After five years of meritorious service, the fourth generation of Toyota RAV4 finally receives the deserved right to rest. Being rendered by a brand new RAV4, but also just and only hybrid.
Presented to the world at the last New York Motor Show, in March 2018, it was, however, only a week ago that we had our first contact with it, in Barcelona — the new RAV4, he believes, is much more captivating.
We are convinced of the potential of the new Robust Accurate Vehicle 4WD — or RAV4 — from Toyota. Now we went to know what it has to offer Portuguese drivers and at what prices; in fact, I went to Porto, so that nothing would be left unanswered!…
Equipment? 5 levels to choose from
Let's start with the equipment. The new Toyota RAV4 is already available in Portugal, with five levels of equipment: Active, Comfort, Square Collection, Exclusive and Lounge.
Although the purpose of such a wide offer is to cover as many as possible of those that will initially be the preferred configurations of national customers, the truth is that Toyota assumes, from now on, that the majority of sales will be at the center.
In other words, mostly distributed by the Comfort, Exclusive, and, mainly, Square Collection versions — in a free translation into Portuguese, “Colecção Quadrada” (Doesn't sound so good, does it?). Name that seems to draw inspiration from the Cross-Octagon visual concept, the cornerstone in the construction of the lines of this new RAV4.
As for the reasons for this preference, they are easy to explain. the level of equipment Square Collection comes with black 18″ alloy wheels, LED headlamps with projector, tinted rear windows, NightSky roof, faux leather seats, and electric driver's seat with horizontal, lumbar and height adjustment. In the field of safety, blind spot warning and rear-end detection of approaching vehicles.
Given this version, the Exclusive add seats in real leather, black, gray or beige; novelties such as the wireless charger for smartphones at the base of the center console and the Smart View digital rearview mirror (see gallery); or even the navigation system, such as the speed selection paddles on the steering wheel.
The Toyota RAV4 is equipped with a rear view… digital. It can work as a classic rearview mirror…
As for the most affordable comfort , stands out as standard with 18″ alloy wheels, front fog lights, electric tailgate, front and rear parking sensors, heated front seats, rear auxiliary camera, electrochromatic interior mirror, rain sensor , instrument panel with 7″ color TFT screen and 8″ Toyota Touch 2 infotainment system.
Active and Lounge: extremes… that don't touch
For those customers who either have a more limited budget, or don't accept less than the best of the offer, we have the Active entry and top of the Lounge range versions.
With the first one, Active , as well as guaranteeing benefits such as 17″ alloy wheels, roof bars, LED daytime running lights and light sensor, as well as automatic air conditioning, start button, instrument panel with 4.2″ color TFT screen, 7″ Toyota Touch 2 and the Toyota Safety Sense 2 safety systems package.
Large and airy interior. It lacks, however, some more visual appeal.
Finally, at the opposite extreme to Active, the version lounge , which is the most luxurious variant, stands out for adding to the equipment proposed in the Exclusive panoramic roof with electric opening, electric luggage compartment opening with movement sensor, 360º panoramic camera, intelligent parking sensors and JBL sound system.
All with Toyota Safety Sense
Regarding the Toyota Safety Sense package, which is standard on all versions, there are also new features. Namely, the inclusion of the Pre-Collision System with daytime detection of pedestrians and cyclists, and nocturnal detection of pedestrians; of Adaptive Cruise Control already with full immobilization (Full Stop); of Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control , able to read speed limits on the road and alert the driver; as well as the Smart Driving Assistance , which autonomously keeps the car in the lane.From the previous Toyota Safety Sense, the High Lights system with Automatic Control, the Traffic Signal Recognition, and the e-Call Emergency Call System are carried over to accident situations.
Pricing: Looking at the competition
Once you know the composition of the different levels of equipment, it is time to talk about prices. Which, in the case of this new and deeply evolved Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, can start by saying that it presents sales figures in line with the main competition… hybrid: we have the Honda CR-V Hybrid and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
| Active | comfort | Square Collection | Exclusive | lounge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 Hybrid Dynamic Force | €38,790 | 41 390 € | €44,590 | €46 590 | €49,590 |
| 2.5 Hybrid Dynamic Force AWD-i | — | €44,790 | €47,790 | €49,790 | €52 790 |
Whichever version is chosen, optional and paid separately, it will always be the Metallic Painting (eight options to choose from), with a price of 510 euros. The same happens, moreover, with what Toyota calls Special Metallic Paint (Pearl White, Tokyo Red and Pearl White with NightSky roof), proposed for 760 euros.
The 4WD variant, with the commercial designation 2.5 Hybrid Dynamic Force AWD-i, will be available in Portugal from March.
The front-wheel drive RAV4 has already ensured the payment of Class 1 at Brisa's tolls, provided that it uses Via Verde, while the 4WD will always be Class 2.
