Ravn for old friendship

What associations do you have in your head when you say "Toyota RAV4"? These cars have been traveling on the roads of Russia for the second decade, and it is difficult to find a person who has not heard about this model.

Over time, the crossover was modified, redesigned, modernized. The first RAV4 was released in 1994 and was positioned by the company as a youth car. The third generation in Russia was perceived more as female, and today RAV4 claims to be a family necessity.

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The new Toyota RAV4 is full of contradictions. Practicality on the one hand and some upgrades that are not always convenient to use. Comfortable riding and low noise insulation. Powerful engine and braking multimedia system. All this makes a rather contradictory impression.

The appearance of the car has been updated. The front of the Toyota resembles a stormtrooper helmet from the new "Star Wars", and on the side — a cute aquarium fish. In general, the look turned out to be harmonious, albeit a little aggressive.

The car is literally stuffed with electronics: cameras in front, behind and on the mirrors, LED optics and even a smart 5th door that can be adjusted according to the opening height.

The cameras on the mirrors are part of the all—round view system. When driving, you can assess the situation, just like in a computer game, and while parking, run a car inspection in a circle before starting to move. Also, the smart system will show what you have now "under the hood".

The car is now produced only in a long base, and this is an undoubted plus. Here, like in a phone booth from the TV series "Doctor Who", there is more space inside than it seems from the outside.

An undoubted plus is the low loading height of the trunk. No need to lift heavy things to chest height to throw them inside. You begin to appreciate such trifles if you load, for example, a stroller several times a day.

Everything is standard inside the trunk. In the new version of the car, a full—size spare tire was abandoned, which is very noticeable externally and quite convenient when operating - it adds space.

However, everything is fine with the space in the car anyway: it's worth spreading out the back seats, and you will get quite a decent runway, where you can urgently land boxes with seedlings for your beloved mother-in-law and greenhouse boards for your beloved father-in-law, throw warm clothes that "it's time to take to the country", a couple of boxes with old children's toys. And all this is safely transported at one time.

In the back seats, passengers will also have no problems with a free seat. The car does not have a central tunnel, the knees do not rest against the back of the front seats. Unfortunately, the advantages end there. The rear part of the car received slightly less high-quality finishing materials, there are no separate air ducts of the climate system. However, there is a socket (cigarette lighter). And the seat backs can be smoothly adjusted along the slope, and there is also heating in the top configuration.

The passengers in the front seats got a little more.

The driver received a multifunctional heated wheel. By the way, the car rolls perfectly.

A color display with a lot of necessary and not so much information appeared on the dashboard.

I would like to tell you about the multimedia system and the climate control system separately. On the one hand, navigation is waiting for you, the ability to connect your phone to a speakerphone, connect an iPod or listen to music via USB. On the other hand, the speed and depth of settings need to be improved. I want from modern machines the speed of reaction and a clear user interface. In the wilds of RAV4 settings, you can wander for a long time, but you can't find the right option.

With the climate control system, too, everything is difficult. It works well, but often you have to adjust the intensity level — Fast, Medium or Soft. For example, in Fast mode, the air blows like from a turbine. Why the Auto button is needed in this case is unclear.

The video review system is beyond praise — convenient and safe. One problem is the speed of work. There is some delay when the system notifies about approaching an obstacle. You have to get used to it. Otherwise, there is a risk of first feeling an obstacle, and then hearing a "beep" from the parking sensor.

Under the main dashboard there are buttons that, at first glance, simply did not know where to put them. They are very difficult for the driver to press, although you will definitely not use them often.

What else can I add about the new Toyota RAV4? Japanese engine and gearbox — no complaints. They perfectly do what they were created for. The car is flying over the surface of the road. Plus, the engineers did a great job on the suspension. It has become more comfortable, softer, but the car has not lost control. Keeps the road perfectly. However, the noise insulation seems to tell us — we need to "isolate" a little more: the sound of the engine and rubber can be clearly heard in the car while driving.

Summing up, it is worth saying that the car has become stricter externally and more interesting inside. Nevertheless, the new Toyota RAV4 is still the same old friend. And we don't expect friends to be perfect. Friends should be reliable and ready to lend a shoulder in a difficult moment. And RAV can do this like no one else.