The Toyota RAV4 remains one of South Africa’s favourite sport utility vehicles, racking up over 400 units on a monthly basis; it has established itself as one of the segment leaders in this competitive marketplace.
Brian Joss – For 2016, the range receives some enhancements with the top-of-the-range VX model enjoying most of the action.
The VX grade receives a boost in safety specification (which will also appease the tech-heads) with the addition of Lane Change Assist. This system also incorporates Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) with a convenient indicator housed within the exterior mirrors. Making shopping mall parking manoeuvres less stressful is the Cross Traffic Alert function, which warns the driver of approaching vehicles when ‘alley docking’.
This electronic suite of features, join the comprehensive safety specification list, which includes 9 Airbags, ABS + EBD + BA, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Downhill Assist Control (DAC) on 4WD models.
The model line-up continues as before with three engines (two petrol and one diesel) and both 2WD and AWD derivatives on offer. Customers electing for the GX grade have the choice between a 2.0-litre petrol powerplant (in both 6-speed manual and CVT guise driving the front wheels) and a 2.2-litre turbodiesel paired with the 6-speed manual transmission, offering AWD.
VX buyers have a choice between a super refined 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine and a ‘torquey’ 2.2-litre diesel variant – both driving through a 6-speed automatic transmission with driver-selectable AWD.
