Toyota have a design studio in California. They opened it because they acknowledged that their products, whilst reliable (no they're not), were deathly dull. It's a guess but we don't think any trendy Californian, polo neck wearing designer has been anywhere near the new RAV4.
Instead, it seems Toyota showed the old RAV4 to a robot and programmed it to design a new one (hopefully without any major, steering, accelerator, brakes or fire related timebombs) that looked slightly more modern - but the man controlling the computer accidentally pressed the 'more boring' button instead. The computer then farted out this, the new RAV4.
The new RAV4 offers higher equipment specs, lower emissions and lower prices than it's predecessor. It will be available in front or four wheel drive and will come in three specifications (although Toyota calls them 'grades') - Active, Icon and Invincible.
Presumably the Invincible name is an ironic one.
Now here's some blurb copied direct from the press release because after seeing the photos it's impossible to muster any more enthusiasm for the RAV4.
Entry point is the new 2.0 D-4D Active 2WD version, available at £22,595 on-the-road. Both this model and the more highly specified 2.0 D-4D Icon 2WD (£24,295) undercut the current XTR 2.2 D-4D 2WD on price. At the same time, both also maintain high equipment specifications: Active grade comes with 17-inch alloys, air conditioning, Bluetooth, electric windows front and rear, rear privacy glass and front fog lights; the Icon spec’ includes a powered tailgate (now top-hinged for easier loading), a folding function on the powered door mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, part-leather instrument panel trim and dual-zone automatic air conditioning. The Toyota Touch multimedia touchscreen system also features on Icon models, with a DAB digital tuner, rear-view camera and Bluetooth.
At the top of the range the new Invincible adds more premium equipment features such as roof rails, leather upholstery, heated front seats, rear parking sensors and Smart Entry and Start. Further supporting new RAV4’s wider appeal, Invincible grade offers the choice of six-speed manual as well as automatic transmission.
The new RAV4 delivers lasting ownership cost benefits, demonstrated by its new 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine, which takes the 2WD models’ CO2 emissions down to a new low of 127g/km, attracting a zero road tax charge in the first year of ownership. For company car drivers, there’s an added bonus in a lower benefit-in-kind rating, down to 16 per cent for vehicles registered from March next year.
Lower emissions are also achieved by both the 2.2-litre D-4D diesel and 2.0-litre Valvematic petrol engines that are carried forward from the current line-up.
| MODEL | POWERTRAIN | OTR PRICE | CO2 (g/km) | VED BAND |
| Active 2WD | 2.0 D-4D 6MT | £22,595 | 127 | D |
| Icon 2WD | 2.0 D-4D 6MT | £24,295 | 127 | D |
| Icon AWD | 2.0 Valvematic CVT | £25,595 | 167 | H |
| Invincible 2WD | 2.0 D-4D 6MT | £25,995 | 127 | D |
| Icon AWD | 2.2 D-4D 6MT | £26,495 | 149 | F |
| Icon AWD | 2.2 D-4D 6AT | £27,595 | 176 | I |
| Invincible AWD | 2.2 D-4D 6MT | £28,195 | 149 | F |
| Invincible AWD | 2.2 D-4D 6AT | £29,295 | 176 | I |
