IT may surprise you to learn that the accelerator pedal on the Toyota RAV4 I have been testing didn’t stick.
Had it done so then I would hope to be sensible enough to switch into neutral, apply the brakes and gradually slow down – something that doesn’t seem to have occurred to some drivers.
Perhaps we just have it too easy these days, which is at least convenient and- dare I say it - safe, but such is the raft of technology on modern cars that the level of driver input isn’t what was once required.
The RAV4 is actually the world’s most successful compact sports utility vehicle, providing the springboard for a new market segment when it was launched in 1994. It has enjoyed terrific success since.
Now in its third generation, the car is leaner and greener thanks to extra punch, better economy and lower emissions.
And while that fun to drive quality that has proved so vital to the RAV4 remains, the latest models are longer and wider than before so there’s more space for passengers and an extra 47 per cent of luggage capacity.
Those needing to accommodate even more clobber will also appreciate the Easy Flat system which drops the back seats flat to the floor with a single tug on a lever. You don’t need to detach the headrests or seat cushions either.
The biggest contribution to the latest RAV4, however, concerns the engine range – one petrol and a pair of diesels – all of which now feature something called Toyota Optimal Drive.
It means the 2.0-litre petrol unit in the tested model offers more power and torque, belches out significantly less CO2 and returns an average 20 per cent better fuel consumption.
An upshot is that there’s a lower road tax banding and, for company car drivers, there’s a fall in Benefit-in-Kind tax from 31 to 24 per cent.
This engine also comes exclusively with Multidrive-S, the continuously variable automatic transmission first introduced in the Avensis model.
It’s a smooth system that recognises when the car is being driven up or downhill and selects the best ratios, while there’s also a sequential seven-speed mode for those wanting a more dynamic feel to change gear using the shift lever or steering wheel mounted paddles.
And the active drive control system, which was a world first when introduced on the last generation RAV4, complements a safety package that has nine airbags – including a driver’s knee airbag – traction control, anti-lock brakes, ISOFIX rear child seat mounts and hill start assist.
I found the Toyota not only comfortable and pleasant to drive but also easy to live with, lively and reasonable on fuel – returning just under 35 miles per gallon.
You get plenty of stowage while the push button open/close function on the upper of the two glove boxes has long been a clever feature.
This model had keyless entry and START button, plenty of kit and both the trim levels, XT-R and SR, boast Bluetooth and climate control.
FAST FACTS
Toyota RAV4 XT-R 2.0 Multidrive-S
Price: £23,586
Mechanical: 156bhp, 1,986cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving four wheels via automatic gearbox
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