What Trim levels Toyota RAV4?

The architecture of the model, the fresh design and all that is intended to rejuvenate the audience. But with displays like these, how do you achieve this?

The adventure began with the classic phrase: "I know a shortcut! It was uttered by the new RAV4's in-house navigator on the way from Bucharest to Brasov. He confidently led us from the asphalt to the Romanian road, that we trusted him.

Three kilometres later, after an unexpected ford, several long slippery climbs and unpleasantly deep ruts, our crew realised that further driving on the prompts of the electronic Susanin would leave us at least without dinner and, at worst, without sleep and clean clothes.

It wasn't just blind faith in the navigator that let us down, but also the off-road ability of the Rafiki.

Another crossover would have let us know much earlier to turn around, but the Toyota crept confidently forward and seemed to be in cahoots with the navigator.

LED dipped beam and high beam are even available on the entry-level models. The only tricky feature is the automatic high beam control for the top-end version. The cornering light function is not available at any price, which is doubly surprising.

Two for one

The fifth-generation RAV4 comes with three types of powertrain. Front-wheel drive in 'base' and usual all-wheel drive switchable is a matter of course. In top versions Prestige and Prestige Safety (for engines 2.0 and 2.5 accordingly) it is gifted with the new system with two clutches of rear wheels connection (instead of standard one) - one on each wheel.

The engineers made the design more expensive and complex for the sake of individual distribution of torque to the rear wheels. On asphalt, the clutches control the traction vector: the outer wheel spins more actively than the inner wheel and the car is more willing to make a curve. Outside pavement, the individual clutches simulate a 100% locking of the rear axle differential!

Stylistically, the RAV4 has become reminiscent of Jeep cars and generally looks its own on the off-road. Not unreasonably so, it has to be admitted. Depending on a complete set, RAV4 is equipped with 17-19-inch tyres. It is not hard to drive even on nineteen.

On the asphalt the effect could not be felt - partly due to the lack of a reference car with a conventional powertrain. Or maybe it was due to the RAV4's lack of sportiness in cornering, of which there are plenty in the Carpathians.

On unpaved roads, on the other hand, the advantages of a complex transmission with a lack of grip can be felt very well. It rides! The most evident test has become the diagonal drive. The last RAV4 in such situation helplessly rotates the lifted wheels, and the new one, a little bit having crunched electronic brains, easily breaks a trap. The advanced transmission is accompanied by the system of adaptation to a road surface, which additionally raises chances of success off asphalt.

It's even.

The Rafiki now has two engines on the Russian market. The diesel was dismissed without regret: demand is low. Gasoline units are from the new family Dynamic Force. These are atmospheric engines. Their compression ratio is 13, which makes them similar to Mazda Skyactiv engine, which has even higher 14. And the basic parameters are close: 149 hp for two litres and 199 hp for two and a half litres. The toyota RAV4 trim levels have many different specific variations

The bonnet of the 2.7 million rouble car is held in place by a hand-mounted 'poker'. And the gasket seals are a mess: on a brand new car, the entire underhood is splattered with mud.

The two-litre engine reveals itself immediately. Drives fair but dull for its power. It will suffice on plain highways, for a city too, but short stretches of dotted markings on serpentines impose overtaking taboo.

A variator of original construction works in tandem with it. A pinion first gear, working at low speeds, has been added to it. It takes off unpleasant loads from the belt at brisk starts on asphalt and driving in a stretch on impassability.

It makes no difference to the classic CVT. The benefit should be felt in increase of service life. As a whole, the variator works without censures. One especially liked ten virtual steps.

I expected more from the 200 hp unit 2.5. Mazda CX-5 with such goes very briskly, as well as Tiguan and Kadiak equipped with 180 hp TSI. And in case of RAV4 I do not believe in passport 8,5 seconds up to a hundred. The engine screams during acceleration, accelerates smoothly, but is absolutely unemotional. Yes, this is a Toyota.

There is not a single claim to the eight steps automatic device which assists the engine: it does not get confused in gears and responds to pushing acceleration in a moment. Only the fuel consumption is embarrassing. I didn't "light up" too much, but, according to a route computer, I failed to keep 11 l/100 km in a highway mode.

No noise and no dust

I notice serious progress in terms of ride comfort. Average noise insulation of the wheel arches is traditionally a weak point of Korean and Japanese cars, but in the Rafiki I can't hear the tyres or the "sandblasting". And the sound of wind becomes noticeable only after 130 km/h.

In the case of the RAV4, I believe the words of the brand representatives about a radical improvement of the "noise insulation". Except for a little more noise insulation on the engine shield.

The suspension is softer and more comfortable. On good asphalt it works perfectly. Difficulties arise with sharp edges of potholes and joints: noise and unpleasant stiffness appear. But not potholes! The roll is within the bounds of propriety, and the rack-mounted electric power steering provides good feedback.

The RAV4, with two clutches on the rear axle, does not suffer from diagonal suspension. The ground clearance is 195-200 mm (depending on the size of the wheels). For the 2.0 motor it is at the level of its predecessor (197 mm), but for 2.5 unit it is essential (there was only 165 mm). Entry and exit angles have also improved thanks to the shortened overhangs.

The 20th century is upon us

The interior supports the brutal body design moves. The deliberately large "knobs" of the climate control and the square multimedia display are successfully incorporated into it. Many people will advise to tear it off, but I have got used to fashion of separate sticking out "TV sets".

I don't like touch control of everything and everything: it is uncomfortable in the car. But in RAV4 on each side of the screen there are keys from Japanese calculator from eighties. A little bit younger there are buttons of heated seats. It's a good thing they don't put an electronic clock on it any more.

As much as marketers may praise the increased level of trim materials, in reality silver is not at all like real metal and the quality of the leatherette is mediocre.

The RAV4 has progressed to automatic operation of all its windows. The next breakthrough will be the illumination of all seven keys, not just the one on the driver's door.

The climate control washers are "grippy" and pleasant to the touch.

The multimedia graphics are a sight to behold. It is possible to put up with primitive drawing of navigation maps, but the image from roundabout vision cameras returns to an epoch of game console Dendy. It is shameful to put such things even on a car half cheaper, and I have RAV4 for 2,7 million rubles in my hands...

The average Toyota customer isn't young, and a bad multimedia system won't scare them away. But the TNGA architecture, fresh design and everything else was conceived to rejuvenate the audience: with the new RAV4 marketers are counting on 64% of new customers who have never owned a Toyota before. How do you do that with these displays?

Of course, there are also some good solutions. For example, rubberised interior door handles, climate and music controls. The abundance of sockets is in keeping with the times: there are seven in the cabin and luggage compartment - two 12-volt sockets and five USB sockets. Plus wireless smartphone charging.

The rear is spacious for three adults. The boot has increased in volume to 580 litres and has a double-sided floor. If you want to transport something dirty, you can turn it upside down - instead of the civilian pile cover, it has an easy-to-clean rubber one.

There is a background illumination, but only blue and with no brightness adjustment. Even in total darkness, it is barely noticeable.

The front and door panels look the same. But the first has soft plastic and fake stitching and the second has leatherette. Interestingly, the Japanese have not spared to cover the rear doors in soft stuff.

Heated front seats, steering wheel and windscreen washer nozzles are available as standard. The standard version of the car has heated windscreen only in the wipers' area. Such penny economy is incomprehensible, as other three levels of equipment imply heating of all area.

There are other absurdities as well. For example, the driver's seat has ten electric adjustments and a memory function, while the passenger is not even offered a height adjustment. The panoramic roof and swivelling headlights also have not been introduced, though the price seems to oblige to have them. In addition, manually adjustable air conditioner in the initial complete set looks inappropriate economy.

The driver's seat can only score an A in the most expensive version, where it has ten electric adjustments, including lumbar adjustment. The passenger seat is only adjustable for length and backrest inclination, and is not as comfortable to sit on.

Of the localised competitors, all are cheaper. Of course, the RAV4 won't make it out of the top 25 in terms of sales: the price won't scare off buyers who repeat the mantra "That's Toyota!".

But it will be difficult to catch up with the crossovers Kia Sportage and Volkswagen Tiguan. And that, for the ambitious Toyota, is a major market challenge.

Interesting facts

• The Toyota RAV4 is the ancestor of the modern crossover class. This year is its 25th anniversary.

• The price includes three free maintenance services, but that's unlikely to lure calculating buyers.

• The RAV4 has been the leader in the Russian mid-sized crossover sales segment for several years. Not even being localised in Russia yet! But for two years now it has been in third place.

• Both engines give the characteristics declared by the manufacturer on АI-92 petrol.