Toyota RAV4 Icon 2.2 D-4D

If you’re looking for a practical, no-nonsense SUV, the dependable and robust RAV4 deserves consideration. The trouble is, it’s let down by a driving experience that’s woefully off the pace. And its challenging looks won’t be to all tastes.

If any car can claim to have invented the compact SUV, it’s the Toyota RAV4. When it made its debut in 1994, the trend-setting original mixed rugged off-roader looks with agile handling and keen performance, plus running costs on par with a family hatchback.

Yet in recent years, the Toyota has struggled to make an impression in the face of newer and more fashionable rivals – so this all-new fourth-generation car can’t come soon enough. With a larger and more luxurious cabin, greater refinement and a range of efficient new engines, the latest model has all the ingredients to take on the class leaders.

Unfortunately, the RAV4 won’t win any prizes for its styling. The angular nose looks distinctive, but the rest of the exterior appears a little ungainly and awkwardly proportioned. Even our Icon test car’s 18-inch alloys and rear privacy glass failed to boost the kerb appeal.

Matters improve inside, where Toyota has worked to create an upmarket air. Decent-quality plastics are used throughout, the fit and finish are faultless and the switchgear operates precisely. Neat touches include the leather-trimmed dash, which is standard on Icon models and above. But any premium aspirations are undermined by the cheap-looking instruments and plain fabric seat trim – even the cheaper Ford gets part-leather.

Still, there’s plenty of kit to distract you from these flaws. Bluetooth, a USB connection and the neat Toyota Touch multimedia interface are all included, as is dual-zone climate control and a reversing camera.

The RAV4 also has the edge on space. Rear passengers get more leg and headroom than in the Ford or Mazda, while the flat floor means more space for their feet. It’s easy to get comfortable behind the steering wheel, too, as there’s lots of adjustment on this and the seat, plus the cabin is packed full of useful storage.

The Toyota also has the biggest boot, with a huge 647-litre capacity, and the rear bench folds flat in one movement, to give an estate-rivalling 1,746 litres. Plus, our test car benefited from a useful adjustable storage net that slots in below the parcel shelf, as well as a powered tailgate as standard. But while the RAV4 leads the way for practicality, how does it fare on the move?

The answer is quite well. Even though the 148bhp Toyota is the least powerful car here, it matched the Ford at the test track, covering 0-60mph in 9.6 seconds. It also rivals the Mazda for motorway refinement, thanks to excellent suppression of wind and road noise.

Sadly, that’s where the good news ends for the Toyota. On the road, it simply doesn’t have the composure and grip of its rivals, and its nose washes wide in corners much sooner. There are further black marks for the lifeless steering and obstructive gearchange, while the ride is bit firm at low speed. Pressing the Sport button adds weight to the steering and automatically sends 10 per cent of the engine’s torque to the rear in an effort to boost agility, but it barely affects how the RAV4 drives.

Off-road the Toyota has the edge, though. Unlike the Ford and Mazda, it has a locking centre differential, which delivers a 50:50 torque split for superior traction in slippery conditions. Buyers can also add front and rear underguards for extra protection.

At £26,495, the RAV4 undercuts the Mazda by £700, plus it has a generous five-year warranty. Trouble is, its residuals are the weakest here, and despite lower emissions, it’s barely any cheaper as a company car than the Kuga. So while the new RAV4 is a step up over its predecessor, it faces a tough task to win.