The fifth generation of the RAV4 crossover has pleased motorists not only with its updated exterior, cozy, spacious interior, excellent ergonomics, active safety system, but also with a wide range of options. Fans of TOP versions Toyota offers all-wheel drive car with a 2.5-liter gasoline engine and 8-speed automatic transmission Direct Shift-8AT.
The manufacturer in the 5th generation bets on a hybrid version of the car, where the electric motor works in tandem with the 2.5-liter power unit. This offer is actual for the European countries where they care about ecology, besides the hybrid version is the most powerful. In Russia at the moment such cars are not available, but there is a probability that they will appear, because the manufacturer expects that 80-90% of sales will account for exactly the hybrid version.
Intelligent all-wheel drive
One of the novelties, which Toyota decided to surprise its fans is an innovative 4WD system. It allowed making the car more manageable and stable on any road. This was achieved thanks to a system that allows separate traction control for each of the rear wheels. Up to 50% of torque can be transferred to the rear axle.
Thanks to the new intelligent system of cross-country ability RAV 4 fully meets the requirements of drivers who like difficult road conditions.
Engine
The previous-generation RAV 4 was powered by a 2.5-liter 2AR-FE engine. These power units developed up to 180 horsepower and had a torque of 233 N*m at 4,100 rpm. The fifth generation crossovers are equipped with the new A25A-FKS engines, which have better performance than the old engines.
The 2.5 liter A25A-FKS combined injection engine has 199 hp and 243 N*m of torque at 5,000 rpm. The cylinder block and cylinder head are made of aluminum. Compression ratio for this power unit is 13. Approximate engine life as assured by the manufacturer is 300 thousand kilometers. Average fuel consumption in the combined cycle is 7.1 liters per 100 kilometers.
The new engine is also equipped with electric cooling system pump, electric thermostat heating, new oil pump with variable capacity depending on the load, electric intake shaft drive. The convergence of the oil and coolant passages allows the engine to warm up more quickly in cold weather.
The power unit is still new, so statistics on its shortcomings and typical faults have not yet been collected, but as for the dynamics, it makes a pleasant impression. The only disadvantage - the system of combined injection is picky about fuel quality, so owners of cars with this engine should choose gas stations carefully. Otherwise expect expensive repairs.
If you compare the acceleration dynamics of the RAV 4 version with a manual transmission and the car with an automatic transmission, the latter wins slightly. The manual will accelerate to a hundred in 10.2 seconds, and the automatic in 9.4 seconds.The maximum speed reaches 190 km/h.
Transmission
Toyota RAV 4 4th generation was equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission, the 5th generation pleases with an 8-speed automatic Direct Shift-8AT. This gearbox allows to reduce fuel consumption by 20%, makes driving more comfortable and the car more dynamic. The same transmission is installed on the new Toyota Camry and Highlander.
The Direct Shift-8AT transmission allows opening up all the engine's resources, as it has one of the world's highest efficiencies. This has been achieved thanks to a new technology of polishing the gears. The gearshift speed is truly impressive, this automatic is even superior to a manual transmission driven by an experienced driver. The electronics can shift into a higher gear in as little as 0.1 second. Manual gear shift mode is also available via paddle paddles or the transmission selector.
First gear gives maximum traction when driving, it allows you to quickly start a fairly heavy car RAV 4. The other gears are selected to maximize fuel economy.
While driving, the new automatic makes a pleasant impression. It is quiet, fast, shifts smoothly, without jerks. Both on the highway and in city traffic jams, this transmission proved to be the best. As for reliability, it is too early to talk about this characteristic, but about the convenience for the driver, good dynamics and economy can be said with confidence.
Options and prices
Toyota RAV 4 with a 2.5-liter gasoline engine, all-wheel drive and 8-speed automatic transmission is available on the Russian market in two configurations: Comfort and Prestige Safety.
The Comfort package is equipped with LED headlights, front and rear fog lights, light and rain sensors, electrically adjustable and heated mirrors, factory tinting, leather steering wheel and comfortable steering column adjustment, fabric seat covers, Heated driver and front passenger seats, front and rear power windows, front and side airbags, ABS, EBD, TCS, BAS, parktronic, tire pressure sensor, dual-zone climate control, 8-inch monitor, audio system with 6 speakers, immobilizer and alarm system. This version will cost about 2 million 280 thousand rubles.
Prestige Safety package costs 2 million 661 thousand rubles. This car has all the advantages of the Comfort version, and is equipped with such options: chrome door handles, central panel with 7-inch display, leather interior trim, power driver seat with memory, heated rear row seats, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, front and rear Parktronic, traffic sign recognition, automatic braking at risk of collision, the system monitoring the condition of the driver, front and side cameras, dimming rearview mirror. In this configuration, the emphasis is on driving safety, numerous sensors and systems allow to avoid many accidents, so by choosing this version, the buyer first of all pays for safety, and only then for additional comfort.
The 2019 RAV 4 has changed a lot compared to the previous generation. This car got not only a more modern and memorable exterior, but also many technical innovations. The top version with all-wheel drive 2.5-liter gasoline engine and 8-speed automatic transmission is a great choice for fans of comfort, dynamics, unique style and off-roading. Of course, the crossover can not be called a full-fledged off-roader, but with the difficulties in the way, which are often found in our country, it will cope without difficulty. The price of the car is quite high, but this does not reduce the number of those wishing to buy it.
