Bigger and better RAV is super smart

Toyota’s hi-tech hybrid may be quite different from its predecessors, but that’s surely a good thing, says Steve Teale

RAV4 has been around a while, but don’t go confusing those early models with today’s hitech beast.

The RAV is bigger these days, and better equipped. And as this hybrid model shows, it is one of the most advanced cars on the road.

This is a dashingly styled car, packed to the hilt with safety features; it’s bigger than the early models; and this is a hi-tech hybrid which majors on low emissions and high economy.

So while early Ravs competed against Suzukis and Daihatsus, this £30,000-plus version is more of an alternative to the likes of Range Rover Evoque and a host of BMWs and Audis.

Does it have the same cachet? Well, perhaps not quite but it is still pretty impressive and a lot cheaper than the premium marques. It is a good compromise, a half-way point between the mass market and premium brands.

This model has the benefit of being a hybrid, meaning it will often use a self-charging electric motor but it has petrol poweravailablewhentheelectricity runs short. There is no range anxiety here. Neither is the nuisance of having to plug in your car each evening.

This RAV is the higher-end Design model. It is an impressively equipped machine with lots of safety kit and luxury items. Most impressive for me is the Safety Sense system which includes a sophisticated cruise control system which adapts to the speed of traffic ahead, and ‘lane keep’ systems.

It also ‘reads’ road signs and dips high beam for oncoming traffic. It has traction control and stability systems, useful for such a tall car.

The engine is superb. This is a hefty vehicle but it can reach 60mph in 8.4 seconds and it has a great stepless automatic system called CVT (continuously variable transmission) which is smoother than I expected.

It is 4.6 metres long, which means it is longer than an Evoque, so you can forget any notion that the RAV is a cutesy compact car: this is a proper full-on SUV. It is the fifth generation of a model which dates back to 1994.

It is built on a new platform which brings benefits in ride, handling, safety and ‘driver enjoyment’. Such claims are often made by car companies but in this model the improvements are tangible.

The hi-tech stuff is great – the 2.5 litre engine and selfcharging hybrid system will wow you, as will the electric all-wheel-drive system – but it is the styling which will have the biggest impact.

Not everyone will love it: it is chunky, confident and far from bland, but some might think it just a touch outrageous.

It is a spacious car with 580 litres of luggage space with the rear seats in place. As well as providing more space and comfort, the cabin displays exceptional quality and finish throughout.

RAV remains unique as the only car in its class offering customers a self-charging, hybrid powertrain – the choice of 85 per cent of customers for the model in Western Europe.

This car illustrates the way forward. And it shows that a hi-tech car can be quirky and fun, while at the same time convenient and sensible.