Toyota RAV4 XT-R 2.2 D-4D 2WD 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The Rav4 is starting to show its age when it comes to the driving experience, and the steering doesn't have the feeling and the accuracy that you would expect. The ride is a little bit too firm, meaning that it doesn't feel entirely comfortable even when cruising on the motorway, and there is also a little too much lean when you're cornering, making the Rav4 feel like a really big vehicle. The driving position is quite good with the high position improving visibility, and the seat can be adjusted to suit the individual.

The 2.2 litre diesel engine has plenty of clout and does well with the large Rav4, delivering acceleration from 0-62mph in only 10.0 seconds. The top speed of 118mph is more than enough for driving over long distances, but motorway speeds do see a lot of engine noise and also a bit of wind noise too.

The Rav4 isn't an ugly car by any stretch of the imagination, with the large headlights and grille looking good, but the front end doesn't have the large air intake which is so common in modern cars these days. The body is a little square, but the back end does have a small spoiler over the back window, and the body does bulge a little strangely around the boot door frame, and the boot opening is like a traditional door opening sideways. Inside the cabin the trim is quite nice, but the controls are a little fiddly and awkward to use.

Although this is the entry level model for the Rav4, the level of trim isn't bad at all, with a number of features that are particularly impressive such as an electric sunroof and a multi-disc changer in the CD stereo. Alloy wheels are also standard features, as is climate control and cruise control which help to ensure that the cabin does remain comfortable during the longer journeys.

The cabin is spacious and can easily accommodate five adults with no problems in terms of the legroom or headroom in the back of the car. The large boot is also very good, but the horizontal door opening means that it can be difficult to load larger items into the car, where the space is very good once the seats are folded forward.

There are plenty of safety features included as standard with the Rav4, with nine airbags in the car and it also has a number of driving assists to keep the car stable and on the road. Toyota have a great reputation for reliability, and the Rav4 came in the top ten cars in a driver survey in the reliability category.

This version of the Toyota Rav4 has a list price of £24,295, which is the cheapest in the range, but is certainly a lot more than some of the other crossovers on the market.

Running costs for the Rav4 aren't too bad, with the 2.2 litre diesel engine able to deliver an average 47.1mpg. The insurance costs are fairly reasonable for a car of this size so premiums aren't too bad, but the depreciation for this two wheel drive version does mean that it will take a hit when it comes to selling the car. The excellent warranty package offered by Toyota is also present with the Rav4, with a five year warranty and a one year membership of the AA.