RAV4 is at home on both dirt and tar
Toyota’s well-built SUV will appeal to those seeking high levels of comfort and practicality
HEN Toyota’s 3-door RAV4 first hit the streets in the early 1990s I wasn’t a huge fan despite it being cute and revolutionising the compact 4x4 segment. It was simply too impractical and overpriced, was my feeling back then.
But as Bob Dylan famously crooned, The times they are a changin’ and my feelings changed for the better on the winding roads through the Drakensberg in the Golden Gate nature reserve in our long-term test vehicle, a RAV4 2.2 VX AWD with outputs of 110kW and 340Nm. The new-generation RAV4 has come of age, increasing in size and stature and is a vehicle of choice for weekend trips away.
Priced at R463 300, competitors that jump to mind are the Hyundai ix35 2.0 CRDi Elite (R469 900) and the Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDI AWD Explore auto (R471 995) with both the ix35
Wand Sportage outgunning the RAV4 slightly in the power stakes by 10kW and 52Nm. Other rivals include the Honda CR-V 2.2i DTEC Elegance AWD (R471 300) with outputs of 110kW and 350Nm and the Nissan XTrail 1.6 DCi 4x4 SE (R473 600) with 96kW and 320Nm.
The brakes on our first test-vehicle were making a grinding noise and Toyota replaced it with another Rav4 where the problem was absent. Toyota SA confirms noisy brakes have been experienced by a few Rav4 owners and says the cause is being investigated, but claims the braking efficacy isn’t affected.
Roof rails, 17” alloy rims, daytime running lights and front foglights with chromed inserts in the front bumper, and front and rear mud flaps provide the RAV4 with outdoor cred, while the cabin is spacious and plush, with soft-touch surfaces and a high spec level. Driver and passen- gers are pampered with leather seats, power steering, audio system with Bluetooth for hands-free phone, remote central locking, aircon, a touchscreen multi-information display, USB slot for MP3 player and iPods, and satellite controls on the steering wheel.
The electrically-adjusted driver’s seat with lumbar support is supremely comfortable and supportive for long trips. We particularly like the armrest between the front seats which ensures comfort. A handy stowage bin is placed below the arm rest, while there are more than enough cupholders.
Head- and legroom are very good, both in the front and the rear. The rear seats have a 60/40 split making it easy to drop one of the seats to increase the load area, while retaining some seating for passengers. The rear seats drop completely flat creating a huge luggage area. The boot swallows 476 litres of luggage – and that’s despite a full-sized spare wheel under the boot’s floor.
The power-operated tailgate hinges upwards and can be opened at the push of a button under the dash, or opened and closed by pressing a button on the tailgate. Although a handy feature to have when approaching the vehicle with your arms full of shopping bags, we did find that we had to ensure there was sufficient space behind the RAV4 to allow the tailgate to open.
It also opens quite slowly. Park Distance Control is standard, allowing you to dismiss those irritating parking attendants who suddenly jump out of nowhere to stand behind you and wave their hands at you.
The all-wheel-drive can be engaged simply at a press of a button and is backed up by some good wizardry such as Hill Ascent Control (HAC), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), ABS brakes and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). The Hill Ascent Control is operated by pressing a button which is situated alongside the power button, and on several occasions I inadvertently pressed this instead of the power button.
With a mediumheight 187mm ground clearance and all-wheel-drive traction the RAV4 tackles dirt roads with confidence, although the offroading ability is not quite in the Fortuner’s league.
Powered by a 2.2-litre D4-D turbodiesel, the RAV4 shows some initial reluctance to get going due to turbo lag, but once it’s moving it provides smooth, refined acceleration. The 6-speed auto gearbox is slick and doesn’t hunt around for gears. We drove it mostly in the Eco mode, but a Sport mode can also be selected which makes for a more responsive drive but increases fuel consumption. Driving in Eco mode on the daily commute to work it averaged 8.6l/100km, dropping to 7.7l/100km on the open road which, while acceptable for such a large vehicle, is higher than Toyota’s claimed 5.6l/100km.
The RAV4 handles well for an SUV, with surprising sure-footedness through the twisties in rainy conditions in the Drakensberg. It also displayed good ride quality too, remaining undisturbed on bumpy roads.
Service intervals are every 15 000km, and the RAV4 comes with a three-year/100 000km warranty and a five-year/ 90 000km service plan. VERDICT After driving the vehicle around town and the open roads I’m a convert to the new RAV4. Build quality is good and the RAV4 will appeal to those seeking high levels of comfort with good practicality. This is a vehicle that is equally home in town, on the open road and dirt as it effortlessly wafts you to your destination.