Toyota’s all-new RAV4 will arrive in South Africa in the first quarter of 2019, sporting two petrol engine options. It will also be available with two advanced all-wheel-drive (AWD) systems.
The mechanical AWD system has been updated with Toyota’s first dynamic torque vectoring system that apportions torque between the left and right rear wheels as well as between the front and rear axles.
The RAV4 will be offered with a new four-cylinder direct-injection engines – 2.0-litre petrol with front-wheel-drive (FWD) and 2.5-litre petrol (mechanical AWD). It will be mated exclusively to a new eight-speed automatic transmission, including a lower first gear for enhanced start-off performance and a much wider ratio spread than the six-speed automatic it replaces.
The new 2.5-litre engine will have 152kW and 243Nm on tap, while the 2.0 boasts 127kW and 203Nm of torque.It will come with the choice of a CVT or an intelligent six-speed manual gearbox that provides rev-matching control for smoother and more responsive gear shifts.
The mechanical all-wheel drive system for the new RAV4 2.5-litre petrol engine with 8-speed auto features Toyota’s first dynamic torque vectoring system. It ensures stable performance and accurate response to the driver’s steering inputs when cornering, both in dry and slippery conditions. A multi-terrain switch enables the driver to select the appropriate settings for mud & sand or rock & dirt.