I first drove one last summer and instantly loved it, putting it in my top handful of cars, but ask me why and I would have struggled to give you a reason. That is until now, and I'm going to try and explain. You see, I'm very lucky in this job that when I get a car to test drive it is more than often the top-of-the-range model which is full of gadgets and gizmos.
Everything is done at the touch of a button or a flick of a switch – start/stop button, handbrake automatic headlights and automatic windscreen wipers. Add in cruise control for long journeys and an automatic gearbox and all the driver is left to do is turn the steering wheel, press the brake and flick the indicators.
I'm not by any means complaining, but my point is that the driving experience on these luxurious cars is so easy that as the driver has very little to do.I understand that you can turn these added extras off and that you don't have to use them, but, as a typical lazy male, if there's something there to make my life and commute easier then I'm going to use it, and more often than not I turn these things on accidentally while I'm driving.
It's the same at home with the television remote control. My wife's constantly telling me that there are buttons at the side of the TV to control it as I'm frantically searching for the remote, getting more frustrated by the minute, but how many of us get up to actually use them.My point is that what makes the RAV4 special is that, despite all the amazing technological advancements, it hasn't lost any of the soul that has made it a success since it was launched 21 years ago.
That's not to say it doesn't come loaded with features. It's just that they are laid out in such a way in the stylish leather-like instrument panel that they are there if you want them, but if not then you can just enjoy the drive.
I drove the second from top of the range all-wheel drive Icon model, which comes with 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels, keyless entry and a power back door with memory setting. Optional extras include alloy wheel upgrades, a style pack, a protection pack and a tow bar.
Internally, the RAV4 comes with masses of kit as standard. These include a push-button start, Toyota's easy-to-use Touch 2 multimedia system, which is touch screen and features DAB radio, rear-view camera and, on the model I drove, the additional option of navigation.
Very little has changed to the RAV4 for 2015 – it doesn't need to – but a new two-wheel drive Business Edition has been launched, which as the name suggests, makes the model's target market clear.
Elsewhere in the range, enhancements include a fresh chrome finish for the Active's five-spoke 17-inch alloys and the addition of silver front and rear under-runs for the Invincible (these are finished in Pearl White where Pearl White body colour is specified).
New RAV4 owners also now have access to additional equipment options, including heated, leather front seats (Active, Business Edition and Invincible) and Toyota Touch 2 with Go Plus, which adds extra functionality, voice command recognition and three years of free map updates. The colour choices include a new Deep Titanium metallic.
I love the look of the instantly recognisable RAV4, which is probably best summed up as athletic on the outside and sophisticated on the inside. Its bold front end complete with stylish grille and the curvaceous, aero dynamic shape means it's an SUV that oozes class.
The cabin itself is huge, with easily enough space for five adults, and the seats are extremely comfortable. It's versatile too and, thanks to Toyota's Easy-Flat system, the rear seats can be quickly and easily folded flat.
The spacious boot, which on the fourth generation RAV4 is much bigger than its predecessors, now features a power back door that can be automatically opened and closed at the touch a button. There is also a memory function which automatically retains the preferred opening height.
And then there's the all-important drive. Yes the RAV4 has had to develop over the years, but one thing I'm guessing hasn't been lost is the fun, thanks largely to the high driving position. It feels luxurious when you cruise down the motorway, but it really comes into its own on country lanes and in snowy conditions.
Handling was brilliant, and knock it into Sport mode and it truly does feel that it sticks to the road on the country lanes. This is thanks to more torque being distributed between the front and rear wheels, while also adjusting the steering feel, accelerator response and transmission control to even sportier settings.
The new RAV4 comes with a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and a choice of three engines – two diesel and a petrol. The two-litre diesel model I drove recorded fuel consumption of 53mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 137g/km, with 0-62mph achieved in a respectable 10.5 seconds.
Prices for the Toyota RAV4 start from £22,195 OTR. The model I drove costs just short of £26,000. Every new Toyota comes with a five-year/100,000-mile manufacturer's warranty (whichever comes first).
For more information, contact Burrows Barnsley, Claycliffe Island, Barugh Green, S75 2RS. Telephone: 01226 308452. Website: http://www.burrowsbarnsley.toyota.co.uk
