Toyota ups RAV4 safety again – at a price

Toyota Australia has released an upgraded RAV4 bringing a new range if equipment and safety technologies as standard across the range, which now opens at $29,450 plus on-road costs — $900 more than before.

That price applies to the entry-level 2WD 2.0-litre petrol GX manual, which along with all GX models gains the lion’s share of upgrades as standard, including satellite-navigation, Toyota Link, digital radio, auto headlights, fog lights and a high-grade instrument cluster with 4.2-inch multi-information display.

In addition, all base GX and mid-range GXL models now come with a suite of safety technologies including a pre-collision system, autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure alert, active cruise control and automatic high beam.

All these features became standard in the top-grade Cruiser and a $3800 option in GXL auto variants in September 2016 but are now standard across the range.

Toyota says that despite the price increases for GX and GXL models, this brings a saving of $1450 for the diesel AWD GX, $2900 for the petrol 2WD GX, $2960 for the petrol AWD GX, and between $925 and $2460 for GXL models.

This is despite price hikes of $2350 for the diesel AWD GX manual and automatic, and $1575 for the diesel AWD GXL auto. All GX and GXL models now also score front and rear parking sensors as standard, while GXL models gain blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic (previously only on Cruiser).

A new $2500 option for 2WD GXL models comprises a 10-way power-operated driver's seat with two-position memory, front seat heaters and leather-accented trim throughout.

Because it continues largely unchanged, top-shelf diesel AWD Cruiser price remains unchanged $50,400 plus ORCs, while the petrol AWD Cruiser costs $910 less at $44,490 plus ORCs. Standard Cruiser features continue to include 18-inch alloy wheels, leather-accented trim, 11-speaker JBL audio, tilt/slide sunroof and a powered tailgate.

There are no changes to the 10-variant RAV4 line-up’s mechanical make-up, which includes a 107kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with six-speed manual or seven-speed CVT auto gearboxes for GX models, a 132kW 2.5-litre petrol for CVT-only GXL models and a 340Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel AWD layout for GX manual/auto and auto-only GXL and Cruiser models.

"The latest upgrades to RAV4 reflect Toyota's commitment to expanding safety features, adding convenience and offering excellent value at every opportunity," said Toyota Australia's executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb.

"These are key attributes that have enabled Toyota to sell more SUVs than any other company — even before the SUV category was officially recognised in 2003.

"In fact, RAV4 is enjoying its fifth consecutive year of record sales with demand up 4.5 per cent so far in 2017."

First introduced Down Under in 1994, Toyota’s RAV4 has found almost 285,000 homes in Australia, making it the first vehicle of its type to notch up 250,000 sales.

However, in recent years the RAV4 has faced stiff competition from medium SUVs including the Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson, both of which continue to outsell it this year, as well as the Nissan X-TRAIL, Mitsubishi Outlander, Kia Sportage, Volkswagen’s new Tiguan and Honda’s new CR-V.

2018 Toyota RAV4 pricing (plus ORCs):
2WD 2.0 petrol GX manual – $29,450 (+$900)
2WD 2.0 petrol GX auto -- $31,490 (+900)
2WD 2.0 petrol GXL auto – ($35,490 (+100)
AWD 2.5 petrol GX auto -- $34,490 (+$840)
AWD 2.5 petrol GXL auto -- $38,490 (+40)
AWD 2.5 petrol Cruiser auto -- $44,490 (-$910)
AWD 2.2 diesel GX manual -- $39,060 (+$2350)
AWD 2.2 diesel GX auto -- $41,100 (+$2350)
AWD 2.2 diesel GXL auto -- $45,125 (+$1575)
AWD 2.2 diesel Cruiser auto -- $50,500 (no change)

Options:
Full-size spare (GX) -- $300
Premium paint (all grades) -- $550
Premium interior (2WD GXL) -- $2500