Insurance Group: 22
MPG: 37.2
CO2: 177
0-62 Mph: 11.0 secs
BHP: 156 BHP
Range: 491 miles
PROS: The RAV4 is a decent off-road performer at a low price. It is tough, reliable and quite good looking in a rugged sort of way.
CONS: The engine is noisy and the RAV4 lacks the style and on-road manners of its rivals. The ride is also a little firm.
The RAV4's 2.0-litre petrol engine develops 156bhp at 6200rpm and 146 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm. This makes for a fairly impressive top speed of 115mph and a 0-62mph time of 11.0 seconds. If you're looking to use the RAV4 off-road, you're much better off going for the diesel model which offers much more torque.
The ride is too firm and the RAV4 rolls through the bends. The steering is also very vague. Wind and road noise both infiltrate the cabin at speed and the manual gear-change is clunky. All in all, the RAV4 is no fun to drive.
The RAV4 is not the most stylish car in its class but it is relatively attractively, if anonymously, styled. The interior feels well put together but is very dated and drab.
Power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity are all standard equipment.
On top of this, additional features can be added to enhance the car for an extra charge. A built-in sat nav is one such option, priced at £1,532, whilst metallic paint costs £450 and rear parking sensors can be added for £536. A part leather interior is fitted as standard.
With an excellent record for reliability, Toyota is a relatively safe bet for car buyers. This means that the RAV4 XT-R 2.0 VVT-i is a sturdy and reliable car and although the interior plastics may feel a little cheap they still appear relatively robust.
There is plenty of interior space and the boot is a good size with 410-litres of room on offer with the rear seats up and 1469-litres available with the rear seats down.
The overall layout of instruments and in-car features is also organised and this makes operating controls whilst driving easy. On top of this, the car performed well in both the JD Power survey and in the NCAP crash tests where it scored a four star rating for both occupant and child safety.
At £24,545, the RAV4 XT-R 2.0 VVT-i 5dr is reasonably priced compared to its rivals and resale values are likely to be very strong.
Fuel economy is 37.2mpg whilst road tax falls under band I due to relatively high carbon emissions of 177g/km. Insurance premiums should be reasonable, falling under a fairly mid-range insurance group: 22.
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