Toyota RAV4 Reviews

The 2WD addition to the Toyota RAV4 line up is $3000 cheaper than its all-wheel-drive brother. This fact alone should prick some ears, but with the promise of an identical feature list, it becomes a very attractive option.EngineThe RAV4 CV is powered by a 2.4 litre, in-line four-cylinder petrol engine that puts out 125kW at 6000rpm and 224Nm at 4000rpm. A four-speed automatic transmission gets power to the two front wheels. The combined fuel economy figure is 9.1l/100km and it emits 218g/km of C02.ExteriorBody coloured bumpers, exterior door handles and power mirrors, and tinted UV cut glass are all standard on the CV. You also get 17-in alloy wheels, rear mudflaps and a body-coloured rear spoiler at no extra cost.InteriorThe spacious interior features a clutter free and intuitive dash with cruise control, optitron instrumentation and steering wheel mounted audio controls.The 60/40 rear seats fold flat and there is plenty of storage including a storage box in the centre console, a sunglasses holder, drink holders, map pockets and cargo area under-floor storage.SafetyAs well as a comprehensive airbag package, the RAV4 CV includes anti-lock brakes, brake assist, electronic brakeforce distribution, Toyota Safe-T-Cell, traction control, vehicle stability control, hill-start assist and down hill assist control.DrivingThere is an immediate feeling of space in the new 4 x 2 RAV. The dash is shallow and particularly in the passenger seat it feels very light and spacious. The dash features are few and simple, enhancing the airy feel.The comfortable driving position gave good vision all round and the seats were comfortable and relatively supportive. The back seats crammed in three medium sized men but it was only a short trip and there would have been a few numb limbs had it been any longer.Driving the new front-wheel RAV4 is a different experience to the 4x4. There is the typical understeer but you seem to get more out of the pokey 2.4-litre engine. And it feels more nimble too.There was a little bit of throttle lag but nothing to worry too much about, and when it was up and running the ride was smooth and gear transition was silky and appropriate.City driving was comfortable and jerk-free much like a hatch. On long trips the RAV had a little wind woosh off the exterior mirrors and tyre noise up through the floor was negligible. Small pot holes and ruts were taken car of with no trouble.The RAV4 exterior has improved a lot over the years, particularly since it got a little bigger. It looks a lot stronger and the lines and curves are bolder and sportier. Certainly one to watch in the mid-size SUV sector.

On a tight budget, you had four options: unsafe cars, unreliable cars, really boring cars or cars that combined all three characteristics.  In the past decade, though, it's become easier to find a tidy, safe, cheap used car, for several reasons.Firstly, used cars don't hold their value like they once did. New cars have become cheaper in real terms, and sales have boomed, so there's a lot more used cars on the market.Cars are also much safer than they used to be. Government legislation and independent crash test programmes like NCAP, (which publicises the results of its tests, much to the annoyance of the industry) have forced car makers to improve safety. A 2005 car, no matter what make it is, will be safer than a 1995 car. At the minimum, you want two front airbags and anti-lock (ABS) brakes.Unless it's French or Italian, in which case a weekly dummy spit is part of the "ownership experience," most cars from the last 10 years will be pretty reliable, as long as servicing has been done by the book.We are talking about ordinary, everyday cars here, that haven't been thrashed. If you're looking at some dude's slammed, chipped Subaru WRX and the price seems too good to be true, chances are it will self-destruct before you make it home. You pay your money and you take your chances.Immaculate, low kilometre cars owned by little old ladies do exist, and they are gold. So is a complete service record, especially if it's from the dealer who sold the car new.  Let's see if we can find a few to recommend. Bottom dollar in our search is $5000.There's not much joy at this money, but the last of the Mitsubishi Magnas, from 2004-2005, are great value and reasonably plentiful. Many will be ex-renters. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because serving will have been done to schedule. The 3.5-litre V6-four speed auto ES has four airbags and ABS.Another Mitsubishi, the Lancer, is the best small car we can find at this price. Toyota Corollas are fine too, though they're more expensive.  The Lancer's as sexy as a can of baked beans and completely bulletproof. Pay about $7000-$8000 or so for a 2005 model. Find one with optional ABS and six airbags.If you've got around $10,000 to spend, you have much more choice.  In 2004, Mazda made six airbags and ABS available across its entire range, as options or standard, so any Mazda2 or Mazda3 from 2004 on will be worth checking out. Mazda does blue chip quality, and if you find a good one, with a service book, buy it. You'll pick up a 2 for less than $10,000; a 3 will be $10,000-$12,000.If you need something bigger, this sort of money will also get you into a 2004-2005 Subaru Liberty, another top car from Japan's A league. All wheel drive, excellent handling and Subaru's class leading NCAP scores are pluses. The 2.0-litre four won't rip your arms off, but it will do the job. Wagons cost a little more.You might prefer a small SUV wagon instead, so look for a 2004-2005 Subaru Forester, or Toyota RAV4, at $12,000-$15,000.  If you need a big car for a big country, the Aussie six is hard to go past.You'll pay $10,000-$13,000 for the first of the VE Commodores from 2006. The 3.6-litre V6 sounds like 1000 leaf blowers on maximum thrust, however it's durable enough. Holden got serious about safety with VE, so you get stability control as standard.  It might take a while to find the right car, but in the end, it pays to be fussy. Second hand doesn't have to mean second best.WHERE TO BUY?DealerPros: On cars under 10 years old, most states require a warranty, typically 3 months or 5000 kilometres. You also get guaranteed title. Franchised dealers (ie those who also sell new cars) usually have the best selection of used cars; the trade-ins they don't want are unloaded to non franchised dealers or auctions.Cons: Can be more expensive than a similar car bought privately. Beware of non-franchised dealers selling flood damaged or rebirthed (ie cars written off by insurance companies but then repaired) from Queensland.PrivatePros: The best way to find a bargain.Cons: You have to do plenty of legwork, and finding the right car, in a place that's close to where you live, can be a time consuming process. There's no guarantee of title or provenance, and no comebacks if it drops its guts on the way home. Buyer beware.AuctionsPros: Ex-government or fleet cars, usually properly serviced, with low kilometres. Guaranteed title. Many dealers buy cars at auction, take them to their car yard, and jack the price up by thousands of dollars. Buy it yourself, and pocket the difference.Cons: You can't test drive the car before you bid. It's also easy for an amateur to pay too much, so go to a couple before you buy to get an idea of prices and how it all works.

While your average SUV looks like it could handle the bush few owners really believe deep down that they would if they were put to the test.  Most SUVs are bought as family wagons and used to transport the kids to school and pick up the shopping from the supermarket.  Rarely, if ever, do they venture beyond the city limits, and when they do it's usually only as far as a local beach or a nearby camping ground.But Toyota was keen to show that its new RAV4 really could handle the rough going when it decided to launch its 2006 model in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia.  It was a deliberate attempt by Toyota to prove its smallest off-roader was little more than a soft townie at heart.MODEL WATCHThe all-new 2006 RAV4 was a far cry from the cute little fun wagon launched back in the 1990s.  It was bigger in almost every dimension than its predecessor, it was also heavier by 180 kg, and it had grown into a full-sized family wagon with a much roomier interior.  There were six models in the range with three levels of equipment: CV, Cruiser and Cruiser L.All models came with the same 2.4-litre twin cam four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing boasting peak power of 125 kW at 6000 revs, that's up 5 kW, with the maximum torque unchanged at 224 Nm at 4000 revs.There was a choice of a five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed auto, with part-time four-wheel drive.  The RAV4 was essentially a front driver with drive sent to the rear wheels when the car's electronics deemed it necessary for safe traction.Tested on gravel roads at the time of launch the system switched seamlessly from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive, with the only indication a light on the dash to inform the driver the switch had taken place.There was no low range for more serious offroad driving, but Toyota  felt its on-demand system was sufficient for what most RAV4s would be used for.  Underneath, the RAV4 had fully independent suspension at both ends, with MacPherson Strut at the front and wishbones at the rear.  All models came with 17-inch alloy wheels, CD sound, tilt-and-reach steering wheel, heaps of storage compartments, and cup holders.If you stepped up to the Cruiser mid-ranger from the base CV you got dual-zone air, traction control, hill-start assistance, and stability control.  Climb further up the ladder to the Cruiser L and you also got leather, a power driver's seat, and both front seats were heated.IN THE SHOPToyota enjoys a well earned reputation for quality and reliability, and although recent reports to Cars Guide suggest it has perhaps slipped a little from its lofty perch it is still right up there with   the best.Cars Guide readers rarely complain about the RAV4, which suggests they are happy with their choice of car.  Build quality is of a good level, the interior plastics and other hardware stands up well to normal use.With any SUV, including the RAV4, it's important to check for signs, not so much of use off-road, but of off-road abuse.  It's possible to drive off the black top without beating your car to death, so check for underbody damage, damage to suspension and driveshafts that suggest an uncaring driver.  Also look for evidence that regular maintenance has been carried out, particularly of oil and filter changes.IN A CRASHAll models had ABS anti-skid brakes with brake-force distribution, along with active four-wheel drive, which endowed the RAV4 with decent active safety.  For more, the Cruiser and Cruiser L offered traction control and stability control systems.Add the passive protection of twin airbags on the CV, plus side and curtain airbags on the Cruiser and Cruiser L, and the RAV4 scrubbed up pretty well for safety, well enough to be awarded four out of a possible five stars by ANCAP.AT THE PUMPToyota claimed it had squeezed a little more economy out of the RAV4, with the manual model down to 9.1 L/100 km.  The figures provided by reader reporter David Simos suggest that Toyota's claim is pretty much on the money.OWNER'S SAYDavid Simos switched from a 2001 Volvo Cross Country to a 2009 RAV4 CV manual about 15 months ago in the hope of a more reliable run. He has since done almost 39,000 km and says there have been no problems and he is really pleased with it. Simos chose the cheapest Japanese/  Australian car that fitted four, a pram, stroller and port-a-cot, and that was the RAV4 CV manual. He says the sliding rear seat, which increases boot space, is great for work, the underfloor storage in the boot is excellent for storing a toolbox and foldaway trolley, but the swinging rear door can be a problem if you're parked in a tight spot or on an incline. The only issue of concern he has had is a whirring noise that seems to come from the front right of the vehicle at 70 km/h in higher gears, and he says it's revving a little higher than he would like at 100 km/h.LOOK FOR. Family-sized wagon. Roomy interior. Competent all-wheel driver. Four-cylinder economy. Quality buildTHE BOTTOM LINENo longer just for the young or young-at-heart the bigger, better   RAV4 is a competent family all-rounder.COMING UPWhat do you think of your Hyundai i30? Send your comments to Graham   Smith at Cars Guide or e-mail to grah.smith@bigpond.com.

More and more manufacturers are realising they can attract extra sales by creating two-wheel-drive versions of their 'soft roaders'.2WD buyers are looking for the practicality of the wagon - a commanding driving position, perhaps a little higher ride height for a short drive down a dry dirt track, the 'look' of an SUV, strong suspension, and in some cases seven seats - without getting a people-mover.If they don’t need to go offroad, in the snow, through muddy tracks, they don’t need the four-wheel-drive ability. But they can get everything else they want with 2WD versions of the SUV.What’s the benefit of 2WD?By opting for the 2WD version, the vehicle costs thousands of dollars less because that second set of drive-shafts, differentials, wheel joints and bits are not in the vehicle. And that means the 2WD versions weigh considerably less. Less weight means less fuel, a cost saving to the owner and lower exhaust emissions for the planet. And less weight means better performance in acceleration and handling.The month of May this year was the best-ever May for new-vehicle sales in Australia. Part of the reason was a staggering 29 per cent growth in SUV sales over May of last year. Clearly Aussies still love their SUVs and many of those extra sales were because of 2WD versions.Toyota offering its large Kluger in 2WD and 4WD, in all trim levels. The choice (between 2WD and 4WD) will give buyers an alternative purchase decision based on their real needs. Toyota also offers the RAV4, which gets revised gear ratios for with 2WD.Ford launched its Territory SUV in 2004 in 4WD and 2WD right from the start. But some brands don’t offer the full choice of models of the 4WD. For example, the Kia Sorento 2WD cannot have Kia's excellent turbo-diesel engine of the 4WD, but it's recognised that 2WD buyers are looking for lower buying and running costs and so only a base model engine is provided.KIA SORENTO - $36,490 Drives well with good ride; six-speed automatic, fuel economy Engine sometimes works hard to move 1814kg weightA much better onroad wagon than previous (4WD-only) model. The 2WD Kia Sorento is available only with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to keep down cost.Engine: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder, petrolPower: 128kW @ 6000rpmTorque: 226Nm @ 3750rpmTransmission: Six-speed automatic; front-wheel-drive.HOLDEN CAPTIVA - $27,990 Low price, plenty of Holden dealers for back-up Modest power, tows only 1500kg, no auto optionThe Holden Captiva 2WD gives wagon motoring to Holden followers not wanting a V6 or V8 Commodore Sportwagon. Captiva has been selling well lately.Engine: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder, petrolPower: 103kW @ 5200rpmTorque: 220Nm @ 2400rpmTransmission: Five-speed manual; front-wheel-drive.TOYOTA KLUGER - $40,990 Engine power, full model range, including seven-seater Large, blunt design, fuel useThe larger option from Toyota can be had in all the trim levels of the Kluger 4WDs, which means seven-seaters as well. The well-known 3.5 V6 engine is a good 'un.Engine: 3.5-litre, V6, petrolPower: 201kW @ 6200rpmTorque: 337Nm @ 4700rpmTransmission: Five-speed automatic; front-wheel-drive.FORD TERRITORY - $39,890 Torque at low revs, parts costs, seven-seat option Size to park, fuel use, dating body shape, auto only a four-speedThe only Australian-designed and built SUV, Territory uses Ford Falcon running gear and is a popular vehicle, especially now that Falcon wagon is ceasing production.Engine: Four-litre, six-cylinder, petrolPower: 190kW @ 5250rpmTorque: 383Nm @ 2500rpmTransmission: Four-speed automatic; rear-wheel-drive.BMW X1 sDrive18i - $43,500 BMW owner pride, diesel option, equipment, fuel economy, 1430kg weight Expensive parts and servicingBMW's new compact SUV in two-wheel-drive form is known as the sDrive. It is one of the low-cost ways of getting behind the famous BMW badge and suits Yuppies.Engine: Two-litre, four-cylinder, petrolPower: 110kW @ 6400rpmTorque: 200Nm @ 3600rpmTransmission: Six-speed manual (optional six-speed automatic); rear-wheel-drive.TOYOTA RAV4 - $28,990 Fuel economy, Toyota reputation, modest kerb weight (1525kg), price Tows only 1500kgRAV is the most recent 4WD SUV available in 2WD and uses the Toyota Camry 2.4 engine. RAV started the compact SUV segment and has kept updated nicely since.Engine: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder, petrolPower: 125kW @ 6000rpmTorque: 224Nm @ 4000rpmTransmission: Five-speed manual (optional four-speed automatic); front-wheel-drive.

Just how torturous on a vehicle is a private school driveway? As tough as a week competing in the Dakar, going by the arrivals at the kiss `n' ride bay at any well-funded school.  Few vehicles in the history of man have been so over-engineered as Mums' taxis. Even the Trojan Horse pales by comparison.But a few manufacturers have smartened up. Their 4WDs are actually 2WDs, saving money on the purchase price, fuel consumption and even tyre wear.  Hyundai did it with the Tucson City, though train spotters note the City logo as being the cheaper model.Toyota now adds a 2WD RAV4 to its line-up, dispensing with any badge changes so from the outside at least, the driver basks in the adventurist glow that inspires all SUV sales.  Beneath the soft lines of the little wagon is the same 2.4-litre engine and choice of four-speed automatic or five-speed manual. Basically, the driveline to the rear wheels is removed, saving about 60kg over the all-wheel drive version.Shedding a few kilos picks up all the athletism enjoyed by a successful Biggest Loser contestant. But it does change the way the RAV4 handles.  It feels more nimble and smarter off the lights. Cornering prowess is about the same, with the new wagon feeling like what it is - a front-wheel drive car.Pushed through a corner will reveal typical understeer. In comparison, the all-wheel drive's rear end can be felt driving through the bend and so feels more confident.Which one's better? They're both pretty good but just feel different and need a different approach.  However, in its role as a suburban taxi the handling dynamics are unlikely to become the subject of intense debate over a latte.What will interest buyers is the versatility of the new RAV4 model and its starting price of $28,990. That's $3000 cheaper than the all-wheel drive model and there's no difference in the feature list.I don't have to tell you that $3000 is a lot of money. In the automatic version tested, the $30,990 price - plus on-road costs - makes it an affordable, durable and versatile family wagon.StylingThe Toyota RAV4 has been around a long time. That's the good news and the bad news.  Up against the latest arrival in the compact SUV segment - the strikingly-chiseled Hyundai ix35 - the RAV4 looks very conservative, almost dated in appearance.People like trendy things and, unfortunately, to many the RAV4 is considered conservatively styled.  That styling simplicity slides through the doors and impregnates the cabin and, though neat and functional, is a bit plain.The upside is that the Toyota is like a really good facelift - it will last for quite a while and disguise the intervening years. Your friends may never know the true age.  That's good for resale value and one look at second-hand car market will prove the point that the RAV4 remains in demand and commands strong prices.Size and spaceThough it's classed as a compact SUV, the RAV4 range is not puny. The latest models seat five adults and come with neat features like a sliding rear seat that expands or diminishes the cargo area depending on the size of the back seat passengers.It means that carrying toddlers on booster seats will allow the seat to be rolled forward and so expand the boot to absorb a pram or two. It's a handy feature that will endear the car to young families.There's also plenty of personal storage space including two gloveboxes, one being lockable, and a height adjustable driver's seat that combines with a tilt and telescopic steering wheel to find that perfect driving position.Fit-out and equipmentControls and switchgear are big and bold for ease of use and there's controls for the audio on the steering-wheel spokes. Cruise control is standard on all models, including the base CV tested here.Also standard is stability control and ABS brakes, a four-star crash rating (out of five) and two airbags. Optional packs are available for more airbags which are very desirable.

We live in an age of allergies that feeds an industry of preventative medicines and an army of taxpayer-funded advisors.Each of us has some food-related allergy or, at least, an intense dislike to what's on the dinner plate.All foods, that is, except chicken.You never hear a kid complain about KFC.You never get the aircraft scenario where the flight attendant pushing the food trolley down the aisle is asking: "Chicken? Chicken anyone? No, I'm very sorry sir, the fish and the stew are all gone."Everybody likes chicken. It's every menu's safe bet.And if a car was listed on the menu as chicken, it would undoubtedly be served up with a Toyota badge.Like chicken, everybody likes Toyota. It's the safe bet.I thought the world had passed by the Toyota RAV4. It's now three years old and the new kids on the block — notably the VW Tiguan, Nissan Dualis and Subaru Forester — are flavorsome options.Yet the RAV4 still impresses and sales shows that despite the newcomers, the RAV4 is Australia's second most popular Compact SUV after the Forester.It's about the same price as its rivals and technically and feature-wise, is on par. That makes it a hard sector for buyers to pick their next car.Toyota knows that so there are nine RAV4 models that start with this one here, the base-model CV with automatic transmission.Yes, you can buy a 3.5-litre V6 version and scare the pants off Commodore owners.But to me the CV auto is the essential RAV4 — neat, cleanly styled, very functional and fairly priced at $35,490 (plus on-road costs).The five door wagon seats four adults. The back seat slides on rollers so the luggage area can be expanded — at the expense of legroom, of course — and that feature should be a no-brainer for all SUVs.The side-hinged tailgate looks cumbersome with the spare wheel — a full-size spare, by the way — hanging off but is actually light and well supported by gas struts.I like the underfloor bins for small-item storage, the netting for shopping and the flip down rear seats for added cargo space.It drives like a small car with light steering feel and simple dashboard controls. Nothing fancy, just efficient.The four-speed auto is a bit archaic in a market with five and six-speed boxes, but the Camry-derived 2.4-litre engine is lazy enough so there's a broad power band.Performance is adequate rather than elating, though I caught myself smiling once so I left the grey cardigan in the wardrobe.More important is an upgrade by Toyota that made electronic stability control (in Toyota-speak it's VDC) standard along with traction control and active head restraints. The latter reduces whiplash injury.The CV gets two airbags but there is an optional package that adds five airbags — you have to use your other hand because that's seven in total — and climate-control, dual-zone airconditioning. No, I don't know why aircon and airbags have become allied.Along with its easy driving manners, the RAV4 is quiet and comfortable. Yes, some conventional sedans — the Corolla for example — are quieter and indeed safer, but the small SUV market promises more flexible cabin space.Though economical to purchase, the RAV4 is a bit thirstier than expected. Toyota claims 9.6 litres/100km and I was into the 10s and sometimes 11s. Compared with a similar size sedan — the Corolla, again — which is rated at 7.4 l/100km, the RAV4 will put its hand deeper into the weekly household spend.On the plus side, there's a set service cost for the life of the three year warranty which is cheaper than most rivals.But I like the RAV4 for its simplicity. It's just like chicken.Snapshot TOYOTA RAV4 CV Price: $35,490 (plus dealer and statutory charges)Engine: 2.4-litre, 4-cylinderPower: 125kW @ 6000rpmTorque: 224Nm @ 4000rpmEconomy (official): 9.6 litres/100km, (tested): 10.5 litres/100kmEmissions: 227g/kmTransmission: 4-speed automatic, constant 4WDRating: 85/100Rivals: Ford Escape ($33,990) — 80/100; Honda CR-V ($33,990) — 86/100; Jeep Patriot/Compass Sport ($29,990) — 79/100; Mitsubishi Outlander LS ($32,990) — 85/100; Nissan X-Trail ST ($32,490) — 84/100; Subaru Forester X ($30,990) — 86/100; VW Tiguan 125TSI ($33,990) — 86/100

If you’d nodded off in the late-1990s and snoozed through the next decade or so you’d be amazed at the change that had taken place on our roads while you were off in slumberland. Back in the late-1990s there would have been a lot of four-wheel drives on the road, sure, but nothing like as many as there are now.When you went to sleep a typical four-wheel drive was a huge monster that was built to conquer the toughest conditions it might encounter in the bush, but there’s been a revolution in the past decade or so and the majority of four-wheel drives are now much lighter wagons that are more likely to be seen on the school run or supermarket scramble than the outback.The vast majority of four-wheel drives now sold rarely leave the bitumen, and the result is a new generation of wagons with the high viewpoint of a four-wheel drive, but with more safety and better handling and comfort than the traditional off-roader. The trade-off is in their off-road capability, but if you don’t plan to go bush that’s immaterial.Toyota’s RAV4 was one of the first so-called soft-roaders to cash in on this trend. It was conceived as a funky little multipurpose wagon that looked good round town, and was still quite capable if its city slicker owner decided to go away for a weekend in the bush or to the beach.In subsequent years the RAV4 has grown into a vehicle that is more likely to transport the family as four-wheel drives have gained in popularity as alternatives to boring station wagons.MODEL WATCHThe RAV4 was shown to the world for the first time at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show, but it didn’t become a production reality until early 1994, the year it arrived here.The first RAV4 was really aimed at the funky few, who wanted to look like they went bush or beach while they cruised around the trendy suburbs of our major cities.At first it was only available as a compact, a short wheelbase three-door hardtop, although it would also later become available as a long wheelbase wagon.It boasted the same monocoque construction we normally associate only with regular cars, and that gave it strength and rigidity. It also allowed designers to create front and rear crumple zones which gave it better crash protection than most regular four-wheel drives, and with side intrusion bars and optional airbags it was quite a revelation in off-roader safety.Monocoque construction was not only a boon for safety it also provided a stiff and stable platform on which quite reasonable handling could be built. Of course the high centre of gravity meant its handling could never be as sharp and precise as a normal family sedan or wagon, but it was clearly a step up for ponderous four-wheel drive wagons.Power came from a 2.0-litre double overhead camshaft fuel-injected four-cylinder engine that developed a healthy 96 kW at 5800 revs and 180 Nm at 4400 revs, which was enough to give the RAV4 punchy performance on or off the tarmac.There was a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed auto. The rear diff was a limited-slip unit, and drive was constant four-wheel drive, with a centre diff that could be locked when greater traction was needed in rough going.Under the curvaceous skin there was independent suspension that delivered a comfortable ride with quite reasonable handling, along with quite competent off-road capability.Brakes were a combination of disc front and drum rear, and ABS was available as an extra-cost option.Inside, the RAV4 was typically Toyota, neat with quality plastics and cloth-trimmed buckets for the front occupants and a flexible split-fold bench in the rear.Flexibility was a key to the RAV4’s interior. The rear bench seat could be split and folded to provide plenty of carrying capacity, and if needed all four seats could be laid flat for overnight accommodation.Mud flaps, body side protection mouldings, power steering, a radio/cassette sound system with four speakers, and tilt steering column came standard, while options included antilock brakes, air-conditioning, sunroof, driver’s airbag, a Cruiser dress-up pack, and a Safety Pack.RAV4 grew up in 1995 when Toyota added a long wheelbase five-door wagon to the range. It wasn’t then just a fashion statement; it had become a practical full-sized family wagon. Its appeal was widened even further in 1998 when a three-door soft-top was added to the range.IN THE SHOPMechanics report few problems with the RAV4. Older cars with higher mileage may show some minor oil leaks from the engine, but these are routine rather than cause for concern.The engine is basically the same as that in the Camry, which has shown itself to be quite trouble-free. Same goes for the drive line, although one mechanic reported two instances in which the manual five-speed was jumping out of fifth due to wear in the ‘box. Both instances were at quite high mileages.Interior trim stands up well to the ravages of the harsh local sun, so expect little deterioration inside.Likewise the exterior stands up quite well, but it’s worth checking the body and underbody thoroughly for obvious signs of bush bashing. On the outside look for scratches down the sides, heavy dust in door jams, hinges and other body equipment, while underneath look for bashed in bodywork, flattened exhausts and dings on suspension components. So few RAV4s have gone offroad in any serious manner that you’re unlikely to find much damage.The trade reports that the cost of body components is quite high, even with components like reflectors, tail light lenses, and bumpers etc., so it’s worth making sure none of these need replacing.As always look for a service record that shows consistent servicing that can be verified.LOOK FOR• good blend of on-road manners and off-road capability• good visibility from high driving position• strong and stiff construction• comfortable ride and acceptable handling• funky styling• good reliability

Toyota expects that the new additions will attract first time buyers to the RAV4 brand and cement itself as king of the SUVs.DrivetrainControlled by a five-speed automatic transmission, the ZR6 is powered by a 3.5 litre all-alloy quad-cam V6 engine that develops 201kW at 6200rpm and 333Nm at 4700rpm.At 7.4 seconds for the 0-100km/h dash, it’s quite rapid for an SUV and will continue to a top speed of 210km/h. The V6 burns 10.4 litres of fuel per 100kms and emits 246gm of C02/km.ExteriorToyota wanted the V6s in the range to have a premium, modern and rugged appearance but still hold onto the youthful look of the RAV4.But what does it look like? Just one sentence.Sturdy yet agile, the ZR6 has been designed with aerodynamics in mind to reduce wind noise and drag.The ZR6 also gets privacy window glass, five spoke 17 inch alloys, roof rails and a moonroof.InteriorOn top of the usual toys like cruise control, multi-function steering wheel and a six speaker stereo, the ZR6 comes with dual front zone climate control, leather seats and an LED display with sat nav and MP3 and Bluetooth compatibility.With the back seats in their normal position there is 540 litres of cargo space, plus you get a 90 litre under-floor storage box under a bi-fold rear deck board. The deck sides also have luggage hooks.Bottle holders in each of the four doors plus twin cup holders in the centre console and rear arm rests help keep the kids in check and there are several more small compartments for other bits and pieces.The 60:40 split rear seats can also fold fully flat to carry extra cargo.Safety A comprehensive airbag package heads up the ZR6 impressive safety list, including ABS Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control.PricingThe RAV4 V6 range starts at $39,990 for the CV6, $43,990 for the SX6 and $49,990 for the top of the line ZR6.DrivingThe new RAV V6s are a welcome addition to a range that has underwhelmed in terms of power and zip.The top of the range ZR6 performs just as well around town as it does on winding country roads and the extra boost gives you confidence when merging and overtaking on the freeway.There was little body roll, although we didn’t feel entirely supported by the slippery seats when cornering hard.We expected the heavier car to feel more sluggish that the four-cylinder, but the extra 75kW made it feel just as nimble.We also tested on a small amount of untarred road which included a rather steep decline, and plenty of holes and ruts. We were bounced around the cabin at times but generally the combination of Downhill Assist and Vehicle Stability Control made light work of the trip.The RAV has grown over the last few years and its chunkier appearance has allowed it to muscle in on rivals like the Holden Captiva and Mazda CX-7. It also means it’s now bigger inside with enough room for three of our rotund male friends – and plenty of space for car seats and capsules if need be. The ZR6 treated us to leather trim, satnav, Bluetooth capabilities and a six stacker CD player.To make things more comfortable the ZR6 has split fold 60/40 rear seats, a generous amount of storage bins and compartments plus cup and bottle holders. Add to that the generous boot space and the 90 litre under-floor cargo area, and you have a very decent package to get you out of the house for a few days in style and comfort.Verdict: 7.3/10

Toyota's Rav4 has been regarded as a more than serviceable compact SUV for a number of years.It has been endowed with most of the Toyota virtues including excellent finish and good reliability.But it has never been regarded as a little flier, or as an SUV not to be taken lightly at the traffic lights.That is until now.Toyota, in their infinite wisdom, decided to re-invent the RAV4 by shoe-horning the 3.5 litre, 201kW, V6 engine from various other products including the Aurion and Kluger, into the RAV4's engine bay.Needless to say the addition of 75 more kilowatts to the RAV's get up and go department has transformed the SUV, a bit like an intensive course of steroids.The vehicle on test was the ZR6, the top-of-the-range RAV with leather heated seats, dual climate control airconditioning and most of the top-end features such as sat nav that you would expect to find in a top of the range Toyota. But on this subject it was more than a little bit strange to find it did not have any trip computer.Fuel usage, range and so on was not available. Could this possibly be due to the fact the 3.5 litre Toyota engine has a voracious thirst for unleaded petrol? That's probably going too far and it could easily be that there simply is not enough room in the engine bay and on the dash for an item standard on even bottom-of-the-range cars from many brands.Fuel consumption claimed by Toyota is 10.5l/100km on a combined cycle. The test vehicle used 13.3l/100km over 400 or so kilometres. It got an occasional flogging but most of the driving was steady stop/start stuff around town with a fair proportion of freeway motoring. If you are a lead foot, prepare for 15l/100km and to get anything like Toyota's 10.5 claim you will have to be a fairyfoot.When it comes to sticking the boot in, a RAV4 V6 driver will be amply rewarded. A top speed of 210km/h, and that appears to be a little conservative, a 0-100km/h time of 7.4sec, which is good for a performance car never mind an SUV, and a 0-400m time of 15.3sec should get you to the beach on time.In these days of escalating fuel prices the question of why, and whether it is a good idea, to make a V6 RAV4 springs to mind. Leaving aside the question of a guilty green conscience, there is ample evidence that Australians love high-performance vehicles, compact SUVs or other types, and that Toyota was perhaps missing out on that top-of-the-range market share.And after all, Toyota does make the hybrid Prius so beloved by greenies which helps to balance the carbon equation somewhat.Flooring the throttle results in instant take off, the all-wheel-drive system working faultlessly so there is negligible torque reaction from the front wheels which also refuse to spin.Torque is spread among the four wheels for the best possible result. Seamless, progressive acceleration, with an increasing amount of induction noise, until the five-speed auto changes up at just below 6000rpm and the whole process starts again.The auto, although not tiptronic or paddle actuated, can be used as a manual by the driver moving the gear stick around any of the five notches devoted to individual gears.While this RAV4 never left the pavement, despite having diff lock and downhill descent assist, the manual function of the transmission would be a boon off-road.On road, there is little to complain about. The ride can be a little choppy but that's the price for compromise suspension, which is capable both on and off the road. There is little body roll and tyres start to protest audibly if the driver forgets this is an SUV and indulges in some overly spirited cornering.The back seat testers suggested the middle position was not one to be coveted if a long haul was contemplated; but there was ample back seat leg room, a fair amount of luggage space including a covered well where the spare wheel would have been; had it not adorned the rear door.Age and crankiness of this tester apart, it is difficult to understand how some sat nav systems, notably BMW, appear well thought out and others require hours of instruction manual study to master even the simplest of calculations.It took forever to find out how to stop the nameless female telling me where to go after someone touched something on the touch screen which activated a previous address, somewhere in Sydney, I think.At $49,990, the ZR6 is no cheapie but you do get a fair amount of kit for your dollar.If RAV4s are your fetish and you are sick of mediocre performance, the ZR6 will not disappoint.  2007 Toyota RAV4 V6 ZR6Price: $49,990Body: monocoque 5-door wagonEngine: 3456cc, all-alloy, quad-cam, dual-VVT-i, 60-degree V6, 4 valves a cylinder, cast-aluminium block, Bore x stroke (mm): 94 x 83, Compression: 10.8:1Power: 201kW @ 6200rpmTorque: 333Nm @ 4700rpmFuel system: Sequential multi-point electronic port fuel injection. 91 RON ULP, capacity 60 litres, economy 10.5l/100km claimedCO2: 246g/kmRating: Euro 4Performacne: Max. speed, 210km/h; 0-100km/h, 7.4sec; 0-400m 15.3secTransmission: Electronically controlled, five-speed intelligent automatic with lock-up torque converter, part-timeAWD steering: Rack and pinion, electric power-assistedTurning circle: 10.6mSuspension: Front and rear: Independent, barrel-shaped coil springs, low-pressure nitrogen-filled dampers, multi-leaf linear control damper valves Front MacPherson struts, wide-based L-shaped lower arms. Rear, trailing-type double wishboneBrakes: front, ventilated discs, 296mm, rear, solid discs, 281mmSafety features: ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), Traction Control (TRC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Hill-start Assist.Wheels: Alloy 7.0J x 17 Tyres 225/65R17 101H, full size spareDimensions (MM): 4600 (l), 1855 (w), 1730 (h), 2660 (W'base), 1560 (Front and rear track), ground clearance 200Angles: Approach 30 degrees, departure 26, break over/ramp over 20Weights/loads: Kerb weight, 1655kg; gross vehicle mass, 2170kg; cargo capacity, 540kg with seats up; 90-litre under-floor storageTowing: braked: 1900kg; unbraked 750kg 

Back in 1994, the first diminutive Rav4 created a niche — that of the small SUV pseudo-offroader, one that could fit in an inner-city garage. You'd be hard-pressed to squeeze the new Rav4 into the driveway.Times are changing at Toyota. Still afflicted with a cardigan image, the company has plunged millions into its Formula 1 campaign and TRD performance arm, even though its last vaguely sporting cars — the MR2 and Celica — have ceased production.And while we wait for Toyota's big-six Aurion sedan and a supposedly sans-cardigan Camry, Toyota has stuck sports kits on its tiny Yaris, given the big Tarago van a bolder facelift, and — of course — made a bigger Rav4.Today, the once-compact 4x4 that used to sit alongside the likes of Suzuki's Vitara stands tall with the Subaru Forester, Mitsubishi's Outlander and Nissan X-Trail.Australia gets an even bigger Rav4 than the version released in Japan and Europe. (The supersize-me Americans get a V6 with three rows of seats.)Indeed, the Rav4 has attained the dimensions of what used to be Toyota's big SUV, the Kluger. Its price has also bloated to $43,990 for the top model.But you do get your money's worth in features. And the Rav4 is now a decent drive.The same 2.4-litre engine remains, with a slight 5kW lift in power, but a new drive train with an active AWD system makes a big difference.The Rav4 will typically operate in front-wheel-drive only, with drive automatically splitting to the rear wheels on low-traction surfaces or locking in on command at under 40km/h.While running in front-drive saves fuel (consumption is down half a litre to 9.1/100km), the active AWD ensures safer handling through changing road conditions. And ABS is standard across the range, finally.It makes for an easy, comfortable drive, helped along by the extra luxuries in the cabin, which is now claimed to be20 per cent bigger.The $31,990 base CV model gets standard air-con, cruise, wheel-mounted audio controls, a massive under-floor storage area and cup-holders galore with little lights in them tomake sure you don't spill your latte.A four-speed auto costs $2000 over the manual five-speeder, and side and curtain airbags are optional. The base model misses out on downhill assist and hill start assist (which is necessary for the tall auto), and the worthy stability control and traction control programs.At $37,490, the mid-spec Cruiser gets a flasher, flared bodykit with spoked 17-inch alloy wheels, six-stacker CD, roof rails, dual-zone climate control, leather touches and the extra safety gear.The pricey $41,990 Cruiser L gains more leather trim on the seats and doors, seat heaters, power-adjustable driver's seat and an electric moon roof.While all the extra goodies do not affect fuel economy, they do affect the performance of the 125kW engine to some extent. While handling is much improved and the chassis is stiffer, the car feels bulkier and heavier, particularly in the long, low gears.But it is not light on safety and features, and can carry the family in comfort over tarmac and dirt, which makes it an SUV for the current market.Hmmm. Perhaps we did ask for a bigger Rav4 after all.