Ken Gratton•2 Nov 2012
NEWS
Turbo-diesel for Toyota RAV4
Next generation of Toyota's popular compact SUV is coming with a choice of powerplants, including an oilerToyota's all-new RAV4 will arrive in Australia in February – offering diesel power for the first time.
As we first reported back in July, speculation has been mounting that Toyota would drop the petrol V6-engined variants from the range with the introduction of the new model. And we also reported at the time that front-wheel drive variants would be powered by a 2.0-litre engine, with all-wheel drive variants likely offering the option of a 2.2-litre diesel or the same 2.5-litre petrol four that resides under the bonnet of the locally-manufactured Camry.
We can now reveal that sources inside Toyota have confirmed all this – and more. The 2.2-litre diesel will be auto-only and will develop 110kW/340Nm. Combined-cycle fuel consumption is believed to be around 6.0L/100km and the automatic transmission fitted will be a six-speeder.
While Toyota has a hybrid variant of the RAV4 set to roll out in other markets, the presence of the diesel in the local range makes the petrol/electric model more or less redundant in Australia, so we won't be seeing the RAV4 Hybrid here. According to the information to hand, the 2.5-litre engine will be available with standard six-speed manual or the option of the six-speed automatic, meaning an end to the four-speed automatic doing duty in the current RAV4 range.
And lastly, it remains uncertain whether the RAV4 will be sold here in front-driven variants, although it's unlikely the RAV4 range would be considered complete without that drivetrain variant, given the option is available in the current model range. And Nissan's recent introduction of front-wheel drive variants for the X-TRAIL range practically guarantees that any other company serious about contesting what is now the VFACTS medium SUV segment must have front-wheel drive up its sleeve.
Presuming the RAV4 will offer a front-wheel drive variant, the car will come with a UK-spec 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine matched to a CVT transmission, just like the new Corolla's self-shifting auto box. Power and torque figures for the smaller petrol four are 116kW and 155Nm respectively. It doesn't sound like it will set hearts a flutter with that sort of output, but for growing families on a budget it could be a winner.
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Written byKen Gratton
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