The new model has a 2.2-litre unit as the base engine in most markets, in which form it has a gross weight of 2,190kg, making it more of a middleweight than a lightweight. It is nearly five metres long (4,935mm), 1,815mm wide and had a 2,560mm wheelbase. There is not much difference in height, however, and the car looks relatively sleek, with a drag coefficient of 3.1.
The package is bigger inside as well as out (107mm longer and nearly 80mm wider), with ample room now for five. The rear seats offer 168mm of travel and fold flat for cargo without the need to remove headrests or seat cushions. A single level near the tailgate actuates this EasyFlat seating system.
New to RAV4 are optitron gauges, cruise control with lever-operated brake deceleration and dual-zone automatic air conditioning.
A new rear suspension and bigger rear overhang increase cargo space by an impressive 25 percent.
Toyota will offer two diesel engines for the RAV4 in Europe. North America gets an uprated 2.4-cylinder Camry engine generating 165ps and a newly developed 3.5-litre V6 that will make the car even heavier but also offer 268 horsepower and enough grunt to haul a 1,590kg trailer. The current limit if 680kg.
A key feature of the new package is an ‘Integrated Active Drive’ in which electronic stability control works with power steering to add steering assistance, continuously monitoring and controlling understeer or oversteer to help the driver. IAD works in conjunction the four-wheel-drive mechanism to manage torque distribution.
Two diesels and one gasoline engine are available. The latter is a 2.0L VVT-i four-cylinder that produces 150ps and enables RAV4 to complete 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in a creditable 10.6 seconds.
The oil-burners are new 2.2L D4-D units putting out 135ps and 175ps, both mated to a six-speed manual. The more powerful of the two delivers 400Nm of torque.
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