[LINK] All German petrol stations must offer electric car charging

[Stephen Loosley]

Perhaps of interest ..

“Meet the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, the 2020 Drive Car of the Year”

https://www.drive.com.au/review/meet-the-toyota-rav4-hybrid-the-2020-drive-car-of-the-year-powered-by-bp-122830


There’s no doubt the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is a worthy 2020 Drive Car of the Year winner.

Its blend of affordability, tech and safety inclusions, and seamless driving experience, along with real-world fuel efficiency, make for compelling propositions for the intended buyer.

Firstly, it’s affordable. The RAV4 Hybrid can be had in 2WD guise from $34,590 before on-road costs. Step up to AWD and it starts from $38,490 before on-road costs.

The model range is simple, too, with three variants for each comprising GX, GXL and Cruiser. There’s nothing complex about the range, and you choose the model that matches your budget and features expectation and you’re good to go.

The RAV4 Hybrid gets a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, with five years of roadside assistance. If you follow the recommended Toyota service schedule, the engine and drivetrain warranty stretches out to seven years, while the hybrid batteries are covered for up to 10 years provided you book in for an annual health check.

Servicing is covered by a capped-price scheme that sets the first five services at 12-month/15,000km intervals at $210 per visit, meaning that running costs are kept nicely under control.

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is comfortable and flexible inside the cabin, too. While the Honda CR-V remains the standard-setter for outright space in both the second row and luggage compartment, the RAV4 now runs a very close second.

Most recently, we tested the GXL grade and found the cabin of the mid-spec model to be well appointed. There’s a two-level boot floor offering between 542L and 580L depending on how you set it, which is more than enough for the family. The RAV4 gets a space-saver spare tyre, too – another factor that’s important for the family road trip.

Following years of developing and executing, Toyota knows hybrid technology, and the RAV4’s system is both clever and effective. There’s a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, which makes 131kW and 221Nm. That engine is assisted by electric motors operating independently across the front and rear axles, meaning you get AWD capability with no physical, mechanical link between the two.

The way that specific complete output is measured is a little technical to explain in detail here, but Toyota quotes 163kW and 279Nm overall. In other words, the RAV4 Hybrid is no slouch – and it’s efficient, too.

How efficient? Against an ADR claim of 4.8L/100km on the combined cycle, the RAV4 used just 5.8L/100km around town during a week of testing in AWD guise during our most recent test. That’s a genuine, medium-size family vehicle using less than 6L/100km in traffic with no serious attempt to be a fuel miser behind the wheel. That can make a huge difference to Australian buyers, given the cost of fuel.

The reason hybrid drivetrains make so much sense for so many people is that they don’t feel especially weird to drive, and they don’t require you to change the way you drive either. Whereas an electric vehicle requires you to reset many of the ways you use and interact with your car, a hybrid isn’t really any different to any other car you’ve driven – and that’s a RAV4 forte.

The petrol engine doesn’t run all the time, rather it chooses when to come into effect. As such, the electric motors do as much of the heavy lifting as they can. What that means is you might crawl through traffic silently using only electric power, but tax the system more as you enter a freeway on-ramp, for example, and the petrol engine fires into action.

Don’t assume you’ll be using electric power regularly, though. A hybrid isn’t really about that. Sure, some have a limited range of say 50km, but the RAV4’s system is more about assistance than propulsion specifically. And it’s partly the reason the fuel use is so frugal.

Further, the vehicle’s control centre will choose which system does what and when, meaning you’ll quickly forget there’s even any transition happening around you. What it all adds up to is a pretty relaxed experience from behind the wheel, which is exactly what the RAV4 buyer wants.

The RAV4 range gets plenty of standard equipment, too, with highlights being auto-on LED headlights, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, DAB radio, satellite navigation and Bluetooth, plus the system has the capability to be upgraded with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as it is rolled out. There are also heated, electric folding mirrors and rain-sensing wipers.

The other crucial factor in taking out the overall award is safety, and as such the RAV4 Hybrid is a five-star-rated ANCAP recipient. It gets adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist and departure warning, auto high beam, road sign recognition, seven airbags, rear ISOFIX child seat mounts, stability control with trailer sway control and hill-start assist.

There’s no doubt the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is a worthy Drive Car of the Year winner. Its blend of affordability, tech and safety inclusions, and seamless driving experience, along with real-world fuel efficiency, make for compelling propositions for the intended buyer.

We’re often recommending that buyers look away from SUVs toward station wagons and sedans or liftbacks as Australian families once did – especially given how pleasant cars can be to drive compared to SUVs.

But, buyers continue to vote in large numbers, and the SUV remains king.

And the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is the best all-rounder of the lot.

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