Remember the the dinky little three-door RAV4 from the early 1990s, with its raised ride height, four-wheel drive set-up, and can-do attitude?
Little did we know it at the time, but Toyota’s first-generation Recreational Activity Vehicle 4 also marked the birth of the compact SUV segment, which today in Europe accounts for 19 different model ranges. The modest little RAV4 has enjoyed its fair share of the limelight too, boasting more than 4.5 million sales worldwide since its unveiling in 1994.
The fourth-generation has now had its world launch, and driving it last week in Spain I reckon it’s safe to say Toyota’s little softroader ain’t so little anymore. Gone are those cute and rounded looks; today’s RAV4 gets sharp lights, a global face, substantial dimensions (the original was just 3.7m long), greener engines, and a modern interior.
TELL-TALE SIGN
At 4.57 metres, the newcomer is almost a metre longer than the original, and is 205mm longer than its predecessor - with an immediate tell-tale sign being the missing spare tyre on the tailgate. The spare now lives in the boot. The new RAV4 is also 25mm lower and 30mm wider with a 100mm increase in wheelbase.
That new face gets Toyota’s “Under Priority” grille design with sharp-styled LED daytime running lights, chrome trim bar and a big Toyota badge. Wheel arches really are quite bold (housing 17” and 18” wheels), shoulders muscular, and slick tail lights very similar to those we’ve seen on the latest Auris.
The tailgate confirms that the RAV4 is now all grown-up with its integrated roof spoiler, and top-hinged door (electric with a memory function in the highest spec).
DOUBLE-LAYERED DASHBOARD
The cabin itself is also quite zhoozh with a stylish, double-layered dashboard, new touchscreen interface, and soft-touch finishes (with pronounced stitching) – but I can’t believe that Toyota has still included that horrid little digital clock from the 1980s (this time in blue). What is evident is how roomy the new cabin is, with rear legroom and boot space rivalling larger segments, and Toyota bandying terms like “best-in-class” to describe its parameters.
Coming to South Africa in April will be three derivatives: a two-litre front-wheel drive petrol (107kW/187Nm) in six-speed manual or CVT, a 2.2-litre all-wheel drive turbo diesel (110kW/340Nm) in six-speed manual only and a 132kW/23Nm 2.5-litre all-wheel drive petrol in six-speed auto only. The first two will be offered in GX spec, the third in VX spec. The new engine range, including other variants offered in other markets, averages an 11 percent claimed reduction in CO2 levels.
DYNAMIC TORQUE CONTROL
It was clear from the test route near Barcelona that Toyota wanted to show off the new RAV4’s handling abilities more than its soft-roading skills, with most of the route made up of snaking mountain passes - versus a short little gravel section which posed no challenge.
And I reckon this is all to do with a new system in the all-wheel drive versions called Dynamic Torque Control.
It’s an upgraded version of the carmaker’s all-wheel drive technology, with a new Sport mode. Where normally the system would simply control torque transfer between front and rear wheels for maximum traction (from 100 percent front-biased to a 50:50 split when things get slippery), the new system is linked to your steering inputs to anticipate understeer.
SPORT BUTTON
When you hit the new Sport button on the dash the system will, as soon as you start turning the wheel, introduce a 90:10 front/rear torque split to help with cornering. Should understeer develop, torque transfer to the rear wheels can increase to 50 percent, which provides the front tyres with more lateral grip. The new mode also hardens the power steering by 20 percent, sharpens throttle response and offers a slightly higher rev range.
The new all-wheel technology also allows drivers through a Lock button to hold the power distribution in a 50:50 ratio in off-road conditions at speeds of up to 40km/h.
As gimmicky as the tech may sound, it did change the characteristics of the vehicle on our test route. It doesn’t quite eliminate understeer, but with that Sport button on, throttle response is a little more on edge and the nose seems more comfortable being pushed into corners. In terms of engine choice the diesel is a pearler, offering no lag and lots of in-gear grunt.
BOTTOM LINE
The new RAV4 has grown up and should start giving the Koreans something to worry about, especially with the entry-level two-litre petrol rumoured to land at below the R300 000 mark. - Star Motoring
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