Web Spin: Toyota RAV4 Cruiser
A RAV4 All Seasons
Toyota's Baby 4WD Grows Up
Test Vehicle:
- Toyota RAV4 Cruiser
- 2.4 litre DOHC VVT-i engine. 4 valves per cylinder.
- 4-peed automatic transmission with Active Torque Control 4WD
- $39,490 as tested
Toyota has many reasons to be smug about their taut new compact SUV, the third generation RAV4. On the market for just two months, the grown-up compact has already jumped into segment lead.
Since it first saw the light of day as a mere hatchling in 1994 the RAV4, as seems inevitable, has developed and matured and is now clearly in a growth spurt. Introduced way back then with a spritely 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder, the latest model retains the predecessor’s uprated 2.4 litre VVT-i, but with an extra 5kW (now 125kW) and improved economy. Both the 4-speed auto and five-speed manual now claim fuel consumption figures below 10litres/100km. The three-door hatch is now gone, leaving six models and three trim levels for the all 5-door range. US versions offer a 3.5 litre V6, a diesel and seven seats but that niche, Toyota Australia believes, belongs to the larger Kluger. Market forces may yet change their mind.
Walking into the showroom, the first thing you will notice about the new RAV4 is the size – it’s bigger. In fact, the 20% increase in interior space has driven a marketing shift for Toyota, spawning the tagline; “bursting with uncompact thinking”. The wider and longer body is smoother and more aerodynamic with all rough, drag-inducing appendages removed. Inside, the extra 20% translates to extra passenger and luggage space, but not much. Big folks will still find the cabin a squeeze.
Scaled
down as it may be from its larger cousins, Kluger, Prado and Landcruiser,
RAV4 still totes useful and sensible driving enhancements that add to
both a drivers’ experience and safety. The four-wheel disc brakes,
for example, have anti-skid but beyond that are linked to a more comprehensive
electronic control package called Vehicle Control Management System (VCMS)
that links to traction control and a braking assist package (Brakeforce
Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA)) which in turn interprets your
braking action and supplements pedal pressure as required.
The new Active All-Wheel-Drive system is an intelligent adaptation of more sophisticated systems and the new RAV4 is Toyota’s first vehicle in Australia to feature this package. Under normal circumstances, the vehicle is predominantly a Front Wheel Drive, thereby preserving fuel economy. If the electronic system detects loss of traction up front, it adds drive to the rear via an electromagnetic coupling to the rear differential. The driver does retain some override control with a full-time 4WD button on the dash that is available for speeds up to 40km/h.
All this refinement and sophistication comes at a reasonable price, as Toyota attempts to keep their entry-level compact SUV (mostly) under $40k Closer inspection will reveal some minor compromises. Underbody protection is minimal, so any true off-roaders will need to reinforce exposed areas, like the sump. The plastic “protector” under the engine bay is more a splash guard and aerodynamic aid than anything else.
An extensive options package is available, including two grades of nudge bar, the deluxe including a metal under-bumper stone guard. Other enhancements include mats, carpets, roof racks, weather shields, sidesteps and driving lights. Ten colours are offered and 17” alloy wheels are standard on Cruiser with a Vortex Sport option, also in 17”.
In short, the 2006 RAV4 is something of a reinvention for the compact SUV market, and acknowledges shifts in market patterns away from groovy 20- and 30-something fun-loving singles to more mature drivers and even families – a prediction that is proving correct at the dealerships. As noted by several motoring industry pundits, RAV4’s graduation leaves a momentary gap in the low end of the small SUV line up that most expect Toyota to fill with an all new baby model soon.
We liked:
• Good safety/handling
package for size
• Tight,
firm ride
• Smooth lines, good finish.
• Fab turning circle
We weren’t so keen on:
• Little engine
still “buzzy”
• Lightweight underbody protection.
Standard Features:
• All models have as standard ABS anti-skid brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), Electric Power-assisted Steering (EPS) and Active AWD.
Accessories available:
• Nudge Bar, Side Steps, Driving Lights, 17" Alloy Sport Wheels, Mats, Carpets, Weathershields
Report by Rod Eime. Photos Toyota Australia
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