2020 Toyota RAV4: Sensible, spacious, slightly boring
Like any modern Toyota these days, the RAV4 also has a lot going on in terms of longevity and reliability. In fact, it boasts the same powertrain options as the highly sought after Toyota Harrier
The Toyota RAV4 has had quite a long way to come. From being an ugly duckling of the lineup when it first arrived, over time, it turned out to be one of the best selling mid sized SUVs from the company.
Like any modern Toyota these days, the RAV4 also has a lot going on in terms of longevity and reliability. For those unfamiliar with the modern RAV4, it boasts the same powertrain options as the highly sought after Toyota Harrier.
Thus, the RAV4 may come with either a 2.0 liter non-hybrid powertrain or a 2.5 liter hybrid powertrain, while also retaining the gold standard of vehicle safety coined in.
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For this issue of Wheels, we sourced a hybrid variant of the RAV4, courtesy of Car House Limited to find out how well it will survive Dhaka's urban jungle. Keep reading to find out more.
The RAV4 has had a massive change in everything from the previous generation. The proportions are larger, the interior is more mature and comfortable and the overall safety features have now been updated to come with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 which includes brake assist, pre-collision and automatic high beam assist.
Now one thing for certain is the identity crisis in the recent lineup of SUVs offered from Toyota. The Highlander, LC Prado and the RAV4, although being completely different cars for diverse uses, they all eventually end up looking noticeably similar, even though all of these models are vastly different from their previous generation.
When it comes to the exterior, the body is streamlined and noticeably larger from older generations, but does not try too hard to be like a sports SUV either. The angular body language is there. The RAV4 design is rather safe, with nothing out of the ordinary; just essentials done right.
There are LED lights both at the front and the back. Unlike the Harrier, there is also minimal use of chrome and something that stuck out to me is the quality of the paint used in the RAV4 was very good and felt more resistant to feather scratches.
The interior is done right and apparent that it was made with daily comfort in mind rather than flaunting the latest and greatest Toyota has to offer. The fabric seats are comfortable, knobs and buttons are exactly at the place you expect them to be. The steering wheel has adequate infotainment controls and overall, given it is a Toyota, there is no "getting used to" period here; you can simply get in and have everything in the know from the get go.
The rather tiny for modern standards 8-inch infotainment screen can get a bit hard to see under direct sunlight but overall it's good enough and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Another unorthodox yet useful feature is the support of Amazon Alexa voice control which can be used to control miscellaneous things in the infotainment.
The back seat is more spacious than the previous generation and can easily fit three people when needed. And if you get the optional sunroof, natural light coming in helps in making the overall interior less claustrophobic. There is also an armrest tucked in the middle of the rear seat, with cup holders that can be accessed when two people are in the back seat.
Taking the RAV4 out on for a spin around Gulshan 2, I felt a lack of drama from the gas pedal. The 2.5L Hybrid 4 pot is rather sluggish for a car this size. However, for the average user, the combined 219 maximum horsepower and 202 Nm torque seems okay for Bangladeshi roads at least. Also, given it has a hybrid powertrain, the RAV4 has good initial torque, coming in assistance with swerving in traffic.
Suspension is subpar; less body roll, and damping is nothing out of what is expected but it shines under load as the car feels lighter than it really is. Brakes could be better but since there is regeneration for the hybrid system, it usually starts braking as soon as you lift up your foot from the gas pedal, which is rather safe, but just a bit annoying. Overall, a good car to drive, very demure, your dad will love it.
The Toyota RAV4 is overall a tad above what one would call a common man's SUV. It's for those who have a budget of around Tk1 crore but do not want to get a sedan. It's big in its proportions and can fit whatever is thrown inside. With great mileage and comfort under its belt, it can be a good car to get and a worthy option to look into if you think the Toyota Harrier is everywhere now.
