Test drive Toyota RAV4
There was no end to the serpentine, and the road was getting worse. The navigator persistently took us into the mountains, until the shaking left the windshield and flew off somewhere down. Behind him, a GPS tracker with a panic button tore off the double-sided tape. Rocks on the road began to scrape against the crankcase. It seems that Toyota was talking about the fact that more and more RAV4 buyers are choosing front-wheel drive, and for some reason we were paved with a brutal off-road route. But when the tracks of passenger tires in the snow were replaced by larger tracks of SUVs, it became clear that we were going somewhere in the wrong place.
Then, when we turned around with difficulty on a narrow patch and, not without difficulty, went down the slippery steep road, it turned out that this serpentine that bends around Lake Bylymskoye is not on most maps, and it breaks off somewhere in the mountains. And the fact that we drove so far on it is the merit of the updated RAV4, which many consider a city car and do not take it seriously off-road.
Toyota RAV4 still sells better than its competitors: the crossover share in the segment has even grown to 10% in 13 months, while in more prosperous years it did not rise above 10%. However, not everything is so cloudless. The RAV4 is the first step into Toyota's off-road family, and the company recognizes that reaching out to potential audiences is not easy.
If older owners of the Land Cruiser 200 are generally willing to buy the same model again and are quite happy with the conservative appearance, then among young people (the age of RAV4 buyers ranges between 25 and 35 years) loyalty to the Toyota brand is lower - for them it is just one of many brands . In addition, the main competitors have either seriously updated or released new generations of their crossovers: Hyundai Tucson, Nissan X-Trail Mitsubishi Outlander, Mazda CX-5. For young people, you need to come up with something special, so the planned RAV4 update turned into serious work on the bugs.
Toyota's design is becoming more complex and bizarre every year. Just look at the brand's most futuristic models: the Mirai hydrogen car and the new Prius. The RAV4 has been updated in the same vein. The grille between the headlights has become a thin strip, the headlights themselves with a thin LED pattern have decreased in size. The lower part of the bumper, on the contrary, has become heavy and stepped. The expression of the new "face" turned out to be smug and triumphant, they will scold him or praise him terribly, in any case, they are unlikely to remain indifferent. And fans of "Star Wars" will surely love the car in white.
Stingy design is good for smartphones, but not for the auto industry. Relief details were added to the updated RAV4, the lining at the bottom of the doors became more massive, the protection of the wheel arches stands out more for the dimensions of the car. The owners did not like the flat and boring tailgate - now it has a convex trim in body color. The unpainted rear bumper was a practical solution, but in the eyes of many, it made the RAV4 look like a commercial van, which did not fit in with the price and status of the car. The updated car has its upper part completely painted.
Restyling cost the Japanese little blood: they did not touch the steel parts at all, limiting themselves to plastic, but the changes are visible from afar. The traffic police officers at the post, before stopping our car, have time to properly discuss it among themselves. And they stop us often: in Kabardino-Balkaria, RAV4 is a rarity, and cars are bright blue or dark red too.
Interior decoration has become more expensive and of high quality. And the merit here is not even in soft lining on the doors, high-quality smooth leather on the steering wheel and seats, but in an inconspicuous plastic lining under the transmission selector. Before restyling, it was made “under carbon fiber” and looked like it was purchased in a Chinese online store by a tuning enthusiast. The yellowish, as if patina-covered "metal", was replaced with silver - and the gloomy, somewhat old-fashioned front panel shone in a new way.
The update also affected the practical side of the interior: an eyeglass case was placed on the ceiling, a cup holder on the central tunnel was equipped with a recess under the handle so that a thermos mug could be put in it, and the rear passengers now have a 12-volt outlet.
Another topic of criticism was the lack of equipment of the crossover. The updated RAV4, following the Land Cruiser 200, received the so-called "full winter package" with heated all seats, steering wheel, windshield and washer nozzles. Motors of the Euro-5 standard do not heat very well, so all cars had to be equipped with an additional interior heater. And the diesel version received an Eberspacher autonomous heater.
The RAV4, like the Land Cruiser 200, can read signs, warn of collisions and self-regulate the speed when driving on cruise control. The list of new technologies has also been replenished with a circular view system, which allows you to literally look at the car from the outside: that is, it builds a completely realistic picture around the three-dimensional model of the crossover. My partner, who drives a tiny Citroen and for whom the RAV4 is “a very big car,” loved this feature. And I appreciated the all-round visibility when I turned around on a narrow serpentine.
A large color display in the middle of the new tidy can now display a bunch of all sorts of information. For example, indicators of overload and economy driving or the scheme of four-wheel drive. A new dashboard with two large dials is offered for all Russian RAV4s, without exception, while in Europe they left the previous, pre-styling version for inexpensive trim levels.
Toyota says that for the sake of good equipment, many buyers are ready to abandon all-wheel drive: the share of sales of mono-drive cars has grown following the rise in prices and is now about a third. For this reason, the automaker offers as many as three front-wheel drive versions of the RAV4, and the most expensive of them has alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, and a 6-inch color display.
RAV4 now has to go out of town even less often and it is not entirely correct to criticize the increased overhangs of the crossover. As well as the low-positioned exhaust pipe of the version with a 2,5 liter engine - this feature is known even from the pre-styling car. Moreover, the Japanese themselves have reconsidered their attitude towards Russian roads. Earlier, in order to adapt to our conditions, the crossover was equipped with stiffer springs and shock absorbers, as well as a full-size spare tire. The fifth wheel did not want to fit straight and protruded from a modest niche. I had to cover it with a convex box, like batteries on a hybrid. The box increased the loading height and ate 70 liters of the trunk, rattled and looked creepy. Many owners dreamed of a European stowaway and installed silent blocks from European cars to soften the driving character of the car. The Japanese heeded the criticism and quickly abandoned the full-size spare wheel and box. With the current restyling, the suspension has also undergone changes - softer springs, reconfigured shock absorbers. At the same time, in order not to lose controllability, the body rigidity was increased by adding additional amplifiers and welding points.
We had to check the driving character of the crossover not in urban conditions, but on a rather difficult mountain route in Kabardino-Balkaria. A pre-styled RAV4 a couple of years ago seemed tough to me even for Spanish roads and scrupulously noted their minor defects. Now under the wheels of the updated crossover there is far from ideal asphalt, which is often replaced by clay or stony soil, and the navigator's mistake added difficult kilometers to the route. And everywhere the RAV4 is doing well, except that when going over speed on especially large holes and irregularities, the suspension is harshly triggered by a rebound. Rolls in tight corners and buildup, because of which there is a risk of putting the car underbody protection on a large unevenness, became the payment for the softness. A diesel car rolls more than a gas one, but the steering effort is tighter.
But still, such suspension settings seem to be preferable for Russian conditions. Moreover, both in the city and in the province. Enhanced sound insulation also adds comfort - the entire bottom and trunk are covered with special mats. In addition, the rear wheel arch and the doorway above it are soundproofed. The car really became quieter, especially the diesel version: the whistle and growl of the 2,2 engine are almost inaudible, gasoline cars work much louder. But the rumble of studded tires is still quite distinct.
On the plain, two liters paired with a variator are enough for a smooth but confident acceleration. In any case, overtaking passes without problems. The higher the mountains, the harder it is for both the person and the engine to breathe. A more powerful 2,5 liter engine, as well as a diesel (both equipped with 6-speed "automatic") climb easier.
The CVT is not very suitable for off-road adventures. Nevertheless, the RAV4 overcomes the long rise of a special off-road section, although not without difficulty. The car goes into tightness, the speed has dropped to 15 km / h, and the gas pedal is pressed to the floor. Nevertheless, the height is taken without a hint of overheating. At the bend, the wheels that were stalled were seized by electronics, simulating inter-wheel blocking. We drive down a snowy slope with the help of an electronic assistant for descent assistance (DAC) - it confidently slows down the car, even if there is bare ice under the wheels, preventing it from turning around and maintaining a safe speed. Using the DAC is simple: slow down to 40 km / h and press a large button to the right of the steering wheel. The system can be trusted, although it must be borne in mind that on long and long descents, it heats up the brakes a lot and deceleration efficiency is reduced.
The all-wheel drive transmission now always transfers 10% of the torque to the rear axle, and if necessary, can quickly distribute traction equally. At a low speed, the clutch can be forcibly blocked, then the car's steering becomes neutral. Under normal conditions, the RAV4 behaves like a front-wheel drive - with too much speed in the turn, it slides in the demolition and tightens up with a sharp release of the gas.
The RAV4 is extremely easy to handle, both on and off the road. This is important because the target audience for a crossover is often looking for a higher vehicle without going into details. However, the RAV4 is capable of small feats. On the one hand, this instills excessive confidence in the capabilities of the machine, but at the same time allows you to extricate yourself from a difficult situation.
The modern, successful city dweller often changes his hobbies. Today he goes downhill skiing, tomorrow he will imagine himself a mountain climber. Yes, he moderated his appetites a little and instead of the more expensive foreign countries he goes to ride Elbrus, but he still needs a versatile, roomy and passable car. Therefore, Toyota is confident that the demand for crossovers in Russia will continue to persist.
The pre-styled RAV4 started at $ 16 and only with the start of sales of the updated car dropped to $ 754 Now the minimum price tag is $ 6, which is quite acceptable, given the expanded set of options and the fact that the updated RAV6743 is better adapted to Russian conditions. Next year, the car will receive a registration in St. Petersburg, and this will help keep prices soaring up.
