Words — Tim Warren
This sixth-generation marks 30 years of evolution for a nameplate that captured hearts as a funky, compact cruiser.
The vehicle has matured into a sophisticated family machine. It follows the path of a person. It grows from a playful youth into a capable, large-scale leader. The RAV4 holds the crown as the most purchased vehicle on the planet, a status that comes from a focus on practicality.
During the recent New Zealand RAV4 launch, the Chief Engineer and Project Manager from Japan underscored the importance of this model. These men built their careers on a love for cars. There’s a lot of discussion today about electrification, and it’s an important conversation, especially with fuel supply and price concerns. After introducing the world to the Prius, 95% of Toyota New Zealand’s passenger vehicle sales are now hybrid.
The result of never-ending development and continuous improvement, the RAV4 represents three decades of progress. The latest design adopts a handsome aesthetic. Toyota offers distinct personalities through its trim levels. The Core model features a diamond grille that radiates elegance. The Adventure trim provides a tougher snout and a wider stance for those with an outdoorsy spirit. The GR Sport emphasises an athletic look.
Each variant possesses a robust presence on the road. What started as a cute ‘teenager friendly’ icon with a rebellious spirit is now all grown up – a refined, family-friendly, midsized SUV that’s admired by all.
The result of never-ending development and continuous improvement, the RAV4 represents three decades of progress.
Step inside to find a cabin rooted in Toyota practicality. The layout rewards those who enjoy physical controls – they sit where the hand expects them. Wipers, indicators, and stalks operate with precision. For the driver, seats with lumbar support provide comfort during long stints behind the wheel. The feature list is as long as my arm: upgraded JBL hi-fi systems fill the space with rich sound, airbags and ISOFIX points ensure safety for the smallest passengers. The dimensions provide ample headroom and generous load space. Touches like the optional ventilated seats elevate the experience.
Technology serves the driver without overwhelming. The built-in navigation system offers a complete solution and navigates while the wireless phone connections sync to play favourite tunes and offer a charge. Safety features include lane detection and adaptive cruise control. The car monitors driver attention and the in-built video recorder archives incident footage to provide a safety record. While global safety regulations require default warning chimes, the engineers allow drivers to customise these settings. This iteration has been designed with evolving safety standards in mind, building on Toyota’s strong track record in vehicle safety.
What’s new to the RAV4 is Toyota’s first vehicle in New Zealand to offer Connected Services, adding features such as SOS emergency call, automatic collision notification and remote vehicle access via the myToyota Connect app.
The range caters to every lifestyle through a variety of options, each with a 2.5L engine combined with hybrid (HEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) systems, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and different trims. Each choice delivers good power – from 143kw to the top-tier powertrain at 221kW! This punch belies its family-car looks but still manages to deliver fuel economy. The vehicle glides on highways and handles gravel roads with ease and body roll with grace. This allows the driver to navigate any terrain with confidence. The choice between front-wheel drive fleet models and all-wheel drive adventures ensures a RAV4 exists for every driveway.
With a solid chassis, natural road holding is good, while traction control systems are all present, it drives with balance and confidence. During testing, I drove through a rough patch that was beyond the limits of most vehicles. But the RAV4 was unflustered. It just gathered its thoughts and drove out of the precarious position without any special setting. It handles medium-sized ditches and steep angles with predictable safety.
The RAV4 is the world’s most popular vehicle for good reason. It does everything well. It is literally today’s default car – the standard by which all others face comparison. After 30 years, Toyota delivers a refined product that defies fault. It works every time. It does not fuss, and this latest version underlines its position as the industry benchmark.
