2013 Toyota RAV4 Review (Imthishan’s Take)
Bigger, better, but is it the best?
By Imthishan Giado
If I am being charitable, the reaction of many in the UAE to the first RAV4 was mixed.
It was such an odd looking thing, you see. Not quite the squared-shoulder Patrol that we were used to seeing on our roads, nor a square station wagon either. It was as if a blobby alien had descended on our shores from Planet Peculiar, and a lot of people did not take the first RAV4 very seriously.
“It’s a weedy little four-cylinder!” they cried. “How will it go offroad without a low range box?” they asked. Most of all, the question went: who is it for?
Nearly twenty years later, the answer is still unclear. Single and childless, I am by no stretch of the imagination the target customer for the RAV4. With his nuclear family of a wife and two kids, Shahzad fits the bill perfectly and in his exhaustive review, called it a solid offering.
I like my trucks big, chunky and capable of going where the living fear to tread, so the RAV4 was an unusual arrival on my doorstep. The styling is a real take-it-or-leave-it proposition; compared to relatively conservative rivals like the CR-V, the designers at Toyota gulped down their bravery pills and set to work giving this new car a sharp, edgy suit that harks back to cars like the slashed-up seventh-generation Celica.
Does it work? From the front yes but as you move along the body, you can virtually see the designer’s enthusiasm ebb, until at last we get to the tail. Here presents a problem for every crossover designer – you have to finish with a flourish but at the same time provide a squared-off tail that maximizes interior space. Honda solved it by adding an engorged upper section. VW’s Tiguan went with a typically Germanic tailgate, simple and elegant. And Toyota’s designer just sighed, traced over the Tiguan and called it a day.
Big improvement on the interior though where the quality of materials, fit and finish is vastly improved over the old car’s unpleasant plasticky feel. Not so for new RAV4 with its leatherette dash and clicky instruments, bringing it bang up to date. That doesn’t mean the new dash’s Yaris-inspired design is to every taste, and I’m also no fan of the aftermarket-looking navigation-cum-stereo. Sure it works fine, but it’s all too obvious that Toyota just yanked it out of the parts bin and plonked it into a hole in the dash.
On the road the Yar…sorry, RAV4 – is very resoundingly OK to drive. By that I meant that there’s absolutely no surprises behind the wheel. The electric steering will surprise you with its sharpness, if not its feel and the nose feels very responsive – perhaps too much so. The body has a light, nimble feel with gentle body roll to flag up on the limits so you can corner the RAV4 quite hard before you run out of grip from the stock Bridgestones.
Power from the 176bhp 2.5-litre four-cylinder is never pulse-threateningly quick so it is best to rely on the ample midrange to pull you out of the bends. Clearly, this Camry engine was tuned towards low-speed driveability and highway frugality so as long as you keep your expectations in check, it’s a willing partner. What may be a surprise is the offroad ability of the RAV4; there’s relatively high ground clearance on offer, a lockable centre diff and sand-friendly tyres. Combine that with a torquey engine, and the RAV4 will go far further in the soft stuff than you might expect.
Its only real limitations are the low front bumper which limits approach angles – on that front the rival CR-V has it beat – and without a low range box, hardcore rock crawling is out of the question. As long as you’re sensible with your demands, the RAV4 will handle any beach you throw at it.
Verdict
I suppose the biggest accomplishment of the new RAV4 is that it’s now made notice it again. Trouble is, there are so many cars in this segment now – Santa Fe, CR-V, Tiguan, Tucson, X-Trail – that the RAV4 has to got be really, really good to stand out, not just average.
And while I think the RAV4 is really, really good for the money and a genuine competitor to the names listed above, consumers have been buying RAV4s for nearly 20 years now. Being the best RAV4 ever is great, but is it enough to grab customers who just want something without a RAV4 badge on it?
Specs
2013 Toyota RAV4 2.5 4WD
Price: AED109,900-124,900 ($29,950-34,000)
Engine: 2494cc, four-cylinder, 176bhp @ 6000, 172lb ft @ 4100
Performance: 0-100kph 10seconds, 200kph, 10L/100km (all estimated)
Transmission: six-speed auto, All-wheel drive
Weight: 1620kg
I cannot agree with you on interior quality , Its still very plasticky and cheap inside .Also The drive is niether refined or silent as we would like.
It’s may be a good buy since it does not have anthing noticably bad with good re-sale value & legendary reliability record.