LIVING WITH A TOYOTA RAV4

YEARS OF MANUFACTURE 2015-present KEY POINTS Poor running costs and fuel economy drag down an otherwise stellar result

ELAINE Boyer lives in the Cotswolds, and is now running her fifth Toyota RAV4. “I had a petrol one at first, then two diesels, but I started feeling guilty about driving around causing pollution, so last time I went for the petrol-electric hybrid instead,” she told us.

And Elaine explained that it drives better than she expected: “It’s smooth and responsive, and I like having the four-wheel drive if I need to get around when it’s snowing. But I wouldn’t really say I’m a driving enthusiast and I’m not looking for anything trendy. I drive because I have to.”

Elaine does about 10,000 miles a year, mainly commuting, but sometimes takes her teenage grandchildren and dog along for a ride.

“I think the RAV4 is great value because you get a lot for your money,” she added, “and apart from servicing it doesn’t cost much to run. These cars are also incredibly reliable; I’ve not had a single fault on any of the RAV4S that I’ve owned.”

“YOU GET A LOT OF CAR FOR THE MONEY, AND I’VE NOT HAD A SINGLE FAULT ON ANY OF THE FIVE RAV4S THAT I’VE OWNED” ELAINE BOYER CHELTENHAM, GLOS

THE Lexus RX finishes an excellent third in Driver Power, and reaffirms all those established satisfying Lexus qualities – in particular safety, where the SUV finishes top of the class.

Owners rate the ride, handling and driving enjoyment very highly indeed, and gave the car exceptional scores for its materials, build quality and new origami-style design.

Indeed, the RX might have performed even better overall in the survey had it not come unstuck in the MPG and running costs section, where surprisingly, owners marked it down heavily. The reason for this seems to be that they are not convinced of the value provided by the Lexus servicing regime; customers have voted with their Driver Power scorecards here. There also appears to be disappointment with the car’s fuel economy, suggesting real-world figures are nowhere near the hybrid’s claimed 53.3mpg.

The sat-nav and smartphone connectivity ratings, while not exactly poor, could also have been higher. Even so, this is an extremely impressive performance on nearly all counts that keeps the RX right at the head of the pack.

So if you’re looking for a luxurious, fashionable and pragmatic purchase, the boldly styled SUV suggests it’s possible to satisfy both your heart and your head.

Owners who’ve told us of problems say these often involve interior trim YES 9.2%

“This car has it all; space, style, driving dynamics, and a great interior. I couldn’t be happier with it.” “The interior is very smart. All of the tech works brilliantly, it looks good and there’s lots of storage space for various items.”