Toyota RAV4 CV6 2008 Review

Road Test

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When Toyota launched the current generation RAV4 in 2006, it was claimed a V6 version of the car was not a viable proposition as it was likely to cannibalise sales of its bigger brother Kluger. Now with the new Kluger having moved up in size, Toyota's savvy product planners have struck..

Starting off at $39,990, the RAV4 CV6 hits the showrooms with the same sticker as the base model five-seat Kluger with which it shares its 3.5-litre V6/five-speed automatic driveline.

The catch is at this price the Kluger is the front-drive model. For an all-wheel-drive system (a full-time version compared to the RAV4's part-time on-demand unit) you will have to fork out an extra $4500.

In other words, if you are in the market for a $40K Toyota SUV that isn't a serious off-roader, you have the choice of more space and front drive, or a little less room for bags and bodies but with none-too shabby ability for some light-duty offroading.

As you move up in the three-model RAV4 V6 range that tops out at $49,990, things get a little more complex. At that $50K mark you can choose from a mid-spec two-wheel drive Kluger or a base all-wheel drive seven-seater plus change for a few frills -- both for the price of the luxo RAV.

But horses for courses, there is more at stake here and we reckon there is still the potential for the V6 engine in the RAV to swing a punter's choice.

When the current generation RAV was launched, we were full of praise for the extra space and refinement, but along with that came a weight penalty and the upgraded 2.4-litre four felt it. Adequate was probably the most apt description as long hills or overtaking required patience and good judgement. The four simply lacked the oomph to deal with the car's extra bulk.

The new 3.5-litre 200kW-plus V6, however, more than deals with this shortcoming. Even in the 250kg-heavier Kluger the V6 gets off and running smartly -- in the RAV4 CV6 a 250kg weight advantage means a corresponding increase in fun factor.

Off the line there is a good solid surge when you dump the right boot. This takes on an almost enthusiastic nature once the revs climb above about 2500rpm.The engine will keep pulling through to about 6000rpm if you lock down the five-speed auto. Left to its own devices, it shifts up around the 5000rpm mark.

Both the engine and transmission are very refined and under moderate driving, shift changes are smooth and slick. Of course, it's a drivetrain we've seen before in Aurion and Tarago, as well as Kluger, and its transplant into the RAV has done nothing to diminish its smooth refinement or strong progressive power and torque characteristics.

With 201kW and 333Nm, the V6 delivers a substantial boost in power and torque over the 125kW/224Nm 2.4-litre four, but you do pay for it with a $6000 hike in price over the equivalent four-cylinder models. Apart from the engine and extra ratio for the auto transmission, there is also a slight increase in spec with all V6 models getting six airbags, ABS and VSC and uphill and downhill assist systems.

And despite the increase in the oomph, the RAV4 CV6 is not that much thirstier than the four with an official combined fuel consumption of 10.5L/100km compared to 9.6L/100km. As usual, these are fairly optimistic figures. The Carsales Network's week in the car with a bit of country, bit of city and bit of dirt returned an average figure of around 11.5L/100km. By comparison our time with the four (more here) yielded just 390km out of the car's 60-litre tank -- fuel consumption of around 15L/100km. As we said then: "small engine does not necessarily mean lower fuel consumption".

The rest of the car is pretty much as per the four-cylinder variants and the bigger engine has had no adverse impact on the ride and handling and if anything, it feels a bit more agile thanks to the extra grunt.

Ride quality, in particular, is very good with decent seats adding to the comfort factor while the handling is predictable and stable. The car turns in nicely and although there is a bit of body roll, it is well controlled.

On the dirt section, the RAV4 especially showed up the strengths of its all-wheel-drive system with poise and plenty of grip with the system coming into play with just the right amount of torque transfer and traction control at just the right time to ensure you could push on with confidence. At the same time, despite the heavily rutted surface, the ride quality remained supremely comfortable.

In the absence of a smooth, grunty 2.2-2.7-litre turbodiesel, this is the engine that this vehicle, for its size and weight, really needs. Consequently, it outguns everything else in its class for sheer numbers. This, at last, together with the car's space efficiency and refinement puts it among the class leaders in this increasingly crowded segment.

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