– By Marc Sibbald –
Many people have heard me say, “I just don’t get this fascination with SUVs when sedans are so much more practical”. After driving the latest model Toyota RAV4 GX I get it.
To be fair it’s been a while since I spent some time in an SUV and I recall a bouncy ride and handling like a lounge chair. The week in the RAV4 travelling around Sydney was great and it only took one drive for me to realise that my opinion was about to change.
It’s ride wasn’t the same as a Camry or similar sized sedan but it was very capable. Driving in traffic or motorways was as good as you’d expect with most modern vehicles. Where the RAV4 excelled was tight local streets and roundabouts. You could drive it like a small car without being bounced out of your seat; or take quick trip down to the shops and park it anywhere.
Because I drive a sedan most days it normally takes a while to adjust my style to suit the vehicle I’m reviewing (4X4 utes are always challenging the first day). This wasn’t the case with the RAV4. I could keep driving the way I normally would in a sedan which surprised me with an SUV.
The newest RAV4 has lots of space in the front and room for all the things I need for a week on the road. As a fleet vehicle to drive everyday it met all the Fleet Auto News test drive requirements including easy Bluetooth connection for phone and music. And the model I drove didn’t have any of the distracting technology found in most cars today which was refreshing for all old school road warrior.
The touch screen worked well and connected easily to an iPhone. And though the RAV4 doesn’t have Apple CarPlay the interface is very capable and worked well enough for my technology savy kids.
On the weekends the back seat and boot provided plenty of room for the family adventures. I saw the advantages of an SUV over a traditional wagon for fleets that need to carry stock or merchandise. There was lots of room left once it was fully loaded with my boot space test rig (the soccer kit and 15 training balls).
The GX rims are steel and the tyre size was the popular 225/65R17 which means a low replacement cost. When combined with Toyota Service Advantage it makes for a competitive whole of life cost.
Before I completely convert to a lover of SUVs I think I need to drive a few more to make sure it wasn’t a one off experience. So I don’t think I’ll be ditching the sedan straight away, but I might not be as vocal in the Fleet Auto News office when the VFACTS results are announced each month.
