Best Leisure Double Cab Bakkies in SA: #CarsAwards Finalists
Meet the finalists in the Leisure Double Cab Bakkie category of the 2018/19 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank!
Now in its 4th year, the #CarsAwards was conceived to be South Africa's definitive automotive awards programme and is backed, for the 3rd year running, by the country's leading supplier of vehicle finance, WesBank.
The Leisure Double Cab Bakkie category is guided by both eligibility factors and Pillars of Success. Eligibility factors include a listed price between R500 000 and R800 000 at the time of semi-finalist voting (September 1, 2018), to ensure upmarket, luxurious vehicles are considered as per market requirements. The vehicle must be a Double-Cab (4 doors) Pick-Up with a turbodiesel engine and 4-wheel drive. Eligible vehicles must be equipped with an automatic transmission and feature a minimum ground clearance of 200mm.
Pillars of Success for this category include performance, space and practicality, in-car entertainment, comfort, all-surface ability and safety.
The Ranger Wildtrak (2016/17 champion) is back to challenge for a win in this category. Well equipped, sturdy and endowed with appealing square-jawed looks, the Ford Ranger continues to sell up a storm in South Africa. This model is powered by a muscular 5-cylinder engine and is claimed to offer class-leading passenger comfort.
Toyota's latest Raider flagships have received an added dose of "wow" factor following a recent facelift that has seen them adopt the popular Dakar Special Edition’s design tweaks. Inside, too, it has received some attention making it a strong contender in this category.
Meet the finalists in the Adventure SUV category of the 2018/19 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank!
Now in its 4th year, the #CarsAwards was conceived to be South Africa's definitive automotive awards programme and is backed, for the 3rd year running, by the country's leading supplier of vehicle finance, WesBank.
The Adventure SUV category is guided by both eligibility factors and Pillars of Success. Eligibility factors include a listed price between R550 000 and R700 000 at the time of semi-finalist voting (September 1, 2018), including the cost of all necessary optional extras. Necessary features include electronic stability control (ESC), 6 airbags (minimum), split/fold rear seats, minimum 200 mm ground clearance and all-wheel drive.
Pillars of Success for this category include performance, space and practicality, in-car entertainment, comfort and all-surface ability.
Ford’s Everest is a spacious, well-specified and capable 7-seater variant of the locally-produced Ranger bakkie. South Africans have a love affair with large, rugged SUVs and Ford has served up exactly what they’ve been asking for… a macho, versatile machine that can tackle the rough stuff and transport a large family in comfort.
The MU-X is Isuzu’s first new offering since the Japanese marque became independent from the (now departed) General Motors in the South African market. The newcomer is effectively a Chevrolet Trailblazer under the skin, but has the D-Max’s bulletproof turbodiesel engine under its bonnet. Renowned for excellent after-sales service and reliability, Isuzu is also one of the most respected brands in SA.
The Toyota Fortuner is one of the country’s most-loved vehicles. It continues its predecessor’s winning recipe of ruggedness and versatility, but adds a generous helping of sophistication, style, refinement and technology into the mix.
Meet the finalists in the Hot Hatch category of the 2018/19 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank!
Now in its 4th year, the #CarsAwards was conceived to be South Africa's definitive automotive awards programme and is backed, for the 3rd year running, by the country's leading supplier of vehicle finance, WesBank.
The Hot Hatch category is guided by both eligibility factors and Pillars of Success. Eligibility factors include a listed price below R700 000 at the time of semi-finalist voting (September 1, 2018) to ensure that this doesn’t become a category dominated by extravagant and unattainable exotics.
Pillars of Success for this category include drivetrain engagement, handling, sensory appeal and standard features.
If you’re looking for rear-wheel-drive fun in a hot-hatch shape, the M140i is your only port of call. It’s not a range filler either, you get a straight-6 turbo engine under the bonnet and the short wheelbase makes it a feisty handler in the bends. It may not be as raucous to drive as some of the hot hatches in this category, but it does offer a more grown-up experience for performance aficionados.
The newest Honda Civic Type R blends hot hatch and sedan looks into one. It has been refined from the previous model in ways that have vastly improved its comfort and driving dynamics. Its exterior suggests something exceptionally wild, but all of the little winglets and vents are functional in either keeping the R stuck to the ground or cooling its components. The new Civic’s major drawcard is that it’s somehow brilliant on the track and suitably comfortable “when the red mist isn’t visible”.
Some of the best hot hatches of the last decade have been crafted by Renault Sport. The newest Megane RS continues to deliver superb driving thrills and a massive fun factor. The new model comes with a few extra tricks up its sleeve, such as 4-wheel steering and, for the first time 4 doors. The Lux model, introduced in mid 2018, thrusts itself straight into competition with the Golf GTI.
Meet the finalists in the Premium SUV category of the 2018/19 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank!
Now in its 4th year, the #CarsAwards was conceived to be South Africa's definitive automotive awards programme and is backed, for the 3rd year running, by the country's leading supplier of vehicle finance, WesBank.
The Premium SUV category is guided by both eligibility factors and Pillars of Success. Eligibility factors include a listed price between R1 000 000 and R1 300 000 at the time of semi-finalist voting (September 1, 2018) and it must be a large SUV (BMW X5/Mercedes GLE size). Crossover derivatives such as the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE Coupe are also considered. All-wheel drive must be offered as standard.
Pillars of Success for this category include powertrain technology, luxury features, brand strength, design and quality appeal, driving dynamics and space and practicality.
The 3rd-generation Porsche Cayenne made the cutoff for consideration for the 2018/19 Awards by just a few days, but we’re glad it’s here. While the changes from 2nd to 3rd generation may seem incremental, they add up to quite a lot; the Cayenne’s rivals have some thinking to do if they hope to match the Zuffenhausen’s latest SUV. If the exterior design leaves you cold, you’ll be blown away by how futuristic the cabin is.
Range Rover revealed the all-new Velar in 2018 as a filler between the Evoque and Sport models. It has eye-catching looks, clever flush-fitting door handles and a potent turbodiesel engine. The interior has an all-new design and features two separate touchscreens in the centre console. If its prestige and excitement you’re looking for out of your premium SUV, the Velar is the perfect offering.
The 3rd-generation Touareg is crammed with technology and luxury comfort features, plus offers genuine off-road capability. However, in the status-obsessed premium SUV segment, the badge on a car's nose is all-important. Will the newcomer attract customers (or an award) in the way its predecessors couldn't? Time will tell…
Best Performance Cars in SA: #CarsAwards Finalists
Meet the finalists in the Performance Car category of the 2018/19 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank!
Now in its 4th year, the #CarsAwards was conceived to be South Africa's definitive automotive awards programme and is backed, for the 3rd year running, by the country's leading supplier of vehicle finance, WesBank.
The Performance Car category is guided by both eligibility factors and Pillars of Success. Eligibility factors include a listed price between R600 000 and R1 000 000 at the time of semi-finalist voting (September 1, 2018) to ensure that this doesn’t become a category dominated by extravagant and unattainable exotics.
Pillars of Success for this category include drivetrain engagement, handling, sensory appeal and standard features.
The Audi TT RS is a compact 2-door sportscar with one goal in mind: to deliver visceral, blistering performance. The RS badges, which are splashed prominently around the Audi’s bodywork, leave no-one in doubt that the coupe is meant to be the fastest in its family.
This is a supercar-hunting weapon masquerading as a well-mannered coupe. Underneath the bonnet is a thumping engine, the TT’s suspension has been overhauled and the visual go-faster bodywork serves as a reminder that this is meant to be hardcore driver's car.
The 2017/18 Performance Car category champion returns in its latest, updated form: the BMW M2 Competition, this time in manual guise. Now fitted with a detuned bi-turbocharged engine sourced from its M3 and M4 siblings, the M2 Competition packs more power and torque while still delivering the performance and handling ability that makes it one of the greatest M-cars ever produced.
The Porsche 718 Cayman S, which is powered by a 2.5-litre flat-4 turbopetrol engine, offers exceptional performance for a sportscar priced under R1 million. Not only is the Cayman S an attractively styled coupe – it delights the senses by the manner it delivers accessible(but nonetheless engaging) performance.
Best Compact Family Cars in SA: #CarsAwards Finalists
Meet the finalists in the Compact Family Car category of the 2018/19 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank!
Now in its 4th year, the #CarsAwards was conceived to be South Africa's definitive automotive awards programme and is backed, for the 3rd year running, by the country's leading supplier of vehicle finance, WesBank.
The Compact Family Car category is guided by both eligibility factors and Pillars of Success. Eligibility factors include a listed price between R300 000 and R400 000 at the time of semi-finalist voting (September 1, 2018), including the cost of all necessary optional extras. Necessary features include ABS, electronic stability control (ESC), 4 airbags (minimum), split rear seats, service plan and air-conditioning.
Pillars of Success for this category include engine flexibility, fuel economy, space and practicality, design and quality appeal, comfort and safety.
The Ford EcoSport has been revised for 2018. In fact, it boasts no fewer than 2 300 new parts. There’s a new look both inside and out, a revised infotainment system and a slightly bigger luggage bay. With punchy 3-cylinder turbo engines, the new-look EcoSport is pleasant to drive and offers decent value for money.
Hyundai recently launched its facelifted Creta after only about a year and a half on the local market. The 1.6CRDi Executive auto was a finalist in the 2017/18 programme, and the update modernises the Hyundai’s external appearance and some interior features. It is one of the most spacious and practical compact family cars on the market, which explains why it’s a top-seller in its segment.
The popular Qashqai was facelifted in early 2018 and the update brings Nissan’s compact crossover right back in contention for a #CarsAwards category victory, thanks to numerous changes, both inside and out.
Finalists: 2018/19 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank
It’s#CarsAwards week and the winners of the 2018/19 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank will be announced at a prestigious gala event to be held in Johannesburg on Thursday, 24 January 2019.
The finalists (3 in each of the 13 respective categories) were selected out of 65 vehicles (semi-finalists) that Cars.co.za’s extended editorial team agreed were the best derivatives available in the South African new passenger vehicle market on 1 September 2018.
Now in its 4th year, the #CarsAwards was conceived to be South Africa’s definitive automotive awards programme and is backed, for the 3rd year running by the country’s leading supplier of vehicle finance, WesBank. To determine the finalists, the extended editorial team trimmed the number of candidates per category from 5 to 3 by evaluating them against predetermined pillars of success.
How to watch the #CarsAwards
We will be streaming the #CarsAwards event live on the Cars.co.za YouTube channel from 7:30 PM, so make sure you subscribe! You can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram to get running updates on the night as well as pictures and videos from the red carpet. You can engage with us across all our social media channels using the hashtag #CarsAwards.
Volkswagen steals the march
No fewer than 18 vehicle brands are represented in the list of finalists, with Volkswagen leading the nominations with 7 derivatives, followed by BMW and Ford (4 apiece), and Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo (3 apiece). Significantly, Porsche and Isuzu make their first appearances in the final stage of the #CarsAwards programme, while Honda and Range Rover return to the list of 39 after failing to make the last round in 2017/18.
Because candidates were selected from the entire new passenger vehicle market, instead of only models launched during the past 12 months, it’s unsurprising that there are as many as 17 returning finalists from last year’s programme (including 7 of the eventual category winners). However, only the particular derivatives of the Audi A5 Sportback and Q5, Toyota Fortuner, Volkswagen Amarok and Volvo S90 are unchanged.
The next phase of the programme will take place on 1 and 2 November 2018, when all the vehicles that are listed as finalists will be judged back-to-back (against the rivals in their categories) during a 2-day test session at Gerotek. The judging panel is diverse: it includes the experienced motoring journalists of the Cars.co.za extended editorial team, as well as 14 respected and influential guest judges, with a broad base of expertise.
The importance of after-sales service
However, the findings of the 20 judges will only count for half of the finalists’ total scores – the remaining 50% will be based on rankings that the respective vehicles’ brands achieved in the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey, which is conducted in partnership with leading data specialists Lightstone Consumer. The data incorporates feedback from thousands of vehicle owners, based on their experiences of their own vehicles, which are less than five years old and serviced through franchised outlets.
In other words, the experiences and perceptions of South African vehicle owners have a significant impact on which 13 category winners will be announced early next year, and, importantly, their feedback will completely determine the 2018/19 Brand of the Year, won for the past two years by Suzuki.
To participate in the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey or access more information about the programme (including categories, judges and finalists) visit http://www.carsawards.co.za
The 2018/19 #CarsAwards finalists in their respective categories are:
Budget Car (under R200 000)
Buying an affordable car should not necessitate compromises in terms of safety, technology and quality. The winner of this category represents as much good car as possible for the asking price. Value is very important, as are low running costs and all such “common sense” considerations. The price cap for this category is R200 000 (on 1 September 2018) and, as always, we’ve placed an emphasis on safety equipment: dual front airbags and ABS are required features in this category.
In this extremely competitive category, we’re looking for a balanced offering that is excellent across the board. Cars in this segment must appeal to a very wide audience – from the young professional or -family buying up from an entry-level car, to pensioners buying down from something larger and expensive. The winner of this award must truly reflect what is best about modern automotive design and engineering, but present it in a concentrated, reasonably affordable form.
We’re looking for the ultimate recreational vehicle to transport a family and their holiday and lifestyle gear in comfort to almost any destination, on- or off-road. Off-road ability is emphasised, in combination with practicality, comfort and long-distance cruising.
With household budgets stretched to breaking point, the reasonably affordable contemporary family car has to wear many hats – from compact traffic-dodger to school-run taxi and even weekend getaway machine. Practicality and spaciousness are important considerations, but so are safety, technology, fuel efficiency and a modicum of lifestyle flexibility.
The typical family car fulfils a wide variety of duties and needs to be a practical, safe all-rounder. The winner of this category should be ideal not only for the morning school run, but also school-holiday trips to distant locations. In judging this category, we’ve placed particular emphasis on interior flexibility, comfort and safety.
In this immensely popular and fiercely contested category of the market, the search is on for the ultimate all-rounder. A leisure double-cab is required to be as many as 5 different vehicles (depending on which task it is required to perform): a luxurious tourer, hardcore off-roader, capable carry-all, family do-all and lifestyle activity machine. This type of bakkie can no longer afford to be too utilitarian and rough around the edges; it’s expected to be a highly sophisticated offering.
In this category, you will find the type of cars that (realistic) dreams are made off. We’re looking for an aspirational vehicle that will appeal to the image-conscious driver who places a priority on performance, dynamics, technology and design. The target customers have achieved success and want a car that isn’t only a personal reward, but the automotive embodiment of their achievements.
An Executive SUV is increasingly regarded as the status symbol to have, therefore most premium brands now offer road-biased SUVs that combine prestige and practicality in a package that is characterised by superior refinement. Drivetrain performance and refined road manners are priorities, as is a cabin that features upmarket materials and the most up-to-date technology. The semi-finalists are:
This category replaces the previous “Premium Hatchback” segment. Buyers of traditional upmarket hatchbacks are increasingly also considering fashionable crossovers, so it only makes sense to group them together into 1 category. Stylish and sophisticated, yet practical enough for most motoring needs, these are the cars for upwardly mobile go-getters. The winner in this category must not only offer outstanding quality, refinement, performance and the latest technologies, but also broadcast a message of success and ambition.
With very few compact fun cars currently available in South Africa, our focus falls on the traditional hot hatch, which offers sportscar-humbling performance, while retaining an admirable measure of practicality. In this new category, we’re looking for a total package that is not outlandishly priced. This is one for the petrolheads – a car that must leave die-hard enthusiasts smiling after every drive, in the way it looks, handles, sounds and, yes, performs.
While supercars and other “exotics” are mere fantasies for most, there are cars priced below the magical R1-million mark that offer near-supercar thrills and performance. In this category, we are not only looking for sizzling performance, but also driver engagement, whether driven on track or road.
Luxurious SUVs may appeal for irrational and emotional reasons such as kerb appeal and status, but at their core, they are some of the most sophisticated and capable vehicles on the market. Blending spaciousness with high-tech off-road equipment, powerful engines, as well as luxuriously trimmed cabins, the prestige-badged premium SUV we are looking for in this category should be tailor-made for image- and practicality-obsessed buyers.
These technological masterpieces represent an enviable blend of first-class luxury and comfort, and business-class technology and dynamic appeal. Prestige is usually a given in this segment, but we’re also looking for significant technological advancement, yet without compromising the level of comfort and quiet style that these sedans are renowned for.
Best Business Class Cars in SA: #CarsAwards Finalists
Meet the finalists in the Business Class category of the 2018/19 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank!
Now in its 4th year, the #CarsAwards was conceived to be South Africa's definitive automotive awards programme and is backed, for the 3rd year running, by the country's leading supplier of vehicle finance, WesBank.
The Business Class category is guided by both eligibility factors and Pillars of Success. Eligibility factors include a listed price between R600 000 and R800 000 at the time of semi-finalist voting (September 1, 2018), 6 airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The fitment of required optional extras must collectively not push the price over R800 000.
Pillars of Success for this category include powertrain technology, luxury, brand strength, design and quality appeal, driving dynamics and technology.
Compared with its highly-regarded A4 sedan sibling, the A5 Sportback offers notably more style and individuality. The Audi’s strengths are impressive build quality, refinement and a punchy 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.
A top-seller in South Africa and with a World Car of the Year title already under its belt, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class continues to be a comfortable front-runner in the business class segment. However, the Stuttgart-based firm extensively facelifted the C-Class in mid-2018, which introduced new engines, safety features and tech.
The head-turning Volkswagen Arteon is the successor to the svelte CC. It looks like no other contemporary Volkswagen and is, in essence, a fashion-forward reimagining of the conservative Passat.
Best Executive Sedans in SA: #CarsAwards Finalists
Meet the finalists in the Executive Sedan category of the 2018/19 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards – powered by WesBank!
Now in its 4th year, the #CarsAwards was conceived to be South Africa's definitive automotive awards programme and is backed, for the 3rd year running, by the country's leading supplier of vehicle finance, WesBank.
The Executive Sedan category is guided by both eligibility factors and Pillars of Success. Eligibility factors include a listed price between R800 000 and R1 000 000 at the time of semi-finalist voting (September 1, 2018) to ensure a healthy measure of prestige. Pillars of Success for this category include powertrain technology, brand strength, design and quality appeal, driving dynamics, technology and comfort.
From a global perspective, the BMW 5 Series is a pivotal car for the Bavarian-based brand, not only in terms of volumes but profitability. After the 7 Series won the First Class category in 2016/17, we predicted the 5 would be just as good and, based on its pricing and specification, it is clearly a frontrunner in the Executive Sedan class.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is purported to be the most accomplished executive sedan on the market and is a powerhouse in terms of technological features. Merc has extensively upgraded the interior capabilities of the E-Class to adapt to the modern business person’s everyday life and the E-Class remains a strong contender in this segment.
The underappreciated S90 shares a platform with its multiple #CarsAwards-winning XC90 sibling, so can it pull off a similar coup in its segment? The S90 brings luxury, refinement, credible performance and semi-autonomous capability to the table, making it a worthy contender in this category.
The 5th-generation RAV4, which is due to arrive in South Africa in March 2019, was launched in Barcelona last week. Boasting an eye-catching new exterior design, the latest RAV4 is primed to cement Toyota's success in the local family car segment. Gero Lilleike travelled to Spain to take the new RAV4 for a drive; herewith his feedback…
If I’m honest, the outgoing RAV4 didn't quite do it for me. It was just too… well, ordinary-looking. Nonetheless, the RAV4 has done very well for itself in its 25-year existence – it’s practical, offers reasonably good performance and like most Toyotas, it's very reliable.
It’s for those very reasons that the RAV4 has been so formidable in its segment and it keeps buyers coming back, time and time again. Given the rampant popularity of family cars, it’s no surprise that the RAV4 is a key volume model for Toyota with a 14% market share year-to-date 2018. And, with more than 9-million units sold since its introduction in 1994, the RAV4's one of the most successful SUV nameplates in the world.
Now, at 38 000 ft, somewhere above the Mediterranean Sea, I am happy to report that the latest RAV4 has more of an edge and after driving it, my opinion of Toyota's family car has changed, for the better.
The RAV4 needed a drastic styling makeover and with this new RAV4, Toyota has steered away from its generally conservative styling approach and endowed the 5th-generation car with a striking polygonal design theme that makes it look bolder and far more expressive than ever before.
While its styling is, yes, polarising, we think Toyota deserves some praise for giving the new RAV4 a more exciting and attention-grabbing design that will make it stand out against its rivals in this segment.
Only 2 petrol engines will make it to SA while no diesel engines will be offered. The RAV4 Hybrid is not destined for SA, yet…
Firstly, no turbodiesel engines will be offered for the new RAV4 and while the new RAV4 Hybrid plays a key role in other markets around the world, it hasn’t been earmarked for South Africa at this point in time. Hybrids just don't seem to do good business in South Africa, at least not yet…
With the new RAV4 expected to launch in South Africa in March 2019, South African buyers will instead have the choice between 2 higher output, naturally aspirated petrol engines, 3 transmissions and 3 trim grades including the entry-level GX, the more rugged GX-R Adventure derivative and the range-topping VX grade. Both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive formats will be offered, bringing the total derivative count to 5.
The RAV4 GX is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 127 kW and 207 Nm and will be offered with either a 6-speed manual transmission or CVT in front-wheel-drive guise.
The all-wheel-drive RAV4 GX-R Adventure derivative, which we drove in Spain, is also mated with a CVT, but is distinguished by pronounced skid plates and wheel arch cladding and a larger, protruding grille which makes it look more rugged to suit its ambitions as an outdoor lifestyle offering.
The 2.0-litre engine will also come to market in the luxury-focused VX trim grade also with a CVT and in front-wheel-drive guise, while the range will be headlined by the all-wheel drive, 2.5-litre VX with 152 kW and 250 Nm, but equipped with an improved 8-speed automatic transmission.
What's the interior like?
The interior is robust with a premium look and feel. Note the new digital rear-view camera.
At 2 690 mm, the RAV4's wheelbase has been extended by 30 mm, which has had a positive impact on cabin space. We were pleasantly surprised by the truly generous legroom afforded to rear passengers and the load bay (492 litres, 572 litres in the VX) should prove very useful for families.
Interior build quality is good with a premium look and feel and the GX-R derivative we sampled featured plush leather upholstery and soft-touch surfaces on the dashboard. It's definitely a comfortable place to be.
A nifty feature is the new digital rear-view mirror, which can project an adjustable reverse-view camera feed that enhances rearward visibility but this feature has not been confirmed for the SA market. The larger instrument cluster display is also more attractive than before and it lifts the interior ambience substantially.
In contrast with cars that we drove (pictured here), South African-spec RAV4s will receive an in-house 7-inch infotainment system, but it won’t feature navigation. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto won't feature initially either, but will likely be introduced at a later stage. A wireless charging pad is offered on the GX-R Adventure grade and up, plus the RAV4 can be equipped with up to 5 USB ports (3 front, 2 rear), which is a boon.
What's the RAV4 like to drive?
The new RAV4 2.0 GX-R performs well overall and should serve well as a family car.
In a basement below the streets of Barcelona, 40 new RAV4s lay in wait. While most were hybrids, four 2.0-litre all-wheel-drive GX-R Adventure derivatives were allocated to the SA media. Preset routes navigated us through the bustling city and into the Spanish countryside.
We found the 127 kW/207 Nm 2.0-litre RAV4's performance to be adequate rather than exceptional. It didn’t feel underpowered, but we were at sea level, which means some gusto will be lost at altitude. With that said, more torque would give this RAV4's motor a bit more bite.
Although the RAV4 gets up to speed at a fair pace, we found the CVT to be a tad lazy and moany under a firmer right foot, but the powertrain's hum was never so intrusive that it became annoying. Responsiveness improves in manual mode and by using the steering-mounted paddles; the CVT is more easily exploitable to suit your driving situation. There are also 3 drive modes including Eco, Normal and Sport.
The RAV4's ride quality is more refined than before – we were mightily impressed with its road manners. The body structure is some 57% stiffer and because the new RAV4 is wider by 10 mm, it hugs the road with reassurance and handles cornering with more confidence and poise. The Toyota's ride is buttery smooth and combined with a well-weighted steering feel, it should be a pleasure to drive daily and even more so on longer journeys.
The new RAV4 can tackle a rugged mountain track with ease thanks to a new all-wheel-drive system.
We also took the RAV4 GX-R Adventure on a mild 4×4 track where the new mechanical all-wheel-drive system, which now features a dynamic torque vectoring system with Rear Driveline Disconnect for the first time, was put to the test. The twin couplings on the rear axle allow for torque distribution between the left and right rear wheels, which enhances traction performance in a variety of conditions. A graphic display in the instrument cluster also shows you exactly where and how much torque is being apportioned to each of the wheels, which is a nice touch.
The RAV4 hardly broke a sweat on the rugged mountain road, but we look forward to putting the new RAV4 to the challenge of tougher conditions in South Africa. The driver can also select an appropriate mode to suit the conditions by using the dial on the centre console… Driving modes include Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt and Snow.
In terms of safety, the RAV4 is equipped with no fewer than 7 airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, Hill Ascent Control and Trailer Sway Control. The GX-R Adventure adds Downhill Assist Control. The top-spec VX derivatives will also be equipped with features such as Lane Departure Alert, Blind Spot Monitor, Cross Traffic Alert and Adaptive Cruise Control.
Final thoughts
The new RAV4 is an impressive offering and should be well received when it arrives in March 2019.
Overall, our first impressions of the new RAV4 are very positive. We like the more purposeful exterior styling and the spacious and well-equipped interior will undoubtedly serve its target market well. Furthermore, the RAV4’s ride quality is excellent. Performance of the 2.0-litre petrol engine should suffice, but we fear that those living on the Highveld may find it to be marginally underwhelming. The RAV4 2.5 VX AWD will likely offer better performance, but we will only be able to drive the flagship derivative upon its local launch in March 2019.
Toyota expects the RAV4 2.0 GX CVT and GX-R Adventure to be the volume sellers in our market and while pricing has yet to be confirmed, a Toyota representative has assured us that the pricing structure will be competitive. If that is indeed the case, buyers looking for a competent family vehicle may want to delay their prospective family car purchases until the new RAV4 arrives. It may very well be worth the wait…
