Brussels, Belgium,
18
February
2013
|
02:00
Europe/Amsterdam

2013 The new Toyota RAV4: Comfort and safety

  • Substantial NVH reduction measures through new Engine Bay Barrier design concept for better cabin quietness
  • Comprehensive safety features targeting 5-star Euro NCAP rating
  • New RAV4 may also be equipped with three new technologies: Automatic High Beam, Lane Departure Alert and Blind Spot Monitor systems

Low NVH measures

The new RAV4 incorporates a substantial range of measures to suppress the transmission of noise and vibration into the cabin, resulting in increased quietness for all occupants.

Under a new engine bay barrier design concept, extensive improvements have been made to the sound proofing qualities of the dashboard, dashboard inner and outer silencers, the cowl insulator and the bonnet insulator, reducing the transmission of engine noise to the cabin.

Additional sound-proofing materials have been optimally positioned throughout the new RAV4. They include foamed material introduced within cabin pillars, as well as the door sill and head sections, to minimise the transmission of noise through the bodyshell. Both a spray-application underfloor damping material and front and rear fender liners reduce the transmission of noise.

Noise has been reduced by the adoption of an acoustic windscreen which features an additional layer of acoustic film to reduce noise transmission. The aerodynamic shaping of the door mirrors further reduces wind noise.

Various measures have been also been adopted to reduce the transmission of vibration to the cabin. Body panels that generate noise have been identified and fitted with vibration damping materials, front and rear suspension mounting points have been stiffened, and the shape of the steering knuckles optimised to improve the vibration characteristics of the front suspension and reduce road noise.

 

SAFETY

The new RAV4 builds on the high standards of occupant safety and pedestrian impact protection evolved over three generations of the compact Toyota SUV, with even higher levels of active and passive safety.

With an impact absorbing, multi-load-path body construction designed to help provide occupant protection, the new RAV4 has been engineered to achieve a 5-Star rating in the 2013 Euro NCAP crash test programme.

The new Toyota SUV is equipped with a new, whiplash injury reducing seat design, and 7 airbags are fitted as standard, including a driver's knee airbag and twin-chamber front seat side airbags.

Active safety systems include ABS with EBD, BA, VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) and TRC (Traction Control), and all-wheel drive models are equipped, as standard, with VSC+, which integrates VSC and the vehicle's Electric Power Steering (EPS)

The new RAV4 may also be equipped with three new technologies —an Automatic High Beam system, a Lane Departure Alert system and a Blind Spot Monitor system- further raising standards of safety and driver convenience.

 

Automatic High Beam system

The Automatic High Beam system employs a camera to monitor the road ahead and automatically switches the headlamps from high to low beam when it detects either a preceding or oncoming vehicle.

 

Lane Departure Alert system

The Lane Departure Alert system employs a lane recognition camera sensor mounted at the head of the windscreen to determine if the vehicle is unintentionally leaving its lane. The system then alerts the driver via an audible warning buzzer and a flashing line icon in the multi-information display.

 

Blind Spot Monitor system

The Blind Spot Monitor system notifies drivers of a vehicle travelling in an adjacent lane in their blind spot by illuminating the relevant indicator mounted in the outer door mirror surface. The system uses radar sensors mounted on both sides of the rear of the new RAV4, which monitor the blind area of the driver. If the turn signal lamp switch is in operation, the indicator will flash at fixed intervals to alert the driver.