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Toyota's unlikely pocket-rocket, the RAV4, late last year received an upgrade of mostly under-the-skin embellishments, most of which we are pleased to report were not required during our road test.
Most relate to safety, and the new equipment list enhances RAV4's appeal to the family market, the RAV4's staple diet, as a compact to mid size SUV.Our test car was the entry level V6 , CV6 which shares the same engine and transmission as SX6 and ZR6 variants. These are the performance end of the RAV4 range, other variants hauled around by a more sedate 2.4 litre four cylinder engine. All engines have VVTi technology. The V6 is the same powerful 3.5 litre, 201 kW engine as found in Aurion, Tarago and Kluger, so safety improvements were, if anything, overdue. Both engine variants have all wheel drive.
This upgrade also includes new technology and comfort features. Active front-seat head restraints have been adopted as standard equipment across the nine-model RAV4 range.
Driver's knee SRS airbag has been adopted as standard equipment on seven models, and is available as an option on entry level four-cylinder CV-grade. The driver's knee SR airbag option on RAV4 CV is part of a combined option pack that also includes front-seat side SRS airbags, front and rear side curtain shield airbags, and front dual-zone climate controlled air conditioning.
The overall RAV4 upgrade means all RAV4 and RAV4 V6 models now have vehicle stability control (VSC), traction control (TRC) and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) as standard equipment, and all automatic transmission models have Downhill Assist Control (DAC).
RAV4's safety and technology improvements also includes the adoption of an electro-chromatic interior rear-view mirror on high-grade ZR6 and four-cylinder Cruiser L. RAV4 Cruiser, Cruiser L, SX6 and ZR6 now have auto on/off headlamps.
The CV6 comes in at $8000 more - $40,490 - than the 2.4 litre RAV4 CV, so there's a premium paid for the extra performance. One of the benefits is the RAV4's V6 is to increase towing capacity up 400 kg to 1900 kg. This puts the V6 in the ball park to tow a small to mid-size caravan and widens appeal the the `grey nomads.' The V6 rockets from 0-100 km/h in 7.6 seconds, which makes it a fiesty car around town with long legs for the open road.
It points nicely into corners and with its high seating position has significant driver appeal. Comfort improvements include the addition of climate-controlled air conditioning on the entry level six-cylinder CX6 model. RAV4 also has new alloy wheels, with a new five-spoke design replacing six-spoke wheels on four-cylinder RAV4 Cruiser and Cruiser L, and new six-spoke wheels replacing five-spoke on V6 SX6 and ZR6.
In addition to its safety, technology and comfort improvements, RAV4 received a minor visual upgrade. Exterior changes include new designs for the headlamps, front fog-lamps, grille, front and rear bumpers and rear combination lamps. The new front mask sharpens the vehicle's appearance while exterior mirrors now have built-in turn signal indicators.
There are six 2.4-litre four-cylinder models with the choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, and CV, Cruiser and Cruiser L equipment grades. There are three 3.5-litre V6 models all come with five-speed automatic transmission. Despite the added value of the new features for RAV4, the prices on most models have not changed. Four-cylinder Cruiser models have been reduced by $500 while the only price increase is for the V6 SX6 model.
PRICING
RAV4 5 door
2.4 CV $32,490
2.4 Cruiser $37,490
2.4 Cruiser L $42,490
3.5 CV6 $40,490
3.5 SX6 $45,490
3.5 ZR6 $50,490
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