Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The challenges Toyota and its fledgling dealers faced in 1965 were immense (my best friend’s dad bought a yellow Corona Mark II with gold vinyl seats in the late ’60s and we thought this was very unusual), but the rest, as the saying goes, is history. Now, with sales of Toyota branded vehicles at 179,324 units in Canada last year, a number that signifies steady growth towards its pre-market crash highs of 209,157 deliveries in 2008, not to mention an all-time high of 17,565 Lexus vehicles in 2014 and ever-ebbing Scion sales of 3,962 units (which will hopefully
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
I’m not usually a big fan of red paint on SUVs, but the sleek lines of the RAV4 seem to accept the racy colour much better than most rivals, especially when the wheel cutouts are filled with such nice, large 18-inch machine finished alloys with sporty black painted pockets on meaty 235/55/R18 Bridgestone Dueler H/T 687 tires. The appropriately named “Absolutely Red” hue helps the CUV’s chrome embellishments and rugged matte black body cladding visually pop, this model even including silver roof rails that tie in nicely with a thin strip of chrome on the bottom edge of the greenhouse, and those aforementioned wheels. LED turn signals
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Along with the standard Absolutely Red paint (other colours are available just in case you don’t want to go too far with your patriotism) and 18-inch alloys it’s important to note that all RAV4 50th Anniversary Special Edition models are finished in well equipped XLE AWD trim, while some unique details include a leather-wrapped
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Domestic is a good word for the RAV4, but not merely because it makes such a good family vehicle. Toyota’s compact CUV has been produced in Woodstock, Ontario since 2008, making it more domestic than the Toluca, Mexico-built Dodge Journey, Louisville, Kentucky-produced Ford Escape, and Toledo, Ohio-made Jeep Cherokee, the RAV4 plant employing more than 8,000 Canadians. I literally drove over
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Other than styling, which became sportier and less truck-like, the most obvious change was the elimination of its powerful V6 and removal of its side-swinging rear door, which never opened up on the proper side for curbside access in North American markets anyway. Instead, the spare tire was repositioned under the cargo floor and the rear door morphed into a liftgate, becoming much more user-friendly in the process.
While
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
My tester’s red-stitched black cloth seats follow this newfound Toyota design trend,
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Unlike its predecessor the RAV4 is less about blistering straight-line performance and more about balancing acceleration with fuel economy. This said the powerful V6 offered in the old model was optional, with the majority of RAV4 buyers opting for the standard inline-four, so therefore most fourth-generation RAV4 buyers are enjoying a better performing and much more efficient upgraded four-cylinder. That 16-valve, DOHC 2.5-litre four-cylinder, complete with dual variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i), makes 176 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque, which,
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
At higher speeds on loose road surfaces like gravel or slippery stretches of pavement the RAV’s AWD system employs an electronically controlled coupling mounted ahead of the rear differential that apportions torque rearward when the coupling in back starts to slip, and while this is similar to how the old RAV4 sent torque back and forth between its axles, the new AWD system’s transfer-rate is much faster and also takes into account additional information sent by the engine, transaxle, and electronic power steering system, making it more intelligent overall. Additionally, the AWD system’s standard Sport mode, activated via a button
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Even
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Measurements in mind, the fourth-gen RAV was made 50 mm (1.9 inches) shorter than
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Its mostly larger dimensions make for a roomier interior, both in the passenger compartment that’s amply accommodating for five adults, and in cargo space that’s now good for 1,090 litres (38.5 cubic feet) behind its 60/40-split rear seatbacks and 2,080 litres (73.4 cubic feet) when dropped flat into the floor. This last
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The rear seats are easy to lower too, first requiring the headrests to be flipped downward, and then the simple process of tugging on a seat-side lever to lay them flat. Toyota provides a couple of carpeted floor extensions to cover the gap that would otherwise be left for small items to fall into, but the way they were engineered causes another problem. The back half of these rigid extensions is connected to a small carpeted lid that
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
One thing Toyota doesn’t need to change with the RAV4 is its generous helping of standard and optional features. As mentioned, my tester was suited up in XLE AWD trim, which means that it included most of the features offered in the $24,365 base LE model such as tilt and telescopic steering, air conditioning, steering wheel controls for Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, cruise control, a trip computer, and redundant control of the AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA audio system with auxiliary and USB inputs, plus dual power-adjustable and heated side mirrors
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Additionally the XLE gets everything from the LE’s $1,700 Upgrade package including a six-speaker enhanced audio system featuring a 6.1-inch full-colour touchscreen infotainment interface, plus voice recognition and an integrated backup camera, as well as heated front seats, a tonneau cover, rear privacy glass and silver-coloured roof rails.
Features specific to the
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Standard RAV4 safety features not already mentioned include Smart Stop Technology (SST), which cuts power to the engine during panic braking, and a class-leading
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
At least as important to the RAV4’s target demographic is an excellent five-cycle EnerGuide fuel economy rating of 8.7 L/100km city, 6.4 highway and 7.7 combined in FWD guise or 9.1, 6.8 and 8.1 with as-tested AWD. As good as these numbers are Toyota will introduce a RAV4 Hybrid for 2016 that’s sure to make the compact SUV even more appealing to those looking to pocket more pump savings while reducing their carbon footprint.
Back to 2015, the RAV4 50th Anniversary Special Edition is a very nicely packaged version of what has become one of Canada’s most popular compact crossover SUVs, and certainly a worthy partner to the best-selling Corolla for celebrating Toyota’s momentous 50-year milestone.
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