spwolf

"Toyotas can be so benign, so vanilla,
that they’ll slip right through your hands
without leaving an impression. Not the
new RAV4. This is such a handsome,
useful, and startlingly competent driver
that it’s hard to imagine a do-it-all vehicle
that does more with such aplomb. We still
don’t know exactly how to classify the
RAV4, except as fairly marvelous."

http://thepiratebay.org/details.php?id=3416317

Some stats with Limited model (note more aggressive Sport model will be avail. with firmer suspension and 18" wheels)
:
ACCELERATION Seconds
Zero to 30 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3
40 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2
50 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.7
60 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.3
70 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.9
80 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.6
90 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.5
100 mph. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.0
110 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.4
Street start, 5–60 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.5
Top-gear acceleration, 30–50 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.0
50–70 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.8
Standing 1/4-mile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.9 sec @ 94 mph
Top speed (drag limited) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 mph
BRAKING
70–0 mph @ impending lockup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 ft
HANDLING
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.83 g
Understeer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MINIMAL moderate excessive
PROJECTED FUEL ECONOMY
EPA city driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 mpg
EPA highway driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 mpg
C/D-observed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 mpg
INTERIOR SOUND LEVEL
Idle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 dBA
Full-throttle acceleration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 dBA
70-mph cruising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 dBA

It looks more and more as my next vehicle :-).

mmarshall

That's some pretty good figures for a relatively inexpensive SUV....although, of course, you don't buy a vehicle like the RAV4 to be a drag racer.

spwolf

yep, thats why 50-70mph in 3.8sec is even more impressive :-).
Faster than Range Rover Sport Supercharged.

<VENOM>

If this is the new Rav4, bigger and faster, more room, then whats the point of the Highlander

spwolf

Rav4 - sporty suv, Highlander - family SUV....

mmarshall

The Highlander, unlike the RAV4, also has a Hybrid version.

spwolf

yeah, and I bet new Highlander will be more upscale, while leaving sportiness for Rav4... Thats why no nav in Rav4 or smart entry system (unlike Euro version which will have Nav, Smart Entry, Bluetooth, etc).

LexFather

Damn, that is as fast or faster than
Porsche Cayenne S
Infinti FX 45
BMW X5 V-8
RX 400h
RR Sport Supercharged
DAMN!!!!

spwolf

thats my point :-). Plus handling is quite capable, it is not only 0-60.

Euro versions with 2.2d4d engines 136hp/177hp, 230/300lbs/tq will be coming next month, I cant wait to try it out. We expect pretty refined, sporty ride, well matched to our new diesels.

spwolf

p.s. if anyone read C&D review, they complain how throttle is twitchy - "too fast to respond", finally no throttle by wire lag? sweet :-).

GFerg

DAMN!!! That is one powerful engine. I really wonder how C&D consistantly gets higher acceleration times than other mags. Edmunds I believe had a high 6 sec or low 7 sec which is still great. That 3.5L sure is something special. lol....you can tell they pushing the hell out of that truck with an observed 16mpg while its rated at 20/27 mpg.

I think the next Highlander might be based off of that concept they showed this year. I dont remember the name, but it was pretty awsome looking. I really do wonder how they are going to expand the 3.5L and probably other new GR-series engines into different models. 269hp is a lot for the Rav4 when you have the Highlander, 4Runner, Seqouia, and LC all making less power.

GFerg

Is that suppose to be a bad thing?? First it was lagging now its too twitchy. People are so hard to please these days. lol.

Gojirra99

What's the interior passenger/cargo space of the new RAV4?
I think it could possibly have more usable interior space than the FX45 & the X5 & is just as fast or faster

mmarshall

Here's why: Brock Yates. He always was and always will be a madman behind the wheel.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

wow, that's incredibly fast for the car man @_@