The Toyota RAV4 was first unveiled to the public in Japan back in 1994. According to Toyota, RAV4 stands for “Recreational Activity Vehicle – 4-wheel-drive”. Something else you may not be aware of is that the Toyota RAV4 was the first ever proper crossover SUV in the world – arriving a whole year ahead of the CR-V.
Currently in its fourth generation, the 2019 Toyota RAV4 is set to be perhaps one of the most accomplished and reliable crossovers with a proven track record that is second to none in its segment. However, this isn’t the ‘90s anymore, and the present day RAV4 faces far tougher competition than ever before. Its primary challengers include some equally popular cars such as the Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail, and Kia Sportage.
Exterior
Compared to its first avatar which had a slightly awkward styling, the design of the new Toyota RAV4 is far more appealing. Its edgy front end is sharp yet beefy, and gets an aggressively molded front bumper and sleek headlights. There’s a faux skid plate and dual air inlets in the bumper, along with integrated fog lamp housings.
The side profile of the new RAV4 reveals very pronounced flared wheel arches, chunky roof rails, and black plastic cladding along the sides. In fact, there’s black plastic cladding all around the crossover to portray that tough SUV image. The rear gets stylish clear lens taillamps with distinct LED lighting, faux skid plate, and a rooftop spoiler.
Physical dimension-wise, the Toyota RAV4 is 4.570 meters long, 1.845 meters wide, 1.660 meters high, and gets a wheelbase of 2.660 meters. The boot space of the RAV4 can be as much as 1,085 liters.
Interior
Like many popular crossovers of the 21st century, the interior of the new 2019 Toyota RAV4 is a modern, comfortable, spacious, and practical place to be. Being a strict 5-seater, the RAV4 offers plenty of room for all occupants without having to compromise on its luggage carrying capabilities. In-cabin storage for smaller items has always been a forte of this crossover, and Toyota has also improved the quality of materials used along with the overall fit & finish.
The new RAV4 comes packed with features and conveniences such as leather seats, automatic climate control, electric sunroof, keyless entry & go, power driver’s seat, leather-trimmed multi-functional steering wheel, and an 8-inch touch infotainment rig with 6 speakers. Other notable features include 18-inch alloys, LED headlights with DRLs, cruise control, power tailgate, and parking sensors with rearview camera.
There are the usual safety nannies such as multiple airbags, antilock brakes, stability control. Others include hill assist control, hill descent control, ISOFIX, front and rear fog lamps, and a tire pressure monitoring system.
Engine and performance
The Toyota RAV4 comes equipped with a naturally-aspirated, 2.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine which makes 176 HP and 233 Nm of torque. Power is directed towards either the front wheels or all fours (in AWD models) via a traditional torque-converter, 6-speed transmission.
The RAV4 is capable of reaching 100 km/h in a smidge over 8.5 seconds, and can go on to a top speed of around 200 km/h. As far as fuel consumption figures are concerned, the combined rating for this Toyota is 9.0L/100 km for the 2WD model, and 9.4L/100 km for the one with AWD.
Verdict
Pricing for the Toyota RAV4 range starts at AED 89,900 for base 2WD car, and tops out at AED 129,900 for the all bells and whistles AWD version of the RAV4. The insurance cost for the former starts off at AED 2,023, and goes up to AED 2,923 for the full option vehicle.
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