New RAV4 not for latte sippers
The new fifth-generation Toyota RAV4 will offer something we haven’t seen from it in New Zealand before – an off-road version, writes Rob Maetzig.
Here’s something different – we’ll soon be able to buy a hard-core Toyota RAV4. Up until now the compact SUV has been the darling of the softroader set, selling at such a rate that it currently accounts for 4 per cent of all new passenger vehicle sales in New Zealand.
But a brand-new fifth-generation version now on display at the Los Angeles Motor Show promises to add even more to the model’s appeal – because the range includes a beefy Adventure grade designed specifically for offroad duties.
And Toyota New Zealand confirms it will be coming to this country.
‘‘It’s going to be a RAV4 like you’ve never known,’’ says Neeraj Lala, TNZ’s general manager of product and new vehicle sales.
‘‘It’s not going to be the cafe RAV of old. It’s not necessarily going to be an urban machine for latte sippers. The new model is going to include a quite different proposition – a seriously beefed-up offering.
‘‘It’ll have extra ground clearance, 19-inch wheels, overfenders, and the AWD will feature a torque vectoring system similar to that aboard some Lexus models that will be able to transfer engine torque between front and rear axles and left and right wheels.
‘‘This Adventure grade is going to be quite a unique step-up from the traditional RAV4.’’
The new RAV4 goes on sale in North America this month, and Japanese assembly of the new model has also now begun. It is expected to arrive in New Zealand at the end of the first quarter next year.
Whereas the current RAV is available in New Zealand with 2.0-litre front-drive and 2.5-litre allwheel drive and with GX, GXL and Limited grades, the new fleet will be considerably larger. In addition to the standard 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre petrol grades, there will also be the Adventure grade – and three different hybrid models.
‘‘I can confirm we’re taking the hybrids,’’ says Lala. ‘‘It’s all part of our overall plan to have electrified versions of all our models.’’
The 2.5-litre engine powering the new RAV4 will be Toyota’s latest TNGA unit. While no power and torque figures for this engine are yet confirmed for New Zealand, the models on display at the Los Angeles motor show offer 151kW of power and 250Nm of torque, and mated to an eightspeed automatic transmission.
The hybrids on display have a total system output of 163kW, and two electric motors provide the AWD by powering the front and rear axles.
The most dominant visual feature of the new RAV4 are its butch looks. There are very few soft curves on its bodyshell – instead, there are hard edges and lines. And the interiors of the models I viewed – albeit show vehicles – were beautifully put together.
It all adds up to the prospect of the new RAV4 easily achieving continued dominance of the compact SUV segment in New Zealand.
At present there are six different RAV4 models available here – that looks set to increase to 10.
And while there will continue to be GX grades to meet demand from rental companies, there will now be the Adventure grade and hybrids for the retail channel.
With that as background, you could say the RAV4 adventure is poised to become more exciting.