Toyota Rav4 VX – The adventure continues

Seeing a convoy of Toyota’s on the road in South Africa is a rare sight, a convoy of brand new Rav4’s an even rarer sight. We had the pleasure of driving the new Rav4 VX on a cross border adventure run that showcased the vehicles capabilities, from tar to gravel, to the towering sand dunes, the Rav4 breezed through them all.

Exterior
A few changes have been made to the outside of the Rav4, making for a sleeker more sporty off road appearance. Upfront the change is most notable with a reshaped front end around the grille this includes new LED headlights and a chrome detail on the new upper and lower grilles as well as a larger Toyota emblem. Around the back you will find a new rear bumper comprising of a larger painted area as well as an under car valance. Higher up, the tailgate sees a redesign incorporating the wraparound LED tail lamps and fog lights which are devoid of reverse lamps or so it would seem.

Interior
Toyota has completely revamped the interior of the Rav4. The centre console and dash have seen the biggest changes with a new textured finish and plenty of new storage spaces, including a new cup holder design. A new 7 inch TFT touchscreen is angled towards the driver and with ergonomic controls incorporated into the steering wheel, it is even easier to use.

The multimedia system includes Bluetooth, rearview camera with guidelines, trip data, climate control and vehicle setting management. There are auxiliary connections for iPod and MP3 via USB and Bluetooth as well as two 12v power outlets, one up front and another conveniently located in the rear for your passengers.

The area on the B-pillar, at shoulder height, sees softened paneling on the door to absorb the bumps when tackling off road situations. Full leather heated seats with electric controls, dual zone climate control and keyless entry are just a few of the specifications in the VX model.

With a vehicle this size, it is comforting to know that the VX model has a front and rear proximity warning system. Another of Toyota’s additons to the VX model is TSC (Trailer Sway Control) to assist vehicle stability when towing. In the rear storage area you will find a cargo net plus retractable tonneau cover and to round it off, a power tail with a one touch auto cover.

Engine and Drive Train
The Rav4 models retain the 2.0l Valvematic petrol engine coupled to the 6 speed manual or 7 speed Multidrive S auto transmission that delivers 107kW and the 2.2l D-4D diesel engine in manual and AWD (All Wheel Drive) Auto.

The VX models we tested had either the 2.2l diesel or 2.5l VVTi auto and manual variation with AWD featuring Toyota’s DTC (Dynamic Torque Control), VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) and a new feature to the VX , VDC (Vehicle Decent Control) to help with those steep decents.

The Drive
The route covered just over 300km and comprised tar, gravel and sand driving. The Rav4 VX drove like a sedan on the road and the elevated seating position gave a good line of sight, which was needed once we left civilization behind.

Leaving the tar we travelled down a gravel track and you could feel how the vehicles system distributed the power keeping the vehicle under control. Once we hit the sand we switched off the traction control and locked the differential with a simple flick of a switch and then the fun began. The DTC worked overtime and not even the deepest of sand could stop the Rav4.
 
Once the dunes had been conquered it was back onto the tar road and a chance to stretch the 2.5l VVTi engines legs. The engine and transmission worked seamlessly over the distance even after choking on sand for a few hours. If I had to complain about anything it would be the braking capabilities. The braking seemed to be fighting the engine and could do with improvements to bring a vehicle of this size and heft to a stop a bit quicker. Particularly as the local wildlife seemed to be very interested in crossing the road at very inopportune moments.

Summed up
The new VX model Rav4 in 2.2l diesel and 2.5l VVTi petrol is a cracking drive and more than capable of handling just about anything you can throw at it. It will be at home in your driveway in suburbia or the open terrain of the active off road lifestyler. Toyota leads the market in small SUV sales and that is in no small part thanks to the RAV4.

Models and Pricing

RAV4 2.0 GX MT	-  R327 700
RAV4 2.0 GX CVT	-  R338 800
RAV4 2.2D GX MT	-  R409 900
RAV4 2.5 AWD VX 6AT	-  R457 000
RAV4 2.2D AWD VX 6AT	-  R487 400

 
The new RAV4 comes standard with a three year/100,000km warranty and a five-year/ 90 000 km service plan. The new models are also supported by the ToyotaCare Roadside Assistance Programme which entitles customers to 24-hour roadside assistance, ensuring ultimate peace-of-mind motoring.