“Improving upon a vehicle that has a proven track record, while keeping up with the latest technologies is a key reason that Toyota continues to be so popular today.”

The fourth generation Toyota RAV4 has a bold design that many people were happy to see when it was introduced in the 2013 model year.

Looks

Those changes were overdue. The Toyota RAV4 was fast becoming one of those vehicles that was starting to blend into the background. It had lost its design edge, which had distinguished it from its rivals.

It’s now keeping the competition at bay with a new and improved version. It features sleek bodylines, lower stance and is a little wider, making it more aerodynamic. Swept back headlights and a more aggressive front end are just some of the changes made a few years ago. The rear lift-gate features a one-touch operation that has selectable memory height settings. That was perfect for my family: my wife had it set so low I could barely get my arm in. If she had been forced to deal with it at my height preference she would have needed a step ladder to close it!

There are five models to choose from FWD LE, FWD XLE, AWD LE, and AWD Limited, giving a little something for everybody.

In The Cab:

Ample use of soft touch materials used throughout the interior. Comfortable front seats and rear seats that in to consideration the comfort of your passengers. 60/40 split fold down with reclining seat backs that are just as comfortable as the front seats and lots of legroom too. The driver’s seat on the LE models features a six-way manual adjustment while the Limited model receives an eight-way power adjustable. The cargo area has a capacity of 1.09m and 2.08m with the rear seats folded.

Safety first

Many safety items are standard in this RAV4: dual stage driver and passenger airbags, driver knee airbags, front seat mounted side airbags, roll sensing front and rear head/side curtain airbag. The star safety system includes vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop technology. Also available is lane departure alert, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert, which I think should be standard on all new models.

Roadworthy

I was impressed with how quiet and comfortable the interior was. You can hold a conversation with your children in the back without have to yell over the road noise. I found the 4-cylinder engine to be smooth and responsive.

Verdict…

Improving upon a vehicle that has a proven track record, while keeping up with the latest technologies is a key reason that Toyota continues to be so popular today.

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Power

A 2.5-litre, 4 cylinder engine powers this vehicle with 176 horsepower and 172 lb ft of torque mated to a 6-speed automatic electronically controlled transmission with sequential shift mode.

Pump frequency

8.7/6.4 L/100 km (city/highway) FWD LE, XLE

9.1/6.8 L/100 km (city/highway) AWD LE, XLE

9.3/6.8 L/100 km (city/highway) AWD Limited

Warranty support

Basic – 36 months/ 60,000 km

Powertrain – 60 months/ 100,000 km

Hybrid-related components – 160,000 km

Corrosion perforation – unlimited km

Sticker price

AWD Limited

$37,367.85 as tested

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Contact: ian [dot] harwood [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca