Toyota RAV4 Review Australia | Features, Specification, Price

• Car Reviews,
• Aug 25, 2021

 

One of the best-selling passenger vehicles today is the Toyota RAV4. There are several reasons behind it.

 

This small SUV has:

✓ A smooth ride

✓ Plenty of space for passengers

✓ Plenty of space for cargo

✓ Many standard advanced driver safety features

 

It debuted as one of the first crossover SUVs all the way back in 1996. There is no doubt that RAV4's long-running status and Toyota's name recognition helps too. If you are looking for comfy road manners, brilliant economy, and spacious cabin, Toyota RAV4 is the best top-of-the-range Cruiser Hybrid guise. 

 

Toyota RAV4 Engine: 

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine. It is also paired with a battery pack and two electric motors, putting out a combined 163 kW of power. With a two-wheel drive, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid quotes an output of 160kW of power. This is because it loses the electric motor on the rear axle.

 

Usually, Toyota doesn't quote a torque figure for its hybrids, but the petrol engine gives 221 Nm of torque at 3600rpm. The other choices in the range are a 2.0-liter petrol engine with 127 kW of power and 203 Nm torque. The flagship RAV4 Edge offers a 2.5L petrol engine with 152kW of power and 243 Nm.

 

The hybrid models of Toyota RAV4 all feature a continuously variable transmission (CVT) as standard. The 2.0-liter models, on the other hand, offer the choice of a six-speed manual or CVT. The Edge's 2.5-liter petrol is solely offered with an eight-speed auto.

 

Toyota RAV4 Exterior: 

Toyota RAV4 has a sleek and lavishing exterior design. When it comes to wheels, you will get 17-inch wheels wearing 225/65 Bridgestone Alenza tyres. There is a manual tailgate as well. This hybrid also includes LED headlights, taillights, and running lights. The unique feature is their rain-sensing wipers. Lastly, it also has parking sensors.

 

Interior:

When it comes to the interior, the driving position, space, and ease of entry and exit are all excellent. The overall design is very sleek. It has clean lines which elongate the dash. This makes the car look larger. In the middle of all those lines lies two great big knobs. These knobs are used for climate control. They do serve a purpose, but they stick out a little too far. Thereby, they take away from the otherwise stylish interior.

 

On the inside, it also has an 8.0-inch touchscreen display that works well. It is very easy to navigate. However, the screen resolution is of lower quality. The rival brands, on the other hand, have a high-resolution screen. It has Infotainment systems as well, but it seems that Toyota just can't seem to nail this feature. On a positive note, the cabin area has ample space. In addition, the boot is an absolute dream. There is enough room for grocery bags, school bags, and even a  big full-sized pram can fit in it.

 

The exterior look of the car is deceptive when it comes to the interior of the SUV. This is because it has the ability to have a rear-facing baby seat in the second row and still have a lot of space for the front passenger. This feature is worth raving about.  It also has two ISOFIX and rear anchor points.

 

Speaking about the Toyota RAV4's load-lugging abilities is worth it. Its boots measure 580L, including the rear seats in place. This is one of the largest capacities in the segment. Unfortunately, Toyota doesn't quote a figure with the second row folded. However, it is still a practical and large space. There is also A space-saver spare wheel. It is present under the boot floor. Only the base GX has a full-size spare as an option.

 

Other Specs:

When it comes to the base level, the RAV4 GX comes standard with:

✓ The 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system

✓ Wired Android Auto

✓ Wired Apple CarPlay

✓ Satellite navigation

✓ 4.2-inch multi-information display

✓ DAB digital radio

✓ 17-inch alloy wheels

✓ Heated and power-folding exterior mirrors

✓ 60/40 split-fold rear seats

✓ Centre armrest

✓ Dual-zone climate control (hybrid only)

✓ LED headlights 

✓ Automatic high-beam

✓ Automatic headlights

✓ Rain-sensing wipers

✓ Five USB ports

✓ Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel

✓ Front/rear carpet mats

✓ Space saver spare tyre

✓ Rear mudflaps

✓ Dual exhaust outlets

✓ Electronic parking brake

 

With the standard features, the RAV4 GXL adds:

✓ 18-inch alloy wheels

✓ 'Premium' grille

✓ Bumper trims

✓ Privacy glass

✓ Leatherette-wrapped shifter

✓ Self-dimming rear-view mirror

✓ Dual-zone climate control

✓ Keyless entry and start

✓ Wireless phone charging

✓ Reversing camera

✓ Active guidelines

✓ Front mudflaps

✓ Roof rails

 

Toyota RAV4 is best for safety lovers. Its line-up is comprehensively equipped when it comes to driver assistance and active safety features.

 

Safety:

Based on testing conducted in 2019, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 scores a five-star ANCAP safety rating. It scored 93% for adult occupant protection, 89% for child occupant protection, 85% for vulnerable road user protection, and 83% for safety assist.

 

The below-mentioned safety features come standard across the range:

✓ Autonomous emergency braking

✓ Pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection

✓ Blind-spot monitoring

✓ Rear cross-traffic alert

✓ Reversing camera

✓ Front parking sensors

✓ Rear parking sensors

✓ Lane-departure warning

✓ Lane-tracing assist 

✓ Adaptive cruise control 

✓ Front, front-side, and curtain airbags

✓ Traffic sign recognition

✓ Driver's knee airbag

✓ Trailer sway control

✓ Surround-view camera system (features as a piece of standard equipment on high-grade Cruiser and Edge models)

 

Cons:

There are a few downsides as well that include:

✓ The Apple CarPlay can be slightly delayed

✓ The Keyless entry can cause a disturbance with the touch sensors

✓ It has a low-quality resolution Infotainment display quality

 

Final verdict:

Overall the Toyota RAV4 is a good ride. It is a spacious car that can fit the whole family and more. It is considered a very economical car, as It has excellent fuel efficiency. Therefore, it is a good option for individuals who often drive. The striking exterior design and classy interior design make it a valuable family car. It is highly recommended because it is easy to drive, very practical, safe, and also pretty cheap to maintain.

 

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