The Toyota RAV4 is an extremely easy car to take for granted. To many, it's the template for compact, road-biased 4x4s. It's inoffensive, well built and generally ubiquitous. Toyota, however, have loftier aspirations for this model and recent sales point to the fact that these expectations are based on a solid grounding rather than pie in the sky targets. The variant that will be responsible for the lion's share of this sales growth is the RAV4 D4-D diesel 140, a car that extends the RAV4's skill set way beyond any previous model.

I must admit to a feeling that Toyota had rather overextended themselves with this third generation RAV4. Somewhat predictably, it had grown bigger and gone further upmarket, the word 'premium' being a constant mantra at the launch press conference. This is usually manufacturer shorthand for the fact that they're tacitly acknowledging that their product is a little on the expensive side. Indeed, despite this RAV4's eye-catching entry-level price of £20,405, examine the specification sheets and it's clear that few will buy the stripped out XT3 variant, spending a fair whack more on the XT-R or XT4 models instead. This is no longer the cheap and cheerful car that Toyota first brought to these shores in 1994.

Although a fair slug of sales will go to the 2.0-litre petrol engine and a smaller amount to the high-powered 177bhp diesel that powers the flagship T180 variant, it's this 134bhp common-rail diesel engine that Toyota predict will account for around 53 per cent of all UK sales and it's a useful powerplant. Although you're never going to forget it's a diesel you're driving, the engine pulls well from low revs and has an acceptable amount of punch in the midrange. It's worth remembering that it wasn't long ago that 130bhp was the maximum power one could reasonably expect from an engine of this kind. It shows how far we've come that 134bhp marks the entry-level diesel powerplant for a compact 4x4 such as this.

"The 134bhp engine pulls well from low revs and offers a broad helping of torque"

It's a high-tech unit, of all aluminium construction with a 2.2-litre displacement. The light weight helps keep the front end of the RAV4 agile and also assists in Toyota's goals of low emissions and decent fuel economy for this model. Acceleration is punchy, the RAV hitting 60mph in 10.2 seconds and only topping out at 112mph. Drive a little less manically and you should average around 42.8mpg. A hefty torque figure of 310Nm is on tap between 2,000 and 2,800rpm. The gearing is a little odd, perhaps as a sop to city or off road driving, with the first couple of ratios being set very low with a relatively tall third gear. This means that unless you rev the engine hard in second gear, it's easy to rather lazily fall off the bottom of the engine's useful response when you slot third. Otherwise there's not a whole lot wrong with the six-speed transmission. The lever itself is set curiously far back so that those with long arms and legs may find the action from fifth to sixth hampered as their elbow hits the seat bolster.

There are a couple of curiosities about this model that were never satisfactorily explained away. Of all the powerplants, this seems the most suited to light off road duties but Toyota's Hill Descent Control is only offered on models with an automatic gearbox and, you've guessed it, the RAV4 D4-D 140 doesn't have an auto option. The sideways-opening rear hatch will also make loading in tight car parks rather tricky and there's no separately opening rear window option offered.

One area where the RAV4 excels is in safety provision with no fewer than nine airbags as standard, including, for the first time in this segment, a driver's knee airbag. The Interactive Drive System is a really smart piece of technology, marrying the intelligent four-wheel drive system to the VSC+ stability control and the EPS electric power steering. Unfortunately, it's not offered on the XT3, another reason why buyers should really spring the extra for the XT4. This model also includes a leather interior and an uprated MP3-compatible stereo, dual zone climate control and all sorts of other goodies that make the premium well worth it. On top of this there's a plush XT5 trim level for those who really want their RAV4 fully loaded. It's on equipment that Toyota hope their latest model stacks up with some of the pricier compact 4x4xs such as the Land Rover Freelander and the Jeep Cherokee. The T180 variant targets the BMW X3 with more power and a vast equipment list.

We've seen that with each successive iteration, the RAV4 has got bigger and better equipped. The third generation model represents the most radical change yet. Cute and chunky has been replaced with bold and aggressive. The frontal styling is still recognisably RAV4 but move aft and the new vehicle is a whole lot more angular and a good deal more spacious. There isn't a three-door version, Toyota reasoning that smaller leisure-oriented models weren't making the numbers in the UK market. Break-out the tape measure and you'll find the latest RAV4 is a whopping 145mm longer and a hefty 80mm wider. Couple that with smarter packaging and you end up with a car that's way bigger on the inside, offering some 25 per cent more luggage space. If you're worried that this will make it a nightmare to park, be reassured by the fact that it's still shorter than something like a Honda CR-V or a Land Rover Freelander.

Rear seats that fold flat to the floor with one pull of a lever are one reason why the RAV4's load capacity has risen so dramatically and it also helps that the rear seats can be slid backwards and forwards over a range of 165mm, optimising either luggage space or rear passenger leg room. The seat folding action is particularly slick. Whereas some rivals may also claim flat folding rear seats, the reality is that you will often have to spend time dismantling the head restraints or risk a hernia from flipping seat bases up before the operation can be completed. There's none of that palaver in the RAV4, a one-handed operation seeing the seat vanish flush with the load bay floor.

The latest RAV4 is a key model for Toyota in a rapidly expanding market. They needed something special to fend off a bunch of new entrants and this D4-D 140 model should do the business for them. It's not cheap but if you can get used to the fact that this car's market positioning has changed, you'll appreciate it for what it is: a very accomplished performer.

TOP 4 RAV4 DEALS

The results below show the top RAV4 deals on buyacar

	Toyota RAV4 2.2 D-4D XT-R 5dr Spec edn Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £343	Saving £1,775	Price £19,515
	Toyota RAV4 2.2 D-4D XT3 5dr Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £333	Saving £1,933	Price £18,467
	Toyota RAV4 2.2 D-4D XT4 5dr Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £374	Saving £2,208	Price £20,692
	Toyota RAV4 2.2 D-4D XT5 5dr Off Road
	ETR	Mthly £431	Saving £2,538	Price £23,362

typical 11.68% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000