Long-term wrap: Rav4 AWD diesel

Long-term wrap-up

Toyota RAV4 2.2 D-4D VX AWD

Johannesburg - Realising that the vast majority of buyers are not planning to crawl over large boulders on some vehicle-busting trail in Timbuktu, modern SUVs have, for the most part, evolved into much softer creatures, designed with a far bigger bias towards tar-road comfort, but without ignoring the need for occasional trips to the bush.

Given that our Toyota Rav4 2.2 D-4D VX AWD long-termer practically epitomises this trend, which its much smaller ancestor pretty much started more than 20 years back, it’s no surprise that its keys were the hottest property in this office every time one of us was planning a road trip of some sort, particularly one that involved a dirt road or two.

In the time its been with us, our Rav4 has tackled twisty roads in the Drakensberg, been packed to the brim for a four-person fishing trip, searched high and low for wedding venues in the Magaliesberg region and breathed in some fresh sea air during a coastal road trip.

Sure, most vehicles would have taken all of that in their stride too, but what stood out for us was the Rav4’s practicality and cruising ability, always making it the most comfortable option available. It’s small enough to be relatively nimble and easily manoeuvrable yet there’s heaps of cabin space available, providing you don’t have to transport more than five people. Those in the back have ample stretching space and can recline slightly, while the 547-litre boot has a huge appetite for luggage, as the aforementioned fishing trip highlighted.

DRINKING HABITS

The electrically-adjustable driver’s seat proved really comfy and supportive on long trips, where our version’s 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine also came into its own as a quiet and capable cruiser. The engine is credited with 110kW and 340Nm, which proved more than ample in most situations but this is a fairly heavy vehicle, tipping the scales at 1660kg, so don’t expect effortless acceleration if you suddenly need to accelerate on an uphill. It also lags slightly on pull-off.

As for its drinking habits, our vehicle averaged around 8.4 litres per 100km, in mixed conditions, for most of the test period. Towards the end of its stay the trip meter was zeroed for a run from Joburg to Durban along the N3, where it sipped 6.9 on the down trip and 7.4 on the way back, and then zeroed again for a week of purely urban commuting, where it averaged 10.5 litres per 100km.

Whether on tar or dirt, the Rav4 provided a comfortable-enough ride quality, although traction on tar was below par at times. Its 18 inch Michelin Latitude tyres were quick to squeal when thrown into a bend at anything more than a medium pace and the car also understeered notably in the wet. We suspect a different set of rubber would solve most of these issues.

This would better exploit the permanent all-wheel-drive system fitted to our vehicle, and which can transfer drive to the rear wheels when needed.

This system also allows for some mild offroading, aided by 187mm of ground clearance, downhill assist control and a 4WD lock mode, which can split the front-to-rear torque distribution equally at speeds below 40km/h. Yet, as is the norm in this class, serious trails are out of the question as there is no low-range gearing or rear diff-lock.

UPMARKET AMBITIONS

All-in-all, the Rav4 2.2 VX proved to be a very solid vehicle but there were a few small issues that crept up along the way, such as the air-recirculation function that automatically switches on of its own accord and the fuel warning light that thinks it’s OK to wait until the range is down to 50km before warning you about your new problem in life. Our initial test vehicle also had squeaky brakes, although Toyota swopped our original car out for a vehicle without the problem while it investigated the issue, which reportedly also affected a few Rav4 owners.

The other niggles were subjective really; the automatic tailgate, for instance, is slow to the point where I often wished it had a normal manual mechanism.

And although the cabin is equipped to the hilt, particularly in the VX version, and there are some soft-touch surfaces, I feel the dashboard looks a bit too low-rent for a new-age SUV with upmarket ambitions.

None of these things would really be deal-breakers and when all is weighed up, the Rav4 comes across as a stylish, spacious and solid contender in the crowded SUV market. But you might want to take a long hard look at the entire range and your specific needs before laying down the hefty R471 400 sum that the range-topping AWD commands, plush as it is. You might just find that the front-driven, petrol-engined base model fulfils most of your needs, at a far more wallet-friendly R311 600.

FACTS

Toyota RAV4 2.2 D-4D VX AWD

Engine: 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel

Gearbox: Six-speed automatic

Power: 110kW @ 3600rpm

Torque: 340Nm @ 2000 - 2800rpm

Top speed (claimed): 185km/h

Consumption (claimed): 6.5 litres per 100km

Price: R471 400

Warranty: Three-year/100 000km

Service plan: Five-year/90 000km

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