2013–2018 Toyota RAV4 – ReView

Is there a more ubiquitous car in New Zealand than the Toyota RAV4? It is the default choice, the safe bet, the one your parents recommend and your workmate already owns. The fourth-generation XA40, sold here from late 2013 through to 2018, does everything competently and very little poorly. It also happens to be one of the most plentiful used SUVs on the market, so buyers can afford to be picky.

Engines and trims

Toyota offered three grades: GX, GXL and Limited. Engine choices were a 2.0-litre petrol (107kW/187Nm) with CVT in front-wheel-drive form, a 2.5-litre (132kW/233Nm) with a proper six-speed auto and AWD, and a 2.2-litre turbo diesel (110kW/340Nm) also with the six-speed auto and AWD.

The GX came with LED headlights, reversing camera, air con, cruise and Bluetooth, but wore steel wheels and cloth trim. The GXL added a smart key, push-button start, dual-zone climate, fog lights and 17-inch alloys. The Limited topped it out with leather, JBL audio, sat nav, moonroof, powered tailgate, heated seats and 18-inch alloys.

A significant facelift in early 2016 brought Toyota Safety Sense to GXL and Limited, adding AEB, lane departure alert, radar cruise and auto high beam. It also improved cabin insulation and added blind-spot monitoring. That facelift is a meaningful dividing line for used buyers.

The 2.5 petrol AWD GXL was the volume seller by a wide margin. That is the one you will see most often.

On the road

The 2.5 petrol is smooth and willing, with enough mid-range for confident overtaking and comfortable highway work. The six-speed auto is one of the car’s best features. Expect 8.5 to 10 litres per 100 km depending on use.

In our period review of the GX FWD, we found the 2.0-litre CVT was “a step back from the fine six-speed automatic,” though we still rated the front-driver as good value for the money. It is fine around town but feels flat on the open road with a load. We also flagged that the front-driver’s tow rating was just 800kg braked, oddly less than the smaller Corolla. AWD models are rated at 1500kg.

The diesel was gutsy and the auto smooth, but refinement let it down. Our diesel Limited review noted it clattered at low speed and pushed vibration into the cabin, while road noise on coarse chip was made worse by cabin resonance. We concluded that the CX-5 and Ford Kuga were quieter and better equipped for less money.

One thing we consistently noted was that the chassis was more entertaining than the RAV4’s fleet image suggested. We described it as “pleasingly precise in terms of steering and chassis behaviour.” The CX-5 was sharper in the bends, but the RAV4 was composed and confident on Kiwi roads.

Inside

The cabin is roomy, the rear seats recline and fold flat, and the 577-litre boot is among the biggest in the class with a full-size spare underneath. We liked the adjustable rear seatbacks and the boot-mounted cargo net on rails that stops loose items rolling around. The switch from the old side-hinged tailgate to a conventional top-hinged hatch was a welcome change.

Interior quality is functional rather than flash. The dashboard is clean but has plenty of hard plastics, and we noted it was “ergonomically confused” in places, with controls like the Sport mode button buried out of sight. The 6.1-inch touchscreen on pre-facelift cars feels dated now, and no XA40 got Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The GXL and Limited cabins hold up better over time, and the Limited’s JBL system and moonroof are genuine highlights.

What to watch for

The chain-driven 2AR-FE 2.5-litre is one of Toyota’s most proven engines. With proper servicing it will happily run past 200,000 km. The six-speed auto is similarly tough. The CVT on the 2.0-litre is reliable enough but needs fluid changes around every 40,000 to 50,000km, as neglected units can develop shudder or delayed engagement.

Common niggles include front brake squeal (Toyota released revised pads and rotors), musty air conditioning from the evaporator, and a battery tray recall on 2013 to 2018 models that Toyota will fix for free. Check early cars for completed Takata airbag work, inspect the tailgate hinges for corrosion, and confirm matching tyres on AWD models.

What you will pay

AutoTrader listings show a wide spread:

2013–15 GX 2.0 FWD: $13k–$17k

2013 GXL/Ltd 2.5 AWD: $16k–$22k

2016–18 GXL 2.5 AWD: $22k–$28k

2016–18 Ltd 2.5 AWD: $26k–$32k

Facelift cars command a meaningful premium, and rightly so. Safety Sense alone makes a big difference.

Verdict

The CX-5 drives better, the Sportage offered more kit, and the Forester had a more capable AWD system. But none of them match the RAV4 for proven reliability, strong resale and sheer availability.

The sweet spot is a post-facelift 2.5 AWD GXL. It gets you the safety suite, the better cabin and the six-speed auto without the Limited’s price premium. For Kiwi families after a dependable SUV that won’t spring surprises, the XA40 RAV4 remains one of the safest bets on the used market.  

Thanks to Fasst Auto for the loan of the Toyota RAV4 GLX Find more of their cars at www.fasstauto.co.nz