Toyota Rav4 A Reliable, Efficient And Practical Choice
Toyota RAV4 A Reliable, Efficient And Practical Choice
The latest Toyota RAV4 is fighting a hard battle in the compact SUV market. Under the shadow of its rivals like Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail and Land Rover Free-lander it fades into the background. Make no mistake; it is not a bad car it is a proficient car yet uninspiring to drive. The biggest let down is its universally inoffensive styling. It also struggles to tick as many boxes as its competitors. It is not as practical as a Free-lander, it doesnt drive like the X-Trail and it doesnt look extreme as a CR-V.
When Toyota launched its RAV4 in the mid-nineties it was a trendsetter. The current model doesnt have the sportiness of its predecessor. It feels lackluster and next to the big Nissan X-Trail it seems smooth and dull. It has been laid out well and what Toyota lacks on the outside, it makes up for it inside. The RAV4 is competent rather than electrifying. Toyota RAV4 feels safe and sound on the road and stays composed and comfortable through the bends. Its four wheel drive system works well and the steering is light and accurate. The soft chassis work well when the RAV4 is pushed. The Toyota RAV4 comes in either a 2.0 litre petrol engine or a 2.2-litre D-4D diesel powertrain. It has a respectable time of 10.2seconds for the 0-62mph benchmark.
Toyotas are well renowned for their safety credentials and the RAV4 doesnt lag behind in this respect. It has a host of airbags and some models even offer protection for the driver and passenger. The steering is agile and direct. The Toyota RAV4 only achieved four stars for the Euro NCAP crash testing where as the well established Land Rover Free-lander gets all five stars. Bluetooth, cruise control and Parking sensors are fitted as standard on most versions.
The 2.2 D-4D diesel is the best choice as it is very economical. It gives an acclaimed 47.1mpg which is the same as the two wheel drive only trim which has the same engine. On the other hand the Honda CR-V only gives 43.5mpg. One of the positives for the RAV4 is the five year warranty offered on all new cars. It also offers generous Kit and even the basic spec-models get a air-con, MP3-compatible stereo and alloys as standard. Toyota RAV4 is reliable with an upmarket cabin which offers generous equipment. However, the drab styling, thirsty petrol engines and uninspiring drive are a letdown for the RAV4.