The Toyota RAV4 was a star of our last COTY programme back in 2019. It’s good enough to have been voted top Medium SUV again for 2021, which is all the more incredible when you consider what a crowded and competitive market segment this is. In the face of newer rivals, the RAV4 is still sought after, with lengthy waiting lists for many models.
Watch the full Zooming with DRIVEN NZ AA NZ COTY award show by clicking here
The addition of hybrid technology as an option was a watershed moment for this latest model in NZ of course, but it’s easy to forget the massive advances Toyota has made elsewhere with RAV4.
It’s truly family sized in this generation, larger than the previous model but still city friendly.
It’s also great to drive thanks to the Toyota New Generation Architecture (TNGA) platform. Safety is another strong suit, with the full suite of Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) equipment standard on every model.
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The Adventure model is another hidden gem in the RAV4 range. For the first time Toyota has created a model tailored for off-tarmac use, with a specially calibrated powertrain and tech tweaks such as torque vectoring. And fashion colours, because RAV4s are definitely very fashionable now; ask any of the people on those waiting lists.
Runners Up
Mazda CX-5, Seat/Cupra Ateca
TOYOTA RAV4
ENGINES: 2.5-litre petrol four with nickel-metal hydride battery and hybrid system
POWER: 152kW/243Nm (petrol) or 163kW (total system)/221Nm (hybrid)
GEARBOX: 8-speed automatic or continuously variable, FWD or AWD
ECONOMY: 4.8-7.1l/100km
PRICE RANGE: $38,290-$55,990