As a journalist, I’ve always wondered how someone can cross over to the “dark” side of automaker public relations, or worse,
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
politics. Let’s remember that both Pamela Wallin and Mike Duffy (who I need to clearly state has been totally exonerated after a very long and thorough trial) were journalists before they entered politics, the latter ironically “exposing” politicians as the Ottawa editor for CTV News Channel and the former laughably finishing her journalism career off as host of the Canadian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” It appears she at least wanted to travel like one… but let’s get back to the automotive side of politics, shall we? If I ever found myself writing spin for an auto brand or on stage talking up the merits of a new model (and to be transparent I’ve been offered PR positions before) I think I’d like to work for Toyota, as there’s very little need for spin when it comes to its products and therefore one’s integrity could be kept intact.
Take
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
this RAV4. It’s a straightforward compact crossover SUV that looks good, drives well, is impressively equipped, plenty practical, priced right, gets top safety ratings and should be reliable as per the brand’s impeccable reputation as well as its excellent third party analytical ratings, plus it sells well and therefore needs no excuses as to overall market acceptance.
In even fuller disclosure I was actually on “the other side” much before starting my journalism career, albeit as a car salesperson. I sold a variety of brands, but was most successful at Toyota because I believed in the product. An ’87 Corolla or Camry sold itself, plus there were a number of cars that made a young man proud to represent the Japanese automaker including the two-door, rear-drive GT-S version
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
of the above noted Corolla (otherwise known as the AE86 and inspiration for the much-lauded Scion FR-S, soon to be renamed Toyota 86), the fabulous original MR2, plus the Celica GT-S (and later the All-Trac Turbo) and the Supra. This RAV4 wasn’t even a glimmer in Toyota’s eye at the time, the first of its kind arriving seven years later in 1994, and entering my life vicariously after my father purchased a second-gen version in the early aughts.
Move forward 15 or so years and this latest 2016 Toyota RAV4 has received a thorough mid-cycle update, and unusual in the lower classes it even looks impressive in base trim. That’s how my recent tester arrived, albeit slightly upgraded from an LE FWD to an LE AWD, with its asking price growing commensurately from $25,240 to $27,505 plus freight and dealer fees. A quick glance
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
will show you the entry-level RAV is devoid of classic cheapskate giveaways such as matte black bumper caps, mirror housings and door handles, these all painted body-colour like the model’s upper range XLE and Limited trims, while other telltale signs that you skimped out on premium-grade upgrades are minimized, the missing fog lamps looking more like sporty brake ducts and the smartly stamped five-spoke steel wheels covered with some of the most authentic looking faux alloys I’ve ever seen, not to mention a very large (for base steel wheels) 17 inches in diameter, while there’s chrome trim around the windows, the rears of which are darkened with standard privacy glass, front and rear splash guards down below, a body-colour rooftop spoiler at back, plus those mirror caps just mentioned are infused with standard LED turn signal indicators. Anybody who sees this RAV4 LE AWD drive by won’t think for a minute that you got it for under $30k with freight included, while all of this standard kit gets added
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
to a RAV4 that’s thoroughly modernized from front to back, this latest example hardly the segment’s usual incrementally evolutionary refresh.
Depending on the colour chosen the new design has a bit of a Darth Vader (Black), Stormtrooper (Alpine White) or Battlestar Galactica Cylon Centurion (Silver Sky Metallic) sci-fi look to it, which, while I love all of these series, is why I especially liked the richer looking Barcelona Red Metallic that Toyota chose for this weeklong loaner. Either way, this 2016 model is a more polarizing design than the first iteration of this fourth generation model that was available from 2012 up until last year (model years 2013 through 2015), but such are some of my favourite types of vehicles, and from the sales numbers it appears as though its organically muscled up appearance hasn’t turned many potential purchasers off.
On
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
the contrary Toyota finished calendar year 2015 on a RAV4 high, the model passing the CR-V thanks to 42,246 Canadian sales compared to 38,961 for the Honda, and I’m willing to guess many of those new sales came at the expense of the bestselling Ford Escape that lost about as much ground as the RAV4 gained. That puts the RAV in second place out of 13 compact SUVs, while Q1 2016 deliveries are up by almost 17 percent over the first three months of last year, this result springing the RAV4 into first place, still ahead of the CR-V and even bypassing the Escape that’s now slipped all the way down to third place (a new Escape is coming soon, however, so the models’ sudden drop in sales may have more to do with Ford purposefully scaling back availability of the current model). Sales numbers aren’t always the best indication as to a vehicle’s overall goodness and value proposition, but if you remember the above-noted TV show, asking the audience was by far the most surefire lifeline.
The
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
RAV4’s popularity makes sense, of course. It’s not only good looking and arguably more attractive since its update, but it’s at least as stylish inside, still very well made, as accommodating as it ever was, filled with yet more standard features, more enjoyable to drive, equally fuel-efficient and no doubt just as dependable.
My first concern, however, was whether or not its cloth covered front seats came with seat warmers. I know that sounds a bit self-absorbed for a journalist that should be more focused on the needs of potential buyers, but it was a chilly week and I needed some heat therapy on my lower back. To that end the two-way heaters were wonderfully warm right where I needed the relief, ideal for overcoming a bout with the flu endured through part of my test. Heatable front seats aren’t standard, mind you, but come as part of a $1,075 Upgrade Package that also adds silver painted roof rails, a 6.1-inch display audio/infotainment touchscreen with a backup camera, voice recognition
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
(with a button to activate on the steering wheel), phonebook download, two more speakers for the stereo resulting in six overall (and pretty good sound quality), plus a scrolling cargo cover in back.
Another must-have this model included was Bluetooth audio streaming, necessary for listening to my favourite financial/political podcasts that keep me up to date with local and global trends, investment opportunities and ideas about positioning my business interests, a bit of a sideline hobby with real-world benefits. Fortunately audio streaming along with smartphone integration is standard, playable via an AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA audio system with a powered USB port and aux
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
jack, while additional standard items include keyless entry, powered heatable side mirrors with integrated convex blind spot mirrors, an acoustic glass windshield, high solar energy absorbing glass, a tilt and telescopic multifunction steering wheel, variable intermittent wipers with a de-icer, air conditioning, an ECO monitor, overhead sunglasses storage, carpeted and all-weather floor mats, a rear seat centre armrest with cupholders, cargo area tie-down rings, storage compartments under the cargo floor, height adjustable front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, all the usual airbags as well as one for the driver’s knees and a seat cushion airbag for the front passenger, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, Toyota’s Smart Stop Technology brake override system, plus traction control and stability control, while
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
my tester’s trailer sway control came standard with its Active Torque Control-enhanced all-wheel drive.
Unfortunately the list of active and passive safety features noted with this model aren’t enough to earn it an IIHS Top Safety Pick + rating, that honour only bestowed on RAV4s with optional front crash prevention (which is still better than most in the class), but my humbler base model nevertheless received five stars from the NHTSA.
The general layout of the RAV’s dash is excellent. Its primary gauges are large and easy to read, although a small multi-information display placed slightly off centre is really more of a trip computer as it only provides basic functions (a 4.2-inch
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
colour TFT MID is available in higher trims). The infotainment system on top of the centre stack is reasonably sized, colour and fairly high in resolution, while flanked by go-to switchgear for audio and other functions, but it’s nowhere near as slick as the 7.0-inch system available higher up the RAV hierarchy. Likewise the simple three-dial manual HVAC system just below includes nice big knobs for easy use with gloves during winter, and sits on a rubberized faux-stitched bolster that comes in padded leatherette with real stitching in fancier models. Such shortcuts are expected at the LE’s price point, but the Eco and Sport mode buttons resting below were particularly nice standard items.
Eco
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
mode helps to extract the best possible mileage, the RAV LE capable of 10.0 L/100km city, 7.6 highway and 8.9 combined in FWD guise and 10.5 city, 8.2 highway and 9.5 combined in as-tested AWD, but the Sport mode helps to completely forget that this entry-level RAV isn’t finished with as many higher end soft-touch surfaces as its ritzier trims, although the metallic silver and a slightly darker grey metallic interior accents are classy looking upscale touches, as are the chrome details and thoughtful bins for holding big smartphones.
Like I said, press Sport mode and get ready to enjoy the RAV4’s impressive driving dynamics. I’m not going to pretend it’s the most performance-oriented compact SUV in its class, but it certainly is fun through the corners and along with that it’s one of the easiest and nicest to drive no matter the road ahead or traffic situation
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
around. You sit up high with great visibility out all windows, it’s easy to maneuver around parked cars or other obstacles, is fun to zip around congested city streets, is a joy on the highway, and all the while the ride is excellent. Take-off is more than adequate and passing power on the highway is very good, its sole 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing a competitive 176 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque while a well-proven six-speed automatic with manual mode takes care of shifting duties to smooth and steady effect.
It’s hard to fault a vehicle that does everything so well. Even the RAV4’s cargo carrying capacity is among the more accommodating in the compact SUV class with 1,090 litres (38.4 cubic feet) behind its 60/40-split rear seatbacks and 2,080 litres (73.3 cubic feet) when they’re laid almost completely flat. It’s missing seatback
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
release levers on the cargo walls like some others in this segment, forcing you to go around to the side doors to lower them manually, and when returning the backrests to their upright position they don’t automatically find their way to a pre-memorized rake, instead stopping at a near 90-degree angle that would be very uncomfortable if left there, causing the need to pull up on the lever with one hand while adjusting the seatback to a more comforting position with the other. Once again the RAV’s not as convenient as some rivals, but the seat mechanisms feel very well made when they lock into place, adding to one’s confidence that the RAV4 is built to a very high standard.
At the end of my second week with a 2016 Toyota RAV4, the first being a fully-loaded Limited version of the all-new Hybrid model, I remained in complete understanding
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| Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
as to why the compact Toyota SUV sells so well. It measures up to the best in this class and rises above in many respects, while Toyota’s number-one ranking among mainstream volume brands in J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study and top-three finish in Consumer Reports’ 2016 report card on reliability help seal the deal. Now all you need to do is choose a colour and figure out if you want to buck up for more luxury, but I certainly didn’t feel the need.
The 2016 Toyota RAV4 LE looked the part of a fully featured SUV and never left me feeling the need for more. Maybe I’d feel differently after a week in an XLE, SE or Limited, but it certainly wouldn’t be for any lack of style or engineering substance.
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