Toyota RAV4 (06 on) - Review

The RAV4 is comfortable for passengers with wind and road noise kept down - even at higher speeds. The sound of the diesel engine is evident at higher speeds, but it's never excessive. All passengers get supportive seats and plenty of room - there is enough leg space in the rear for adults although three may find it limited in shoulder room. All models get climate control along with a six-speaker CD player with MP3 functionality.

As it's close to the ground, it's easy to put luggage into the boot of the RAV4 and to get in-and-out of the back seats. There's no three-door option, as on previous generations, so all buyers will benefit from the better accessibility of a five-door. It is very flexible too with fold-flat seats, similar to ones fitted to the Verso and Yaris. Pull one of two levers in the boot and the seats fold flat into the floor - there's no need to remove the headrests or any of the cushions. The seats have a 60/40 split and slide for extra legroom or more luggage space while the load area itself is wide. Other cabin cubbies include a double glovebox, bottle holders and illuminated cupholders. One thing to be aware of is the rear door - it's hinged to the right-hand side rather then opening upwards like a conventional hatch. This can be tricky to open in tight parking spaces or multi-storey car parks.

The driving position isn't as raised as you may expect from a 4x4, though it still gives a good view of the road. All-round visibility is impressive, while top models get a reversing camera as standard. The driver's seat is very supportive with lots of adjustment (electronic on top models) and there's a steering wheel that adjusts for height and reach. The dials have been re-designed and are easy to read while the locations of the buttons and switches have been well thought out. All the heating controls are grouped into three 'dials', while other controls, such as those for the windows and central locking, are ideally placed. Only the touch-screen sat nav can be a little fiddly to use on the move, though this is something that can be mastered with time.