Toyota adds value to RAV4
BY TIM NICHOLSON | 12th Sep 2016
As part of a model year update, Toyota has also dropped a pair of slow-selling GXL variants, with the manual versions of the two-wheel-drive petrol and all-wheel-drive diesel gone.
This leaves the base GX petrol and diesel as the only manual variants.
New additions to the RAV4 include the availability of autonomous emergency braking on eight of the 10 variants, with it now available on GX automatics. It will continue to be an option on GXL and standard on the Cruiser.
Mid-spec GXL variants gain satellite navigation, Toyota Link Connected mobility and DAB+ digital radio as standard.
Toyota says buyers opting for an auto petrol GXL who add the safety pack can also add two-tone paint that adds a contrasting silver accent to the bumpers, wheelarches, door sills and exterior mirrors.
Petrol and diesel Cruisers add ambient footwell lighting and two-way memory for the leather-appointed driver’s seat.
The price increases range from $510 for the AWD petrol-powered Cruiser, which is now $45,400 plus on-road costs, to $1560 for the AWD diesel GXL, now priced from $43,550.
The base GX petrol manual has risen by $560 and now starts at $28,550, while the range-topping AWD Cruiser diesel is up by $1010, which is enough to break the $50K mark at $50,500.
The model year update follows a full facelift in December last year that ushered in a significant visual makeover, big changes to the cabin, Euro 5 engines and additional safety gear such as trailer sway control and a forward collision warning.
Front-wheel-drive petrol variants are powered by a 107kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit matched with either a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
AWD petrol RAV4s use a 132kW 2.5-litre unit that is paired with a six-speed torque-converter automatic, while the 110kW 2.2-litre turbo-diesel is offered with a manual or auto.
The RAV4 continues to be one of the most popular picks in the sub-$60,000 medium SUV segment with 13,319 sales recorded to the end of August this year, representing a 25 per cent uptick over the same period in 2015.
It trails only the Mazda CX-5 (16,428) in its segment, but Hyundai’s Tucson (12,760) and the resurgent Nissan X-Trail (11,904) are snapping at its heels.
| 2016 Toyota RAV4 pricing* | |
| 2WD petrol | |
| GX | $28,550 |
| GX (a) | $30,590 |
| GXL (a) | $35,390 |
| AWD petrol | |
| GX (a) | $33,650 |
| GXL (a) | $38,450 |
| Cruiser (a) | $45,400 |
| AWD diesel | |
| GX | $36,710 |
| GX (a) | $38,750 |
| GXL (a) | $43,550 |
| Cruiser (a) | $50,500 |
