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One of the all-time great family vehicles.
5 November 2024
Written by Wheels magazine
The Toyota RAV4 is a five-door, five-seat medium SUV with two rows of seating. There is no seven-seat variant or coupe derivative.
The features listed below are standard in the entry-level model and will appear in higher-grade models unless replaced by more premium equivalent features.
There are five RAV4 variants, starting with the GX which gets the features listed above paired with a 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder and front-wheel drive.
Hybrid power is available with front- and all-wheel drive for $2500 and $5500 extra respectively.
Moving up to the GXL nets a more attractive exterior with bigger 18-inch alloy wheels. You also get comfort and convenience features such as keyless entry, wireless phone charging and a leather-wrapped gear shifter.
The GXL also brings front mud flaps; auto-dimming rear-view mirror; roof rails; dual-zone climate control; and illuminated door switches.
The hybrid-only RAV4 XSE gets a unique look, with all the features above plus: 10.5-inch infotainment system (new); leather-accented ‘premium’ upholstery; 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (new); connected satellite navigation (new); heated front seats; 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support; gloss black exterior trims; interior ambient lighting; and power tailgate.
Previously the range-topper, the RAV4 Cruiser is a most complete specification with an on-road focus. Additional specs include: Automatic heated, power-folding side mirrors; digital rear-view mirror; heated and ventilated front seats; 360-degree camera system, with underfloor view; eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat; nine-speaker JBL audio system; leather upholstery; and electric glass sunroof.
The most expensive RAV4 grade, the Edge, has a distinct off-road flavour with outdoorsy orange interior highlights. It also gets: 19-inch alloy wheels (matte grey); projector-type LED headlights (petrol); off-road selector dial; hill-descent control; Rear cross-traffic assist; and parking support brake.
The GX and GXL have hard-wearing fabric trim and most of the plastics are of good quality - there is an overwhelming feeling of durability.
Moving up through the range is worth it. The XSE gets more exciting interior materials, and the Cruiser’s leather upholstery is matched with three-stage heating and ventilation – great for a country like Australia.
The rear seat has an adjustable backrest, but no sliding bench. It offers excellent legroom for adults, but the ends of the bench are set in slightly from the doors and the RAV4 doesn’t use its external width effectively. This means it is most comfortable for two adult passengers in the back.
The Toyota RAV4 is a likeable and mostly quiet SUV that rides superbly. It’s also talented enough not to leave you wanting on a twisty road. With this fifth-gen car Toyota has struck an excellent balance between handling fluency and superb ride comfort.
Though the RAV4’s hybrid powertrains handily motivate the medium SUV, they can be vocal when doing so. In front-drive form, the RAV4 hybrid produces 160kW and the AWD versions with an extra motor at the back increase that to 163kW. Toyota does not quote combined torque figures for the hybrid.
It’s best to skip the 127kW/203Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine, if you can, as it lacks the mid-range torque of the hybrids. The other option, exclusive to the Edge, is a flexible 2.5-litre petrol producing 152kW/252Nm. It has the advantage of a mechanical on-demand AWD system to improve the RAV4’s traction on loose surfaces.
The hybrid powertrains are what we recommend. They offer near-silent low-speed operation with the front electric motor (and with optional AWD, the additional rear power unit) able to move the RAV4 from rest to 30km/h in quietude – providing the circa-1kWh battery has enough juice.
The Toyota RAV4 scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted in 2019. This score applies to all variants and every powertrain.
It scored 93 per cent in adult occupant protection and 89 per cent in child occupant protection criteria, with an 85 per cent result in the vulnerable road user protection test and 83 per cent for its safety assistance systems.
The RAV4 range is fitted with seven airbags: dual front, side, curtain and driver's knee, across the range.
Its comfortable ride, fluid dynamics, solid safety suite and fuel-sipping engines make it one of the all-time great family hacks. The RAV4’s hybrid powertrains are pretty much runaway leaders in this class and are rated as low as 4.7L/100km in fuel efficiency cycles.
Images supplied by Wheels magazine. This article was written by an independent author of Wheels Media. Full disclaimer
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