The RAV4 is hands down one of the best selling Toyota’s on the market. That fact probably doubles as an indicator that not much has changed with the current generation over the years, which isn’t a criticism.
Such is its success, the Japanese car maker has seen fit to live by the adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, at least from an exterior design perspective (all that will change next year, when a completely new model is launched).
Maintaining its rugged appearance and purposeful look, it’s available in an array of colours, including the Saturn Blue of our test vehicle, along with Frosted White, Silver Sky, Graphite, Eclipse Black, Atomic Rush and Mineral Blue.
Our front-wheel drive Cruiser trim features black 18-inch alloy wheels which we feel disappear against the dark paint. In front-wheel drive (as tested), you’ll be spending $56,326 drive away, but you can own a base model GX for about $10,000 less.
Inside is where the updates become more apparent. The infotainment screen has grown to 10.5-inches in size and utilises Toyota’s latest operating system. It feels fresh with its white background and easy to use menu system.
There’s wireless Apple CarPlay, but for the rest of us Android users you’ll still rely on a wired connection. A wireless phone charger is provided along with three USB ports up front for a cabled connection/charging option.
Native maps are also included but we imagine most owners will use their preferred phone app once connected. Climate controls feature physical buttons and a separate screen in the centre console rather than relying on menus in the infotainment screen, which is nice.
Front seat comfort is assured thanks to heated and ventilated leather seats up front (including dual seat memory). The driver benefits from 10-way electric adjustability and lumbar support.
The interior can be optioned in typical black or nutmeg (beige) at no extra cost. Another handy convenience is a digital rear view mirror. A tilt and slide sunroof with a blind is also included for some extra light in the cabin.
Up front is a large 12.3-inch multi-information display that includes an ‘Eco Score’ that measures metrics based on your driving style and fuel consumption, so you can gamify your commute, should you choose.
Rear access is fine, but we noted the doors didn’t seem to swing open as far as what the competition can offer these days. It made entry to the second row feel a little cramped at times. That aside, the seats are quite comfortable.
Young kids will appreciate the higher seating position. There’s rear privacy glass, air-conditioning vents and two USB ports back there as well. For child seats, there are three rear tether points and the outer seats feature ISOFIX connectors.
A powered tailgate (accompanied by a lot of audio beeps) opens to reveal a decent 580-litre boot that expands to 1690-litres with the second row folded. The boot floor can be adjusted in height for easier loading/offloading. Under the floor is a space-saver spare.
On the road, the 2.5-litre hybrid-only RAV4’s engine note isn’t particularly inviting, sounding like it was undertaking some decent effort to eke out any of the 160kW and 221Nm on offer.
Being paired to a CVT means there’s no sensation of gear changes, but instead an aural wail, that is quite noticeable. Road noise crept into the cabin quite noticeably as well, particularly at higher speeds on Australia’s less than pristine road surfaces.
Perhaps this can be drowned out by the impressive nine speaker JBL audio system, which includes a subwoofer in the boot. What can’t be denied is that the hybrid system is very good in this car, with the RAV4 sipping fuel.
While Toyota claims 4.8-litres/100km, we weren’t far off, with our real world numbers at around 5.5-litres/100km, giving a theoretical range of 890km to a full tank. The RAV4 has also been tuned to the most cost effective 91RON fuel.
Now larger than in previous years, we found positioning in tighter spots, like car park ramps, felt a bit more difficult without the aid of the parking cameras. Thankfully there are plenty of those and the driver assist functions work a treat.
The parking camera suite is high resolution and offers different views to assist, including a 360-degree, as well as indicating which direction the wheels are pointing while maneuvering.
Driving around town where the roads are a bit wider, the RAV4 performs well. The hybrid system allowing for an electric only experience if the conditions are right, while occupants travel in comfort thanks to a compliant suspension setup.
There are three drive modes to change things up with Eco and Normal providing the comfortable settings and more regeneration into the battery, while Sport improves acceleration and pickup for those more urgent scenarios.
Being a Toyota, the RAV4 comes complete with plenty of safety features, starting with Toyota Safety Sense, a suite of systems that includes lane departure alert, pre-collision safety with pedestrian and cyclist detection and emergency steering sssist.
You’ll also find road sign assist, auto high beam and active cruise control, among others. The RAV4 is additionally equipped with blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera with dynamic guides.
Owners get a year of complimentary access to Toyota Connected Services, with the RAV4 Cruiser backed by a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty. The first five services are also capped.
It’s clear that the RAV4 is the market leader because it sets out to perform a task, and it does that very well. However, the competition hasn’t been sitting idle, so there are plenty of options to consider.
You can find out more by visiting the Toyota Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One. To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was supplied by Toyota Australia for independent review purposes.
