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2008 Toyota RAV4 V6

With the Compact SUV segment the fastest-growing in the SUV market, and sales increasing 19.1 per cent for the nine months to September 2007, it comes at no surprise  that Toyota has expanded its RAV4 lineup with a new V6 variant.


Toyota has been hard at work applying the 3.5-litre Toyota Aurion engine (2GR-FE) across its entire range. First it was the Tarago then the Kluger, and now it has found its way into the RAV4.

The 3.5-litre V6 engine delivers 201kW of power (6200rpm) and 333Nm of torque (4700rpm) using regular unleaded petrol (ULP). This puts it 76kW ahead of the 2.4-litre RAV4, allowing it to run from 0-100km/h in a very respectable 7.4 seconds.

"The launch of RAV4 V6 is the most significant step for the RAV4 brand since its launch in Australia 13 years ago," said Toyota Australia's senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner.

It's not just one V6 variant either, Toyota has added three V6 models, taking the RAV4 range to nine variants overall. The three new quad-cam V6 models - CV6, SX6 and ZR6 - all have five-speed automatic transmissions and active all-wheel drive.

Given the slightly increased weight, the V6 RAC4 uses marginally more fuel than the Aurion, coming in at 10.5 litres/100km (ADR 81/01), but thanks to the additional power, the RAV4 V6 can now tow 1900kg, a 400kg increase over the four-cylinder models.

The entry model four-cylinder RAV4 starts at $31,990 while the entry model V6 range starts with the CV6 at $39,990. The RAV4 SX6 retails for $43,990 while the top-of-the-line ZR6 has an RRP of $49,990.

The extra $8,000 doesn't just buy you a bigger engine through, all V6 models have higher standard specifications than their four-cylinder equivalents.

All RAV4 V6 models have 17-inch wheels. The mid-range SX6 and range-topping ZR6 grades have the additional exterior features (over the entry model CV6 grade) of privacy window glass, five-spoke alloy wheels, front fog lamps, overfender flares, roof rails and moonroof.

All V6 models have factory-fitted air conditioning, cruise control, six-speaker audio systems with steering wheel audio controls and rear-seat heater ducts under the front seats. CV6 has manual air conditioning, while SX6 and ZR6 have dual front zone climate-control air conditioning with push-button controls and LED display.

The CV6 and SX6 have grade-specific fabric seat trim, while the top-of-the-range ZR6 gets leather seat trim. CV6 has a single CD player (MP3-compatible) which the SX6 has a MP3-compatible six-CD changer with BluetoothT phone compatibility and the ZR6 has AVN Satellite Navigation with a built-in MP3-compatible four-CD changer with audio input and Bluetooth handsfree mobile phone communication.

Additionally all RAV4 V6 models have a chrome grille, with a V6 badge and four-bulb headlamps, with projector-type low-beam lamps. At the rear, RAV4 utilises light-emitting diode (LED) tail lamps (nine LEDs in each lamp) and centre high-mount stop lamp.

Toyota has equipped all RAV4 V6 models with Vehicle Control Management System (VCMS). This includes the all-wheel-drive system as well as Vehicle Stability Control (VSC - ESP), Traction Control (TRC) and the ABS anti-skid braking system.

VCMS is a specially developed system that can put Active AWD, Electric Power-assisted Steering (EPS) and ABS, including Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), VSC, TRC, Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) and Downhill Assist Control (DAC) technologies to work together for greater safety.

All three V6 model grades have dual-stage driver and front passenger SRS airbags, front-seat side airbags and side curtain-shield airbags - making six in total.

The 10 colours are: Glacier White, Storm Grey, Silver Pearl, Ebony, Wildfire, Dune, Envy, Mist Green, Blue Storm and pearlescent Crystal Pearl.

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Specifications for each V6 model is available below:

CV6

SX6

ZR6

Quad-cam V6 engine

X

X

X

Five-speed gated-shift automatic transmission

X

X

X

Four-wheel all-coil independent suspension

X

X

X

Active AWD

X

X

X

Electric Power-assisted Steering

X

X

X

Four-wheel disc brakes

X

X

X

17-inch steel wheels

X

17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels

 

X

X

Overfender flares

 

X

X

ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist

X

X

X

Vehicle Stability Control with steering assist

X

X

X

Traction Control

X

X

X

Hill-st art Assist Control

X

X

X

Downhill Assist Control

X

X

X

Two-stage driver and front passenger SRS airbags

X

X

X

Front-seat side SRS airbags

X

X

X

Side curtain-shield SRS airbags

X

X

X

Manual air conditioning

X

Climate-controlled front dual-zone air conditioning

 

X

X

Dial-type heater control panel

X

Push-button heater control panel

 

X

X

Power driver's seat

 

 

X

Power driver's seat lumbar support

 

 

X

Heated driver and front passenger seats

 

 

X

Tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment

X

X

X

Urethane steering wheel with audio controls

X

Leather steering wheel with audio controls

 

X

X

Leather gear shift knob

 

X

X

60/40 split fold rear seat

X

X

X

Fabric seat and door trim

X

High-grade fabric seat and door trim

 

X

Leather seat and door trim

 

X

Six-speaker audio with single CD player

X

Six-speaker audio with six-CD player

 

X

Six-speaker audio system

 

 

X

Satellite navigation with built-in four-CD player

 

 

X

Footwell illumination

 

X

X

Rear spoiler

X

X

X

Rear side and qu art er privacy glass

 

X

X

Roof rails

 

X

X

Foglamps

 

X

X

Tilt and slide moonroof

 

X

X

Chrome radiator grille with V6 badge

X

X

X

Darkened quad headlamps with projector-type low beam

X

X

X

1900kg braked towing capacity*

X

X

X

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