- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.4i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
125kW, 224Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 9.1L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
4/5 star (2007)
Toyota RAV4
There's a ritual played out when you ask a Japanese car company executive - usually a project engineer from head office, out here for the launch of a new model - a curly question.
Initially, silence ensues. He (they're all blokes) will look away. He wants to be honest but it might not be a great career move to tell you the truth.
While he's trying to work out what to say, he'll occasionally break into the Japanese version of umm and ahh - a long, deep, almost guttural growl. It can be a bit alarming - until you realise he's actually being polite.
Eventually you get one of three results: an answer that bears no relationship to the question (the politican's technique, which in this case can - sometimes - be an understandable consequence of the language barrier), continued thoughtful repose (the "I wish this bastard would just go away" strategy of attrition) or a partial, but never complete, revealing of the truth, in which case you both furiously nod (from the waist) and smile, relieved that it's over.
Thus it was we found ourselves pedalling the new RAV4 through South Australia's Flinders Ranges, with the car's assistant chief engineer Takeshi Sakai in the passenger seat (and his interpreter in the back) asking him why the RAV4 now has a front-wheel-drive/on-demand rear-wheel-drive system when Toyota, in its own advertising, has always championed the cause of permanent four-wheel-drive?
Also, how is it possible to claim a fuel economy gain when you're using the same engine in a much larger, heavier machine?
Sakai-san didn't give much away that day. They rarely do.
The 2006 third-generation model completes the RAV4's metamorphosis from compact, rugged little fun-mobile into family sized, suburban soft-roader. It has expanded in every direction, stacked on 150kg-200kg and is available as a five-door wagon only.
Its 2.4-litre, four-cylinder engine carries over, with a tweak that lifts power to 125kW. Five-speed manual and four-speed auto are the transmission choices.
Prices start at $31,990 for the CV, which includes air-conditioning, anti-lock brakes, cruise control, two front airbags, 17-inch steel wheels and an MP3-compatible single CD player.
The Cruiser (tested here) costs $37,490 and adds stability control, front-seat side and curtain airbags, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, a six-stacker CD player, roof rails and 17-inch alloy wheels.
A hill holder function and, on automatic models, hill descent control are also fitted.
The top-of-the-line Cruiser L, at $41,990, gets more frills: leather upholstery, a power adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats and a sunroof. Automatic is a $2000 option on all grades.
It's immediately apparent that a significant weight increase, plus an insignificant power increase, equals a slower car, especially the automatic, which is sluggish off the line.
Once you're rolling, the 2.4-litre is a tractable, refined engine, easily able to do the job in the suburbs or on the highway but the new RAV4 is not quite the nippy, responsive device its predecessors were.
Like others in the class (Honda CRV, Nissan X-Trail), the on-demand 4WD system sends everything to the front wheels in normal circumstances but can apportion up to 45 per cent of the engine's torque to the rear wheels if the fronts start to slip. In rough, low-speed conditions, a button on the dash locks the electromagnetic coupling for a fixed 55-45 split.
The auto is geared tall for economy. Given the 2006 RAV4's weight gain, it should have a five-speed transmission; the engine's sweet spot often seems to lie between ratios. Shifts are reasonably smooth, though. You can (and do) circumvent constant hunting by using the lever, which has the third and fourth gear gates conveniently placed on the same plane.
The new RAV4 effectively disguises its extra mass and bulk with a rigid body, finely tuned suspension, acceptable balance, secure roadholding and a comfortable, controlled ride on all surfaces.
The steering is precise, with a touch of torque-steer under hard acceleration, and minimal feedback.
On dirt roads, the RAV4 is great fun to drive. The stability control allows it to move around a little before intervening, which is appropriate; the back-end can get some attitude when you point the car into a corner but as soon as you squeeze the accelerator the rear wheels hook up and the RAV4 powers out in a tidy, controlled fashion.
Its brakes work powerfully and controllably in all conditions.
Greater occupant and load space is the payoff for the super-size treatment in the new RAV4.
Up front, the driver's seat is flat and unsupportive, with limited travel. Reach and rake adjustment are provided for the steering wheel. Vision is clear in all directions but, if the RAV4 is used as a school bus, a rear camera is required, because you cannot see a young child directly behind the car.
Toyota dash layouts are the benchmark for functionality and legibility. The RAV4 takes 30 seconds to nut out. However, the instruments are not the most attractive in the world and it would be a relief if Toyota could add a colour to its palette other than all-grey. Fake metal highlights fail to ameliorate the gloom.
There are a squillion open and covered storage bins near the driver.
The back-seat is firm, comfortable and has sufficient legroom for any occupant. At 130cm, it's almost as wide as the Prado's rear stalls (the Kluger has the widest back seat) so you can fit three on short trips. However, there's no centre head restraint and a clumsy roof-mounted belt. Two restraint anchors are on the back of the seat.
The load area, reached via a side-hinged tailgate, is long and wide, with a very low floor. It includes a cleverly designed net, which can be used either as a holder for small items, or a protective barrier, and can be moved to several different positions, or stored under the floor.
Levers on the split-fold rear-seatbacks, and in the load area itself, unlatch the seatbacks, which then automatically fold forward, with no effort required on your part, to create an extended, almost flat floor of up to 1.9 metres.
Important everyday features such as functionality, safety, space and equipment are now, according to the people who buy them, much more important than off-road ability in the majority of 4WDs, particularly in this compact class, where only Suzuki still makes a fair dinkum off-roader.
The 2006 RAV4 exemplifies this trend and does it well. But the sun will freeze before you hear anyone from Toyota - especially a Japanese engineer - admit that in a couple of important respects it is not quite as good as its predecessors.