Generally speaking, Toyota is the default brand for most people who simply want a dependable car that ticks most of the right boxes. A Corolla is pretty much the go-to choice if all you need is a car that’s reliable and serves you well. If you need something slightly bigger in an SUV form however, then the RAV4 is usually the name that comes to mind.
It’s interesting how the RAV4 started out as a fun lifestyle off-road vehicle, but has since evolved into a trusty family SUV. The new sixth-generation model is now upon us, and in a way it harks back a bit to its rugged roots, without giving up on its practical nature.
The chunky design, which was a notable highlight of the previous generation, appears to be refined for this new version. In a way, it feels like it has been accentuated, and the new RAV4’s SUV-ness is very much unapologetic and in your face.
There are some attempts to portray a futuristic family look, such as the slim hammerhead-style headlights that we’ve seen on recent Toyota models like the new Prius, and the honeycomb grille that’s similar to the facelifted Corolla Cross. But all they do is to make the RAV4 look like a muscular cyborg when contrasted with the car’s overall angular lines.
That rugged theme continues inside, although they are for a practical purpose at least. Most of the functions are accessed via the 10.5-inch infotainment screen, as it is with all modern cars these days. But whatever physical buttons that remain are large and clearly marked, making them easy to operate when needed.
To be fair, even the infotainment system itself is easy to navigate, with a fairly straightforward interface that’s uncomplicated in nature. The digital driver instrument display feels a bit EV-esque, but its customisable design is a nice touch.
A surprising omission though is a 360-degree camera, something that’s common in many other cars these days. Given the size of the RAV4 now, something like that would have been extremely useful when manoeuvring or parking in tighter spots.
However, there are plenty of other practical bits, like the numerous charging options for your phone, including two wireless chargers and several USB charging ports. My personal favourite feature though is the central armrest that can flip around to become a handy tray, which is really handy when you need somewhere to hold your loose items like keys and coins.
As a family-focused SUV, space is an obvious priority, and the RAV4 is generous in that regard. There’s plenty of legroom and headroom as expected, especially for the rear passengers. But the boot is also pretty cavernous as well, with a massive 749 litres of capacity available if you load all the way to the roof.
The driving experience though is pretty much typical Toyota: competent but not particularly exciting. There’s very little to fault, with a mostly comfortable ride and decent handling manners. The car drives with good poise and body control, and overall refinement is excellent, which should score it high marks among the family buyers that tend to flock to the RAV4.
That said, the 2.5-litre hybrid drivetrain that’s carried over from the previous generation does seem a bit archaic when contrasted with newer offerings on the market, not to mention giving the tax man a larger bonus to look forward to. With 215bhp on tap, there’s just about enough to get the car going, although it does protest a fair bit if you push the accelerator harder than it would like.
Where the drivetrain shines though, as one would expect from a Toyota hybrid, is its efficiency. Toyota quotes an average fuel consumption figure of 19.6km/L for the RAV4, which in itself is extremely impressive for a relatively large SUV. But if you’re gentle on the throttle, crossing the 20km/L mark is an achievable target, while also saving you from the raucous engine noise that comes with needless hard acceleration.
All in all, the new RAV4 builds upon the hallmarks of the Toyota brand, being a sensible product that has all that one could ask for in a family-oriented SUV. There’s lots of space and practical features, and it delivers a comfortable and capable driving experience along with top-notch efficiency. Put simply, if what you want is simply an SUV to drive your family around with the minimum of fuss, then the RAV4 is it.
