With its rugged body-on-frame construction, heavy duty hardware and new-age technology that enable it to crawl over obstacles, the Prado is not for pretenders. To be fair, the Prado is far from rudimentary. It feels solid on the road at highway speeds and around town, although you quickly learn to take roundabouts a little more gingerly because of the tendency for big, tall and heavy 4WDs like this to lean in corners. The new engine is a worthwhile freshen-up for the Prado but doesn't suddenly transform the vehicle.
Likes New diesel engine is more refined Long range due to better economy and 150L tanks Genuine off-road ability
Dislikes Towing capacity unchanged at 2500kg The price is high, especially on top end models Interior design starting to look a little dated
Cast an eye over the SUV market and you’ll see very few truly off-road capable vehicles. One of them is the Toyota LandCruiser Prado, and here we’ve got the most capable Prado of all, the top-shelf Kakadu.The LandCruiser Prado Kakadu is a very good off-the-shelf off-roader, with its blend of both tradi-tional and modern off-road equipment. With decent all-terrain or mud-terrain tyres (which nearly all standard SUVs would need) we reckon the Kakadu could go just about anywhere.
Likes Rear axle articulation KDSS system Crawl control
Dislikes Lack of power and torque Over-bonnet vision No height-adjustable front suspension
For 2018, the RAV4 gains a new Adventure trim level. It combines the XLE's equipment with the SE's sportier styling elements, then adds a few of its own styling flourishes and a tow package as well as raises ground clearance from 6.1 inches to 6.5. It also gets exclusive access to a new Cold Weather package that adds a variety of heated items. Interestingly, the SE trim level also gains the same extra ground clearance, which seems counter to its sportier, on-road mission.
PROS One of the largest, most versatile cargo areas in the segment Advanced safety and driver aids come standard Rides smoothly in a variety of conditions
CONS Ho-hum driving experience Interior has a utilitarian look and feel Modest acceleration from the only engine
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 ranked #12 in Compact SUVs. Currently the Toyota RAV4 has a score of 7.8 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 44 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Lots of standard safety features Large cargo area for the class
Cons Uninspiring interior styling and materials
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 has a lot going for it, including a hybrid model, but you’d be wise to cross-shop its rivals as well.
Pros Roomy, well-packaged interior Lots of standard safety tech Wide range of trim levels Rides well Thrifty hybrid
Cons Not all that polished Adventure is an oddball Quirky looks Fuel economy is mid-pack