Arrival Dates For The New Rav4. 4.4

[Parts-King]

No idea Don TBH, 1.6 petrol definatly, lightweight, goes well, a bit revvy, good spec for the money too IMHO, it handles really well for a "soft" sports car

Kingo

[Davrav]

but a Swift Sport is another story...............

Kingo

'Tis a wee pocket rocket. Great fun

[ianfish]

Sunroof... MMmmm Am I the only one that loves a sunroof ? We shall again have to see what we are given..

You may be pleasantly suprised........... ;)

I liked having a sunroof in our old 4.3, it made the three days of sunshine we had in 2009 and two days in 2010 so much more enjoyable. I would invest in a 4.4 with a roof, just incase the sun ever comes out again.

I love the sunroof in our 4.3, especially in the sun in France last year!

[ianfish]

I would like to be at the launch some where but only as a RAV4 fan, to see the new RAV close up and to soak in the excitement as an observer. I love RAV4s but this new 4.4 has lost me. I don't have the money for a new car, our 2004 4.2 RAV is our limit, we love it and how it looks. If I was buying brand new, I would like a Suzuki Grand Vitara 5 door. This looks a lot like the 4.2, and so looks like a propper 4x4 and not a beefed up estate car. Now I know this is just me but I like a 4x4 to look like a 4x4, (I'm not on about the Imprezas and the Pandas) there is something about having the spare on the rear that does it for me!

How do you get to be at a launch,can you just pop along or is it by invite as Mrs P and meself would like to see its launch,and is it at all the Toyota branches or just a select few??

Hi Paul, if you are using your local Mr.T for servicing then it's pretty likely that you'll get a mail-shot for a launch event. Their sales guys will have you in the system as well and they'll be keen to get you to trade your 4.2 against a 4.4.

It isn't an elite celeb event - I've put dozens of invites in the bin just from my existing dealer & I've only been using them for 3 years or so. I get them from the local BMW dealer even though I've only ever been in there once & picked up a brochure, although I did give them my email addy. It's all about scatter gun marketing - they invite thousands to these things knowing that if they get 20% take-up, they're doing extremely well.

Good info there Jim. Back in 2006 when we where looking for our 1st RAV, we had a look at two 4.2's at our local Mr.T. But the other half wanted a 4.1, but they where too old for the dealer. But we sounded interested so they took our details. A couple of times in the future we got sent a long list of 4.2's they could offer us. I have since had accessories from them for the 4.1 and 4.2 we have owned. I still get mail from them, the last was a 50 Year Anniversary invitation last September. So hopefully I might get a launch invite. Failing that, I'll drive up in our gleaming black 4.2, park right outside the showroom, and say "I like RAV4s you know.........."

Huh! When we started looking at Ravs, we went to Exeter Toyota, they didn't have anything suitable but sat us down ,took all our details and.............never heard a dickybird from them!

[firemac]

I would like to be at the launch some where but only as a RAV4 fan, to see the new RAV close up and to soak in the excitement as an observer. I love RAV4s but this new 4.4 has lost me. I don't have the money for a new car, our 2004 4.2 RAV is our limit, we love it and how it looks. If I was buying brand new, I would like a Suzuki Grand Vitara 5 door. This looks a lot like the 4.2, and so looks like a propper 4x4 and not a beefed up estate car. Now I know this is just me but I like a 4x4 to look like a 4x4, (I'm not on about the Imprezas and the Pandas) there is something about having the spare on the rear that does it for me!

How do you get to be at a launch,can you just pop along or is it by invite as Mrs P and meself would like to see its launch,and is it at all the Toyota branches or just a select few??

Hi Paul, if you are using your local Mr.T for servicing then it's pretty likely that you'll get a mail-shot for a launch event. Their sales guys will have you in the system as well and they'll be keen to get you to trade your 4.2 against a 4.4.

It isn't an elite celeb event - I've put dozens of invites in the bin just from my existing dealer & I've only been using them for 3 years or so. I get them from the local BMW dealer even though I've only ever been in there once & picked up a brochure, although I did give them my email addy. It's all about scatter gun marketing - they invite thousands to these things knowing that if they get 20% take-up, they're doing extremely well.

Good info there Jim. Back in 2006 when we where looking for our 1st RAV, we had a look at two 4.2's at our local Mr.T. But the other half wanted a 4.1, but they where too old for the dealer. But we sounded interested so they took our details. A couple of times in the future we got sent a long list of 4.2's they could offer us. I have since had accessories from them for the 4.1 and 4.2 we have owned. I still get mail from them, the last was a 50 Year Anniversary invitation last September. So hopefully I might get a launch invite. Failing that, I'll drive up in our gleaming black 4.2, park right outside the showroom, and say "I like RAV4s you know.........."

Mind you, it's dead easy to get on the launch event guest list, especially if you already own a RAV. All you need to do is go into your nearest Toyota dealer and ask one of the sales guys when the 4.4 is being released. He'll ask for your name, address, email, inside leg measurement, sexual preference, etc. and promise you an invite. If you tell him that you have a RAV and are thinking about changing for the new one, he'll (she'll) get positively orgasmic; if you tell him that you are currently a less than happy CR-V, Freelander, Tiguan, Kuga, etc owner and have heard good things about Toyota's new RAV, they'll probably suggest that they'll try to get you a gold (or "preferred" or "priveleged") ticket - all complete b0ll0ck5 but it's meant to impress.

With regard to these launch events themselves, I've been to a few and frankly I've found them a waste of time. When they are successful you generally find that more people have turned up than anticipated so the free food runs out almost immediately and you can't get near the vehicles in question due to the sheer number of folk crawling over them. In really bad cases where kids have been allowed you can also find puddles of puke on seats (usually just after you've sat down....). Think the Ferrari stand at the NEC Motorshow where you can queue for hours (or days in bad years) before being allowed in to gape at the cars up close.

Better to just arrange a test drive a few days afterwards.

[Manxrav]

Don, from what I have sourced the 1.5ltr Suzuki engine is a "own-build" engine.M series engine is what it is designated.HTH

Regards Clare

[Hoovie]

Oooooo, I can comment about lots of comments here :)

Exeter Toyota (Marsh, I am guessing?) ... I found them very helpful and bought my RAV4.2 there as it happens (switched to Honiton for servicing later as more convenient)

GV Facelift .... No idea who did it, but I think it looks nice and while the old GV actually looked fine, the latest front is - to me - the same improvement appearance wise as the RAV4.3 facelift is to the older (non-chrome) version (The RAV4.3 looks never really worked for me until the Chrome grill release)

GV generally ... It is the engines that stops me being more interested. I tested the Diesel one when looking for a replacement for my HR-V and did not really like it. I also tried the X-Trail Diesel and that REALLY WAS like driving a tractor!

Renault Diesel engines ... my Qashqai had the 1.5DCi engine which is Renault and that was fairly refined for a diesel. I currently have a 2.5L Renault pushing out an massive 100bhp and that is actually a very reasonable drive as well :)

Suzuki Swift ... Lovely cars. We have a Swift 1.5 (Petrol) and that is a very nippy little motor and is a good looker as well.

[firemac]

Oooooo, I can comment about lots of comments here :)

Exeter Toyota (Marsh, I am guessing?) ... I found them very helpful and bought my RAV4.2 there as it happens (switched to Honiton for servicing later as more convenient)

GV Facelift .... No idea who did it, but I think it looks nice and while the old GV actually looked fine, the latest front is - to me - the same improvement appearance wise as the RAV4.3 facelift is to the older (non-chrome) version (The RAV4.3 looks never really worked for me until the Chrome grill release)

GV generally ... It is the engines that stops me being more interested. I tested the Diesel one when looking for a replacement for my HR-V and did not really like it. I also tried the X-Trail Diesel and that REALLY WAS like driving a tractor!

Renault Diesel engines ... my Qashqai had the 1.5DCi engine which is Renault and that was fairly refined for a diesel. I currently have a 2.5L Renault pushing out an massive 100bhp and that is actually a very reasonable drive as well :)

Suzuki Swift ... Lovely cars. We have a Swift 1.5 (Petrol) and that is a very nippy little motor and is a good looker as well.

I'm inclined to agree with you about the GV, David. I parked in one of our local retail parks nosed-in to a 59-reg GV in black. It looked really good, quite like a small Range Rover (OK, I detest JLR stuff but the RR is a brillaint concept & looks bl00dy good, if only it wasn't so expensive & didn't break down so much), which was something I hadn't notice with the GV before. The fact is that it has the right looks for a 4x4, very like the 4.2 RAV, which IMHO is still the best looking RAV of the lot (incl'g what I've seen of the 4.4 although final judgement must await seeing it in the metal).

Re French diesels, I don't understand Don's comment about Renault's. The French, especially PSA, have a reputation for producing good, well-refined, deisels - most of Ford's diesels were PSA's up to recently (may still be for all I know). Regie has been acclaimed widely as setting new standards for it's recent small diesels.

[Mike JD]

Huh! When we started looking at Ravs, we went to Exeter Toyota, they didn't have anything suitable but sat us down ,took all our details and.............never heard a dickybird from them!

Yup I had the same treatment from them. Call me fussy but with over twenty grand burning a hole in my pocket I expect better treatment than that. We went into every dealership on the Marsh Barton estate where there was a 4x4 in the range and were received courteously everywhere but the Mr T'ship.Ancs: Don't worry, I won't kill you because we differ. All that you say about the GV count as strengths to me. It is a radically better car on tracks and in fields that our 4.2 was and I thought at the time that the latter was good and with what I do for a living that is what I need. Mr T has taken a decision that in a world context they will flog you an LC for that sort of thing and decided to soften the RAV. They are there to sell volume so they are probably right. In the UK I believe the figure for the percentage of urban or suburban folk is over 80% of the total population and so aiming the RAV at them . Us other 20% need something that stands out from that crowd that works better (and more often) than a Landie. By the way, have you driven a tractor recently? They have changed a bit, you know ;-)

[Plutus]

I don't think anyone from Toyota can criticise another marques Diesel engines after the tales of woe I' ve read on here.

[firemac]

I don't think anyone from Toyota can criticise another marques Diesel engines after the tales of woe I' ve read on here.

Ouch!!!!! Not wrong, mind..................

[Hoovie]

Huh! When we started looking at Ravs, we went to Exeter Toyota, they didn't have anything suitable but sat us down ,took all our details and.............never heard a dickybird from them!

Yup I had the same treatment from them. Call me fussy but with over twenty grand burning a hole in my pocket I expect better treatment than that. We went into every dealership on the Marsh Barton estate where there was a 4x4 in the range and were received courteously everywhere but the Mr T'ship.....

How you get treated by a dealership can really vary tremendously from one day to another, I reckon.

When I did the rounds of Marsh Barton, Toyota were fine, Suzuki were good, Nissan were ok, and what I think was the combined Mitsubushi/Kia dealership (going from memory what the marque was - it was the one on the left on the road between Honda and Vauxhall) was appalling and I was ignored for about 15 minutes by the whole staff and then told eventually they had no demo cars, no brochures and no price lists).

Apparently Skoda is tops for the dealerships? Went to the Dealership in Edinburgh and the salesman was treating us like we were on a driving test while testing a Yeti.... "slow down, change gear, move into the left lane now" !

[anchorman]

I would openly criticise any other marque to demonstrate it is not all Toyota.

My reservations about Renault, PSA and BMW are born from experience.

Better the devil you know!

[anchorman]

What I will eat humble pie on is the Suzuki. It was the facelift that troubled me but having looked at other pictures it is fine.

Not about a 16 valve Renault diesel engine though.

[Ady-Rav4]

This will wet your appetites if you've not seen it, especially if you fancy a black one. Doesn't matter that you can't tell wot the bloke says, you get some nice long shots inside and out in this review. Put on HD and enjoy!

[Big Kev]

This will wet your appetites if you've not seen it, especially if you fancy a black one. Doesn't matter that you can't tell wot the bloke says, you get some nice long shots inside and out in this review. Put on HD and enjoy!

Nice wan, Ady....so.....we have :

New nose and headlights.....me no likey Rav with this adapted "familial" look.

We have a new dashboard....growing on me but BK jury sent to a hotel to consider final verdict.

We have a lifty-uppy tailgate.....handy for gymkhanas when it rains......genuinely would like one but not a must have.

We have a new rear light cluster....well.....fine....who cares....?

Otherwise my original knee-***** summation starting to stick.....one over heralded face-lift. Please note only IMHO. Maybe once the Bavarian Messiah engine comes (BM.....) I will change my mind, but that would be a result of a better driving experience.

We all buy cars with our eyes, and mine can see very little change.....

Big Kev

[CharlieFarlie]

I think its just a wee bit more than a facelift.... Almost all the panels are different and the interior is completely new and just so much more up to date.. A facelift for me is when they do what they did to the car last time around with a few detail changes like the grille and bonnet bulges and a few other minor changes.. This does to my eyes look a completely new car sharing the sillhouete only..

I like the new grille.. But then the old rav is near 7 years old now and the cars from the opposition are leaving it so far behind..

Please don't take this as a criticism of the 4.3 cos it aint !

Car looks very low at the roof height with our not so tall friend stood beside it ?

But Kev your right !! Until they send the car out with a credible new engine it really is the old car in new clothes.. The public that will buy this car will demand better emissions and certainly better MPG than we as current owners get from the current 2.2 lump..

I see this as a 4.3 1/2.. Wont be the full monty till the upcoming emissions changes and requirements force Toyota into fitting a new engine...

Close Toyota but no Cigar.....

[DjRav]

I thought the film stated they were tested the 2.5 version or did I hear wrong?

(Not at home now, so can't replay effectively!)

That's new isn't it?

Dave

[silly sausage]

I've just a brochure and price list in the post, it's the first time I've seen the overall measurements of the 4.4, it's slighty lower than the 4.3, by 2.5cm or so, the main 'gain' is an increase of 23.5 cm in length, over 9 inches in old money. I'm still impressed by the thing on the whole and I'm looking forward to the launch.

[philip42h]

I thought the film stated they were tested the 2.5 version or did I hear wrong?

(Not at home now, so can't replay effectively!)

That's new isn't it?

Dave

Yes, the 2.5 gasoline engine as used in the US ... but not here in the UK.

[i don't think that new either.]

[rambler]

Only thing that i like is the Battery is at the front of the engine bay....it is the only thing i like about the design.

[firemac]

This video reinforces my opinion that it's got a Sportage front-end and a Santa Fe rear but, strangely enough for what is supposed to be a brand new design, it looks very like the 4.3, especially when looked at from the front 3/4 view towards the rear. It almost looks like, as Charlie says, a 4.3 1/2.

Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing it in the metal and am particularly interested in what option packs will be available, e.g sidesteps, side protection panels, etc. I also hope that the roof rails are standard.

[Hoovie]

The side profile is very much an evolution of the 4.3, but I'm sure that is deliberate so it is recognisable as a RAV4.

That is pretty typical of new versions of a popular car.... They change the fronts to mimic the current "family" look, but the sides continue on the model style pretty much.

If you look at the various Golf incarnations, I think they all maintained that very heavy C Pillar for model continuity (even though it was always critised as being claustrophobic and giving poor visibility).

The Escort was kind of the same, and when Ford went for a totally diffent look, the Escort got a new name to match.

[Big Kev]

The side profile is very much an evolution of the 4.3, but I'm sure that is deliberate so it is recognisable as a RAV4.

That is pretty typical of new versions of a popular car.... They change the fronts to mimic the current "family" look, but the sides continue on the model style pretty much.

If you look at the various Golf incarnations, I think they all maintained that very heavy C Pillar for model continuity (even though it was always critised as being claustrophobic and giving poor visibility).

The Escort was kind of the same, and when Ford went for a totally diffent look, the Escort got a new name to match.

Excessively well put and exactly what I meant by "facelift".....it looks hee haw different from the side, but the front (its FACE.....) radically changed but retains familialityness (rightly or wrongly). The fact it has now got a lifting tailgate is just to prove they have hearing in ONE ear.....the other ear was deaf and had all requests for a spare wheel aimed at it.......

Big Kev

[Davrav]

Just can't get past that front end - not just plain, it's plain ugly........................

Almost certainly more aerodynamic than the 4.3 but, to me, it's on a par with the woefully aesthetically challenged CRV front end.

I wager that the front will be subject to the first facelift of the 4.4.