The Toyota Rav4 is a very useful two or four wheel drive vehicle. It is roomy without being over large and has a classy new design. Pricewise, it is £1,700 less than the previous model, ranging from £22,595 to £26,495 and represents excellent value.
There are four new models, all of which offer great performance and equipment, starting with the 2.0 D-4D and the 2.0 D-4D 2WD. There is a choice of an automatic or a six-speed manual gearbox, with 0-62mph in 9.9 seconds and an impressive 57.7mpg. Next there is the 2.0 Valvematic CVT AWD which travels from 0-62mph in 9.9 seconds and averages 38.7mpg. Finally there is the 2.2 D-4D AWD, which gives an impressive 49.6mpg and 0-62mph in just 9.6 seconds.
One of the largest cars in its class, there is ample room inside for five adults and the legroom in the back is good. The boot space is ample and when the rear seats are folded down into an almost flat position, the area is large. The rear door is now a conventional tailgate, which is much better than it's predecessor's hinged door.
The dashboard display and controls are easy to read and the forward visibility is great. The basic model comes with electric windows to the front and rear, alloy wheels and air-conditioning, however it is possible to upgrade the specification to include Bluetooth, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, a DAB radio and a camera to aid reversing.
Overall – a great car.