When the all-new Toyota RAV4 was revealed earlier this year, there was one question on everyone’s minds: Why is it not being offered with a 4x4 variant?
The car’s name, after all, stands for ‘Recreational Activity Vehicle: 4-wheel drive.’ Its predecessors, which had power delivered to all four wheels, are fondly remembered by many as recreational on- and off-road toys.
Well, according to Toyota Motor Philippines, the number of people purchasing 4x4 RAV4s in the past wasn’t significant enough for the company to consider bringing in that variant for the new generation. Fair enough, then. So the next question is: What are we left with?
What we have is a 4x2 compact SUV powered by a 2.5-liter gasoline engine with 203hp and 243Nm, paired to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Its features include a panoramic sunroof, a wireless smartphone charger, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support. In this video, we take Toyota’s new offering for a short drive to find out if it lives up to its predecessors.
To learn more about the 4x2 RAV4, click play on the video above. And don’t forget to check out Launch Pad story as well to get a more in-depth look at the new model.
