The fifth-generation Toyota RAV4 goes on sale next month, and for the first time includes a hybrid model.
Toyota New Zealand says the new models provide improved performance and advanced safety features.
“The RAV4 has been a pioneer since it was revealed in 1989 at the Tokyo Motorshow,” said Neeraj Lala, Toyota New Zealand’s general manager of product and new vehicle sales.
“It introduced a new kind of car to the world, one that has set the benchmark for SUV adventure and on-road refinement over the past 4 generations.”
The all-new Toyota RAV4 would offer an advanced safety package across the eight-variant range.
As part of the Toyota Safety Sense suite of features, all models would incorporate dynamic radar cruise control, a pre-collision system with autonomous emergency braking including pedestrian detection and daylight cyclist detection, road sign assist, lane tracing assist and automatic high beam.
Other advanced safety technologies would include blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors and seven airbags.
“Advanced safety technology should not only be available on the top grades,” says Mr Lala.
“Customers want to know they can have adventurous fun in their RAV4 with peace of mind that they have the best safety technology in their vehicle for when they need it.”
A self-charging hybrid-electric RAV4 - available in three grades - with a 155kW 2.5-litre petrol-electric powertrain mated to an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission (E-CVT), would join the new RAV4 line-up.
Since introducing the first mass-production petrol-electric hybrid vehicle, the Prius, 22 years ago, Toyota has continually refined and upgraded its hybrid technology.
The 2019 RAV4 hybrid driver will notice a linear acceleration feel, thanks to the distribution of more driving force to the rear wheels with the introduction of a newly developed E-Four system, helping suppress front wheel slip during off-the-line starts for optimal acceleration performance and stability. The E-Four system also helped reduce understeer during cornering for enhanced steering stability. Off-road, the increased rear-wheel torque would help provide powerful hill-climbing performance, even on rough terrain.
Driving enthusiasts would appreciate the four driving modes - EV in the hybrid, Normal, Eco and Sport - with the latter enhancing the RAV4's acceleration.
A new 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine providing 152kW maximum power and 243Nm of maximum torque would features in the AWD petrol variants, combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
There would also be a new 2.0-litre petrol engine and direct shift-CVT combination.
At the entry level would be the urban-oriented front-wheel-drive 127kW/203Nm 2.0-litre petrol variants offered in GX, GXL and Limited grades.
The top of the line Adventure AWD model powered by the new 2.5-litre petrol engine and uses a Toyota first Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD system. This new 2.5-litre engine is also available in a non-hybrid GXL model.
“All-wheel drive may have become a ubiquitous term in the automotive industry, especially among SUVs, but not all AWD systems are the same,” says Mr Lala.
The new all-wheel drive system would send up to 50 per cent of the torque to the rear axle and the differential can then send it in varying amounts to the individual wheels.
Mr Lala said with the new RAV4, Toyota was catering to a range of customers who are increasingly looking at SUVs for their practical flexibility for urban use as well as those who enjoy the occasional weekend adventure off the tarmac.
Toyota has yet to release the prices of the new models.