2013 Geneva Motor Show: The New RAV4

• The 4th generation of Toyota's pioneering compact SUV makes its European debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show
• All-new, sophisticated, dynamic and strong exterior design with signature Toyota design elements
• New interior design with best in class roominess, increased comfort and superior luggage capacity to meet the needs of active families
• Enhanced powertrain range with improved performance and reduced fuel consumption and emissions
• New Integrated Dynamic Drive System to improve on-road dynamic performance and deliver a more engaging driving experience
• Higher safety levels with new technologies and a 5-Star Euro NCAP 2013 rating

Toyota created the compact SUV market with the launch of its first Recreational Active Vehicle with 4 Wheel-Drive (RAV4) in 1994. Since then, three generations of RAV4 have sold more than 4.5 million units, of which European markets have accounted for over 1.2 million sales.

Making its European debut at the 2013 Geneva motor show, the new, fourth generation RAV4 reflects the stronger emphasis placed on family use by the compact-SUV market, without sacrificing any of the model's core values.

Rather, it offers customers more distinctive, sophisticated styling, refined, premium-quality interior design, further enhancements to its all-wheel drive capabilities and a more engaging drive.

Design and Packaging

Longer (+205[1] mm), wider (+30 mm) but lower (-25 mm) than its predecessor, the fourth generation of Toyota's compact, versatile SUV showcases an all new silhouette that emphasizes its versatility, roominess and improved dynamic capabilities.

The all-new exterior combines the sophisticated, stylish signature elements of the new Toyota frontal design language with clean, frill-free aesthetics and the muscular image of durability expected from a vehicle with its class-leading four-wheel drive credentials.

The new face of Toyota combines the company's Under Priority grille design with Keen Look headlamp and LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) detailing to give the new SUV a powerful, more dynamic and agile-looking road presence.

Combining a spacious, comfortable cabin with a cockpit-like driver's environment, the all-new interior design build's on the RAV4's inherent practicality with greater roominess, higher quality finishes and a more focused, engaging SUV driving experience.

In keeping with the more cockpit-like driver's environment, the driving position of the new RAV4 has been extensively revised for improved ergonomics, greater comfort, better forward visibility and a more engaging driving experience.

The driver's seat hip point has been lowered by 5 mm and downward seat height adjustment range has been increased by 15 mm to 30 mm. The steering wheel angle has been lowered by 2.3 degrees and it is now closer to the driver by up to 38 mm.

With a front to rear seat couple distance now a best-in-class 970 mm, roominess in the rear seats is now one of the outstanding features of the model. The 60:40 split folding rear seat has been made more comfortable, benefitting from a rise in cushion surface angle of 2 degrees and revised side bolsters for improved support.

The RAV4 retains all the practical, flexible versatility its customers have come to expect from the compact SUV. The rear seats can be folded down flush with the loadspace floor without the need to remove any seat cushions or headrests.

The rear seats may be split 60:40 for maximum flexibility and each section can be reclined independently.

The length of the loadspace has increased to 1,025 mm, raising luggage capacity to 547 litres. Undertray storage has also increased by 51 litres from 49 to 100 litres (with tyre repair kit).

The side-hung tailgate has been replaced by a top-hinged version, which may be equipped with power operation. At 645 mm (with repair kit or temporary tyre), the new tailgate opening boasts a remarkable low loadspace lip height, as well as a wide aperture of 1,158 mm.

Powertrains

Featuring two new engines - a 2.0 litre D-4D diesel for the Western European market and a 2.5 litre VVT-i petrol unit for the Russian market- and with a 2.2 litre D-4D diesel engine now available in Russia for the first time, the new RAV4's comprehensive engine range offers an unmatched balance between outstanding, front- and four-wheel drive performance and class-leading CO₂ emissions in all petrol and diesel variants.

The Western European powertrain line up now comprises a 151 DIN hp (111 kW) 2.0 litre Valvematic petrol engine, a new 124 DIN hp (91 kW) 2.0 litre D-4D diesel, and a powerful 150 DIN hp (110 kW) 2.2 litre D-4D diesel engine.

Every engine in this new line-up benefits from reductions in CO₂ emissions, averaging some 11% across the West European powerplant range.

Of particular note, the 2.0 litre D-4D diesel, front-wheel drive derivative new to the RAV4 range is equipped with Toyota's Stop & Start System technology, reducing CO₂ emission to only 127 g/km.

All markets except Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Caucasus

Russia

(*calculated values)

Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Caucasus*

(*possible variation by market)

Driving Performance

Successive generations of RAV4 have established a reputation for their ride comfort, ease of driving, manoeuvrability and reassuring capabilities on even the most challenging of road surfaces.

In conjunction with a new, more comfortable and focused driving position, the new RAV4 builds on these key SUV attributes with retuned front and rear suspension systems, revised Electric Power Steering, and a New Integrated Dynamic Drive System with all-new Sport mode function.

In combination, these developments give the new RAV4 greater stability and agility on both wet and dry roads, offering customers a confidence-inspiring, more intuitive and engaging driving experience.

The Integrated Dynamic Drive System is a sophisticated, high-speed interactive management system which coordinates control of the RAV4's new Dynamic Torque Control AWD, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Electric Power Steering (EPS) systems to enhance the compact SUV's performance, handling and safety.

The Dynamic Torque Control AWD system now automatically transfers torque to the rear wheels not only when the front wheels are beginning to spin on slippery surfaces (as in the third generation RAV4), but also when the system detects understeer during cornering on-road. As a result, the overall agility and driving performance of the vehicle is enhanced during both on- and off-road driving.

When Sport mode is selected, torque transfer to the rear wheels begins even before understeer develops. From the moment the steering wheel is turned, the Dynamic Torque Control AWD System operates a pre-torque control, automatically introducing a 90:10 front/rear torque distribution to help cornering force by transferring traction torque to rear.

[1] Compared to current short wheelbase without spare wheel carrier on the rear gate