

The engine needs to be spinning above 4000rpm to get the best out of the RAV4. The steering isn’t as direct as the Honda but it is well weighted and reassuringly responsive, letting you know when the front end is starting to lose grip. The ride is relaxing and noise suppression is good.