Getting under 160g/km is turning into a vital fleet goal, and Toyota has become the first in the small off-roader segment to make it without sacrificing the car’s 4×4 ability.
The likes of Volvo and Ford already offer cars in the sector at sub-160g/km, but only by dropping the weighty all-wheel drive system. The updated Rav4 on the other hand, retains it and makes the drop from 173g/km to 154g/km, and from 42.8mpg to 48.7mpg, thanks to a raft of engineering modifications.
It’s odd that the most important thing is that you can’t tell the changes have been made, other than on paper in terms of lower tax and fuel bills. The Rav4 is still solid, refined and comfortable, if outclassed for driver appeal by some rivals, though that’s not the driving force behind buying decisions in this sector.
Specification levels have also been improved and the range simplified, with the XT-R now the lower of two trim levels while the 4×4 version is fitted with electric leather heated front seats and keyless entry as standard.
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