Words + Photos By: Daniel Birkhofer
In January, Al-Futtaim Motors launched the brand new RAV4 and we had the pleasure to be one of the first to drive this crossover between 4×4 and road car. Makoto Arimoto, RAV4 chief engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation was present at the launch and called the car a “go anywhere and do everything vehicle.” This is reason enough to take a closer look at it since this would be what every outdoor lover would call his vehicle. With this multi-purpose car, Toyota and Al Futtaim hopes to reach a wide market of young and young-at-heart people. There is not a real sharp definition of the target group, rather it’s more a common mind set.TThe six speed transmission and the 2.5l 4 cylinder petrol engine with 176HP provide the RAV4 with enough power to ensure dynamic driving on the road and strength off the road. The new engine is five per cent more fuel efficient, yet it accelerates 10 per cent faster than the previous one. Dynamic torch control, traction control, downhill assists control and stability control ensures a safe and more dynamic drive. The design from exterior to interior is contemporary and elegant. Toyota is claiming to be best at the class with the new RAV4. It is available across all Al-Futtaim Motors showrooms in two grades for the 2WD model EX at 89,900 AED and EXR at 95,900 AED. The new RAV4 also comes in three grades for the 4WD model: GX at 109,900 AED, GXR at 114,900 AED and VXR at 124,900 AED.
The test drive
The RAV4 offers enough space for the front and the rear. The front seats are comfortable and allow different adjustments to individual needs and preferences. Everything you would wish in a car of this class is available and the finish is looking even better than you might expect for the price. On the road, the car drives smooth the 176HP – a good horsepower to weight relation, giving the car the promised dynamic on the road. The suspension is soft enough to be of high comfort even driving over humps, yet hard enough to steer safely though curves even at higher speed.
A crossover SUV can never be a full-fledged 4×4 and it should be seen more as “you can leave the road, but should stick to gravel roads rather than going dune bashing.” On loose gravel and small rocks uphill, the RAV4 seemed already challenged, which would have been a piece of cake for a 4×4. (here should be the image gravel) But with some driving experience, the RAV4 can also take this little hurdle easily. Another thing which needs attention is the clearance. As mentioned before, dynamic drive and the road and full off-road capabilities do not go together, and so the clearance to the road is too low to go off-road. I was especially concerned of the exhaust pipe, which is very close to the ground with no re-enforcement or protection like an engine shield for the underside of the car. Hitting rocks could cause major damage on the car and the engine.
One of the features that stood out is that you can adjust the backseats angle, making it very comfortable for the passengers in the back. Most important for us outdoor people is loading space, a class-leading cargo capacity. The backseats of the RAV4 can be made completely flat and there are also carabiners to fix your load securely. The space will be good enough for two bikes or any other bigger outdoor gear you have to transport. The spare tyre is now hidden in the trunk and not fitted to the rear allowing a better rear visibility.
The OutdoorUAE and my personal verdict:
The price value is great. If you have to compromise on the car because of your budget and don’t want to give up some off-road abilities, while using it for all daily needs and weekend adventures, it’s definitely a good choice. Using a 4×4 daily, I know that 90 per cent are usually driven on the road and the choice of a crossover car with driving abilities focused on the road is definitely a rational decision. I would even choose the cheaper 4×2 version above the 4×4 since the region requires a full-fledged off-road car because the terrain outside of the city is immediately challenging. The 4×2 will just do fine on the road and gravel tracks. Back home in Germany, I would choose the 4×4 version only for the better abilities to drive in snow, which will not be the case for us over here in the next decades even with the global climate change.
This article shows only our opinion during the test drive of the model we drove. Your opinion and experience might differ from ours. We recommend that you do a test drive with any car before you consider buying, this review should just highlight some points you might want to look at.
