4X4 RAV4

Toyota's popular midsize SUV in hybrid form offers more grip and less sip

- Peter Palm

TOYOTA RAV4 2,5 GX-R CVT HYBRID E-FOUR ETA: NOW

Price: R644 000 Engine: 2,5-litre, 4-cyl, petrol Transmission: CVT, automatic Power: 163 kW Torque: 221 + e N.m 0-100 km/h: n/a Top speed: 180 km/h* Fuel consumption: 4,8 L/100 km CO2: 110 g/km* Rivals: Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Volkswagen Tiguan

It's not easy to think of the RAV4 as old, but it's already 28 and that's in the shade. Toyota has added two hybrids to the RAV4 lineup, adding a bit of green-minded pizzazz to the popular model's range.

The latest addition reminds us just how much this popular SUV has grown. The first model, perhaps fortunately, was a compact three-door. This allowed lots of room for expansion, of which there has been plenty over the past three decades. The real changes were made in 2019, when the body grew longer and wider but shrank somewhat to cheat some of that drag-creating wind.

But not to attract any negative criticism, Toyota made sure the ground clearance improved by 15 mm, an improvement that will last for some time to come. So no major changes at the moment.