The original Toyota RAV4 was a quirky little crossover SUV, but these days the car has grown up and faces stiff competition from the likes of the Mazda CX-5 and Ford Kuga. With this latest facelift, the transformation is complete: thanks to the addition of a new hybrid powertrain, the RAV4 is surely now a car for buyers who wear a suit to work.
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With CO2 emissions of 118g/km in four-wheel drive form, road tax is lower than ever - and it will be much cheaper for company car buyers as well. The cheapest hybrid RAV4 is £26,195, however, which is £2,500 more than the entry-level diesel model. Fuel economy of 55.4mpg is around the same as its main rivals, but it's beaten by the Mazda CX-5's 2.2-litre diesel, which gets 61mpg.
All models in the range get an updated look, however, and on the whole it's a successful refresh. The front end is much sleeker than before, doing away with the previous car's 'nostrils' and pinching the grille up higher, integrating the new headlights and badge. It's smart and suits the RAV4's dimensions well. However, the back end hasn't been changed nearly as much, but the new LED tail lamps do improve things slightly.
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The materials inside the car are improved as well, doing away with some of the scratchy plastics and adding more quality trimmings and a touchscreen as standard. The new dash design is solid, if lacking in flair - it's certainly easy to find the button you need. Other standard kit includes DAB radio, a reversing camera, cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning and tinted windows. Higher trim levels get sat-nav, auto lights and wipers, a powered tailgate, leather seats and a full set of parking sensors.
Hop in the back and you'll find that even for passengers over six feet tall there is plenty of legroom - and the flat floor means the middle seat is useable too - but there's much less headroom as you sit much higher up in the seat than the other passengers either side of you. The boot is 501 litres, which is quite a bit smaller than the rival Honda CR-V, but it's bigger than the Ford Kuga and about the same as the Mazda CX-5. The non-hybrid version has more space, with 547 litres. There's a useful removable luggage net, but the rear seats don't fold down completely flat.
With its hybrid powertrain, this RAV4 is silent on startup and at low speed since the electric motors (one on the front and another at the rear on AWD models) provide the power. This makes it a great choice for driving in town, as there's absolutely no noise while crawling through traffic. Get some speed up, though, and gets much noisier.
The engine is fairly well insulated, but put your foot down and the CVT gearbox brings the revs up to provide more power, filling the cabin with a loud drone and a high-pitched whine from the electric motors. There is a setting which simulates six gears, but honestly it feels nothing like a normal gearbox - so despite the reasonable 0-62mph time of 8.4 seconds it's best to take it easy and leave it in the normal automatic mode.
That's true in the corners as well, since the RAV4 has quite a bit of body roll and there's not much feel to the steering either. The Mazda CX-5 really puts the Toyota to shame here, proving that SUVs and crossovers can still be good to drive - and the RAV4 just can't match it.
Toyota says the suspension has been improved for better comfort and dynamics, but the car isn't as agile as some rivals and although the seats are comfortable, the ride does feel a bit stiff when you hit a bumpy section of road. It did feel smooth on the Spanish motorways on our test route, though.
The Toyota RAV4 is slightly cheaper to run than the Mazda, but the CX-5 is more fun to drive and better looking too - so for keen drivers it's a top choice in this class. The Toyota is practical and sensible, which will suit some buyers, but it's still hard to recommend in a very competitive market.
- Price: £30,795
- Engine: 2.5-litre 4cyl petrol & electric motors
- Power: 195bhp
- Transmission: CVT automatic, four-wheel drive
- 0-62mph: 8.4seconds
- Top speed: 112mph
- Economy/CO2: 55.4mpg, 118g/km
- On sale: Now