The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • Nigerian hotels, government and road safety

    In the course of my business, I have touched every state in Nigeria and I have lodged in several hotels including five star hotels.

    In virtually all the hotels that I have used at one time or the other, I noticed one common factor, “the waiting game.”

    By “waiting game”, I mean a situation where hotel managements wait until customers complain before they put some faulty facilities right if at all they put them right.

    There is a particular hotel in Abuja that I use thrice within a period of two months. As at the third time, I deliberately requested for that same room only to discover that the same faulty facility has not been fixed after several complaints from me and several other clients. Why on earth must they wait for customers to complain?

    It is expected that every hotel management should have a system whereby routine inspection is carried out on all the rooms and facilities with the goal of fixing the faulty ones without waiting for customers to complain first.

    Now relating this experience to Nigerian roads and roadfurniture, a trip to several roads in all the states will bring up a question which the passenger of a commercial bus once asked, “are government officials not plying this road?”

    It is expected that the Federal, state and local governments should institute a system whereby a particular department in the Ministry of works or other relevant organs will be responsible for carrying out a routine inspection of all the roads (trunk A, trunk B and trunk C as the case may be) with the aim of identifying the failed portions so that immediate action can be taken to prevent more damage to the road as well as prevent the loss of lives and properties.

    Why on earth should any well-meaning government wait for public outcry on any road before taking palliative measures?

    Let us come to the home front. Is there any responsible father that waits for his children to start crying for food before he makes provision for their feeding? The difference here is that the father knows that it is his responsibility to supply the needs of his children. The opposite is, however, the case in governance.

    The government does not believe that it owes Nigerians any obligation. The government believes that whatever they do for the Citizens is a privilege to them and not a right or obligation. Whose money is being used to repair the roads?

    It is time now for governments at all levels to wake up to their responsibilities of paying more attention to the conditions of all the roads with the goal of making provisions for temporary and lasting solution to the roads. There are some road conditions that just one bag of cement with a little gravel can put right and thereby save the lives and properties that would have been wasted in such places.

    My question again, “why wait till the people cry out before you perform your responsibilities as the government?”

  • Council procures vehicles for security

    Lagos State Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Ademorin Kuye and Secretary to the State Government, Dr Idiat Adebule has unveiled 22 vehicles and presented them to Neighbourhood Watchers, Project Monitoring Department and other council functionaries.

    They are to be used for efficient security patrol.

    The vehicles, procured by Ojo Local Government, are meant to monitor criminal activities in the council.

    Kuye congratulated the council boss, Prince Yinka Durosinmi for keying into the development vision of the state government to reduce crime to the barest minimum.

    “The chairman has shown his concern for the welfare of the inhabitants by providing enabling business to transact business without being molested by touts. This is quite commendable,” he said.

    He believes the vehicle will aid the performance of the council officials.

    The Commissioner warned the beneficiaries to maintain the vehicles well and avoid using it for personal activities which may jeopardise the official functions they were meant to cater for.

    Prince Durosinmi restated his commitment to serve the people diligently and confront the challenges facing the council.

    Ojo Local Government, he said, has made a point to invest in human and infrastructural development to meet the challenge of mega city.

    He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the vehicles.

    Mr Leke Adeleke of the Neighbourhood Watch thanked the council boss for the gesture.

    Adeleke said the vehicles will complement their effort in combing the trouble zones in the council and flush out people with criminal tendencies.

  • Chevrolet Impala: stylish, roomy, refined

    Chevrolet Impala: stylish, roomy, refined

    With a new model just around the corner, the 2013 Chevrolet Impala gets just a few minor changes, including a new Luxury Edition package, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO with agency addition

    t has been seven years since Chevy’s flagship sedan has enjoyed a major overhaul and even longer since it was redesigned from the ground up. That alone makes the 2013 Chevrolet Impala difficult to recommend, but it gets even harder when you realise that an all-new, dramatically improved replacement is on its way.

    While this year’s Impala still offers a roomy interior and good reliability, the full-size sedan segment is crowded with competing models that best this long-in-the-tooth model in terms of styling, performance, quality and refinement. The minor upgrades for 2013 include a new Luxury Edition package that bundles leather upholstery, heated power-adjustable front seats, a premium Bose audio system and a few other niceties, yet these enhancements are not nearly enough to tip the scales in its favour.

    The Impala full-size sedan is offered in three trim levels: LS, LT and LTZ. Five seats are standard, but an optional 40/20/40 it to seat on the LS and LT trims brings six.

    Standard features on the entry-level LS include 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, keyless entry, cruise control, air-conditioning, a six-way power driver seat, full power accessories, a tilt-only leather-wrapped steering wheel, OnStar emergency communications, Bluetooth phone connectivity and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack.

    Moving up to the LT gets you 17-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, remote ignition, dual-zone manual climate control, a leather-wrapped shift knob, a trip computer and a folding rear seat with a center armrest.

    The top-of-the-line LTZ adds 18-inch alloy wheels, foglamps, heated mirrors, heated power front seats (eight-way driver, six-way passenger), leather upholstery, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system.

    Options include a sunroof (available on LT and LTZ only) and a new Luxury Edition package that adds many of the LTZ’s extras to LT models.

    The new Chevy Impala comes only with a 3.6-litre V6 that puts out a healthy 300 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive are standard. EPA fuel economy estimates are 18 mpg city/30 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.

    The Impala’s list of standard safety features includes antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front seat side-impact airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Also standard is GM’s OnStar service, which includes automatic crash notification, an emergency assistance button, remote door unlock and stolen vehicle assistance.

    The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Impala the top ranking of “Good” in both its frontal-offset and side-impact tests, but the second-best rating of “Acceptable” in the roof strength test.

    The car offers a spacious passenger cabin with room for five. Opt for the available front bench seat and you have a sedan with seating for six, something that is a rarity nowadays. And in this world of ever-increasing technological complexity, the Impala’s simple stereo will certainly be welcomed by many.

    However, the fact remains that the Impala simply lacks many of the bells and whistles that make more modern cars technologically complex in the first place. The cabin’s design is also outdated compared to most of its competitors, while the materials do not measure up to those found in many of GM’s more recent models. One glimpse at the upcoming all-new Impala will reveal just how behind the times the current model is.

    While the Impala’s trunk offers a generous 18.6 cubic feet of cargo room, the fold-down rear seatback is optional and does not split 60/40. This means that sooner or later one will have to choose between carrying a rear seat passenger and bringing home that extra-long Bjorgen box from Ikea.

    The car’s performance is something of a mixed bag. The 300-hp V6 (just introduced last year), delivers acceleration on par with many of its competitors, plus respectable fuel economy.

  • Chevrolet Impala: stylish, roomy, refined

    Chevrolet Impala: stylish, roomy, refined

    With a new model just around the corner, the 2013 Chevrolet Impala gets just a few minor changes, including a new Luxury Edition package, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO with agency addition

    It has been seven years since Chevy’s flagship sedan has enjoyed a major overhaul and even longer since it was redesigned from the ground up. That alone makes the 2013 Chevrolet Impala difficult to recommend, but it gets even harder when you realise that an all-new, dramatically improved replacement is on its way.

    While this year’s Impala still offers a roomy interior and good reliability, the full-size sedan segment is crowded with competing models that best this long-in-the-tooth model in terms of styling, performance, quality and refinement. The minor upgrades for 2013 include a new Luxury Edition package that bundles leather upholstery, heated power-adjustable front seats, a premium Bose audio system and a few other niceties, yet these enhancements are not nearly enough to tip the scales in its favour.

    The Impala full-size sedan is offered in three trim levels: LS, LT and LTZ. Five seats are standard, but an optional 40/20/40 it to seat on the LS and LT trims brings six.

    Standard features on the entry-level LS include 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, keyless entry, cruise control, air-conditioning, a six-way power driver seat, full power accessories, a tilt-only leather-wrapped steering wheel, OnStar emergency communications, Bluetooth phone connectivity and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack.

    Moving up to the LT gets you 17-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, remote ignition, dual-zone manual climate control, a leather-wrapped shift knob, a trip computer and a folding rear seat with a center armrest.

    The top-of-the-line LTZ adds 18-inch alloy wheels, foglamps, heated mirrors, heated power front seats (eight-way driver, six-way passenger), leather upholstery, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system.

    Options include a sunroof (available on LT and LTZ only) and a new Luxury Edition package that adds many of the LTZ’s extras to LT models.

    The new Chevy Impala comes only with a 3.6-litre V6 that puts out a healthy 300 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive are standard. EPA fuel economy estimates are 18 mpg city/30 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.

    The Impala’s list of standard safety features includes antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front seat side-impact airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Also standard is GM’s OnStar service, which includes automatic crash notification, an emergency assistance button, remote door unlock and stolen vehicle assistance.

    The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Impala the top ranking of “Good” in both its frontal-offset and side-impact tests, but the second-best rating of “Acceptable” in the roof strength test.

    The car offers a spacious passenger cabin with room for five. Opt for the available front bench seat and you have a sedan with seating for six, something that is a rarity nowadays. And in this world of ever-increasing technological complexity, the Impala’s simple stereo will certainly be welcomed by many.

    However, the fact remains that the Impala simply lacks many of the bells and whistles that make more modern cars technologically complex in the first place. The cabin’s design is also outdated compared to most of its competitors, while the materials do not measure up to those found in many of GM’s more recent models. One glimpse at the upcoming all-new Impala will reveal just how behind the times the current model is.

    While the Impala’s trunk offers a generous 18.6 cubic feet of cargo room, the fold-down rear seatback is optional and does not split 60/40. This means that sooner or later one will have to choose between carrying a rear seat passenger and bringing home that extra-long Bjorgen box from Ikea.

    The car’s performance is something of a mixed bag. The 300-hp V6 (just introduced last year), delivers acceleration on par with many of its competitors, plus respectable fuel economy.

  • Trailer drivers and the new Lagos traffic laws

    As the new Lagos Traffic Law is being implemented, there is a need to take some urgent steps to avoid creating more problems than the laws are meant to solve.

    One of the provisions of the new law says that trailers are not permitted to move on Lagos roads between the hours of 6am and 9pm. They are, however, free to move from 9pm to 6am, everyday.

    This provision is to reduce the rate of congestion on Lagos roads. The following should, however, be noted and acted upon as a matter of urgency.

    •Consequent upon the fact that the trailers cannot ply Lagos roads from 6am to 9pm, there will be traffic congestions in Shagamu, Ijebu – Ode, Mowe, Ibafo, Ogijo, Ogere and Ibadan among others as a result of vehicles waiting till 9pm to commence their journey to Lagos State. Trailers Lagos waiting to move out of Lagos may also create some traffic congestions. There is, therefore, an urgent need for the governments of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states to come together or individually create mega trailer parks to prevent them from blocking or narrowing the roads.

    •Owners of the trailers or their Unions should also consider the possibility of acquiring land in Ogun and Oyo axis for the parking of their trailers to avoid falling prey of the Lagos State Traffic law and those that may come up in Ogun and Oyo states as well.

    •Considering the fact that some of these trailers do carry edible and expensive goods, there is the need for the governments to put in place additional security measures to guarantee their safety as they move mostly in the night (9pm – 6am) by virtue of the new Lagos State Traffic laws. The trailer parks must also be monitored by law enforcement agents to prevent criminal activities.

    •The law enforcement agents should also be monitored so that they will not be using the cover of the night to extort money from the trailer drivers thereby creating traffic congestion in the night.

  • Lagos warns ‘adamant’ motorcyclists

    Lagos warns ‘adamant’ motorcyclists

    Lagos State government has called on commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada, to obey the Road Traffic Law 2012 on all restricted routes.

    Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa said it is highly important for motorcycle operators to obey the Road Traffic Law in order for government to ensure the safety and security of the people.

    Opeifa, who lamented the flagrant disobedience of the Road Traffic Law by motorcycle operators, said in spite of the stakeholders engagements, public enlightenment and advocacy embarked upon by the government to educate motorcycle associations both legal and otherwise, on the provisions of the Law and the need for voluntary compliance, some motorcycle operators still ply restricted and unrestricted routes with impunity.

    Opeifa reminded motorcycle operators that Section 3 sub sections 3 and 4 stipulate that no person shall operate a motorcycle either as a rider or a passenger without wearing a standard protective crash helmet and that no motorcycle operator shall carry more than one passenger at a time or a pregnant woman, a child below the age of 12 or an adult with a baby on her back.

    He warned motorcycle operators who ply unrestricted routes without the proper registration of motorcycles, to desist from such unlawful act as both rider and passenger would be made to face the law.

    Opeifa appealed to Nigeria Police, the military and other law enforcement Agents to carry out their duties diligently while enforcing the Road Traffic Law adding that Lagosians rely on them for their safety, security and enforcement of the Law.

    The Commissioner implored anyone who feels aggrieved to contact the Ministry of Transportation through text message on the following GSM Numbers- 08174616936, 08075005411 or Lagos State Ministry of Justice (Office of the Public Defender) on 07080601080 toll free, 018975571. He said that such complainant may also send an e-mail to transportinfo@lagosstate.gov.ng or opdlagos@yahoo.com

    It will be recalled that Governor Babatunde Raji Fasola signed the Lagos Road Traffic Law 2012 on August 2 last year. The law restricted motorcycle operations on 475 roads including bridges and highways out of 9,100 roads in the state.

  • Car, bike in amazing ‘undertake’ stunt

    AN outrageous world-first stunt has seen a superbike ridden underneath a car while the car was being driven on two wheels around one of Silverstone’s famous corners.

    Pro bike racer Chris ‘The Stalker’ Walker rode a Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja British Superbike underneath a special edition Alfa Romeo MiTo SBK being driven on two wheels by stunt driving ace Paul Swift.

    The move, dubbed ‘the undertaker’ by the organisers, saw Paul flip the MiTo onto two wheels before driving around Brooklands bend and being undertaken by Chris on the ZX-10R.

    Staged to coincide with the MiTo SBK’s arrival in the United Kingdom, the move is thought to be the first of its kind ever attempted.

    Alfa is the ongoing sponsor of the FIM World Superbike Championship and the collaboration has lead to the rapid special edition MiTo’s birth. Powered by a 170bhp turbocharged 1.4-litre engine, the SBK has unique decals, a racing body kit including side skirts and rear lower spoiler and 18-inch alloy wheels shrouding red Brembo brake calipers.

    It can be bought only in solid black with Alfa Red roof and mirror caps.

     

  • Hyundai Motors unveils quartet

    With the inclusion of the new Veloster, Santa Fe, Azera and Genesis, Stallion Motors has raised the Hyundai profile in Nigeria, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO.

    Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited, foremost distributors of Hyundai range of the vehicles has unveiled four variants of 2013 Hyundai models at a brief ceremony in Lagos.

    The quartet acquaints local automobile media with Hyundai’s emerging vitality.

    The vehicles, which include Hyundai Veloster, Santa Fe, Azera and Genesis are already on display at Hyundai showrooms nationwide.

    The Veloster, for instance, is an entirely fashionable funky hatchback three-door sport-like sedan (one on the driver side and two on the passenger side) designed for drivers who want something uniquely different and stimulating.

    A quick assessment of the Veloster also shows that the car is not just jazzy but intelligently equipped with a 1.6-litre four cylinder engine that produces 138 hp and 132 Ib-ft of torque mated to a six-speed traditional automatic transmission.

    Director, Sales and Marketing Hyundai Motors Nigeria, Mr Jatin Nadkarni, described the vehicle as Hyundai’s “icing on the cake.”

    Nadkarni said: “From the driver’s side, the Veloster looks like a regular two-door but when turned 180 degrees through, it looks like a four-door – thanks to the perfectly normal-looking rear door,” the director remarked.

    On the other hand, the redesigned Santa Fe SUV adopts the automaker’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design incorporating a third row of seats that increases the passenger count to seven thus effectively replacing the outgoing Hyundai Veracruz.

    Although the new Santa Fe comes in three variants of 2.4-litre four cylinders, a turbocharged 2.4-litre and 3.3-litre V6, only the 2.4-litre and 3.3-litre variants will be available in the local market, Nadkarni assured.

    The 2013 Santa Fe will be targeted at the family because of its ample leg room and passengers’ space, especially in the first two rows that conveniently accommodate taller adults.

    Drivers with predilection for details are also expected to like Santa Fe’s admirable interior materials as well as intuitive controls and extensive number of standard and optional features that distinguishes the new SUV.

    Hyundai Veloster and Santa Fe were stylishly designed and attractively priced to edge out key competitors.

    Nadkarni said the company is stopping at nothing to make these models the desired choice of Hyundai admirers.

    The 250 hp 3.0-litre Azera mid-to-up-scale sedan is stylishly designed to emit all the trappings of a luxury that is unprecedented in its class.

    The Azera, according to him, is the result of Hyundai’s relentless R&D testing and visionary thinking which seeks to always reflect the will of Hyundai Motor Company to create new possibilities to benefit the world and its people by encouraging and developing new thinking.

    Also unveiled at the exhibition was the Genesis, Hyundai’s class leading 3.8-litre V6 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission which is yet unsurpassed in the rival luxury category.

    Nadkarni, however, said Genesis is distinguished by its richly endowed cockpit with leather-wrapped steering wheel, electroluminescent gauges, generous seat bolsters and leather-wrapped ergonomic shift knob that nicely fits in the hand.

  • Toyota sells 9.75m vehicles

    Toyota Motor Corporation has released its tally for global vehicle sales for last year at a record of 9.748 million vehicles — a bigger number than the estimate it gave last month of about 9.7 million vehicles.

    It was already clear Toyota had dethroned General Motors Co. as the Detroit-based automaker fell short, selling 9.29 million vehicles.

    GM had been the top-selling automaker for more than seven decades before losing the title to Toyota in 2008.

    GM retook the sales crown in 2011, when Toyota’s production was hurt by the quake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

    The latest results show Toyota’s powerful comeback.

    Global vehicle sales for the maker of the Camry sedan, Prius hybrid and Lexus luxury model surged nearly 23 percent from the previous year. Overseas sales jumped 19 percent, while sales in Japan, where the economy has been troubled, recovered a whopping 35 percent.

    Volkswagen AG of Germany, the world’s number three automaker, sold a record 9.1 million vehicles around the world.

    All three automakers play down the significance of the sales ranking and say they are focused on making attractive products.

    “Rather than going after numbers, we hope to make fine products, one by one, to keep out customers satisfied. The numbers are just a result of our policy. And our policy will continue unchanged,” said Toyota spokeswoman Shino Yamada.

    Still, the recovery for Toyota is impressive. Like other Japanese automakers, Toyota’s production was devastated by the March 2011 disasters, which disrupted supplies of crucial components. Flooding in Thailand, where Toyota has factories, also hurt car production.

    Before that, it struggled against a crisis of massive recalls in the U.S. over defective floor mats, gas pedals and brakes, involving millions of vehicles, some recalled over and over, that hurt its reputation for quality.

    Toyota officials have vowed to scrutinize quality, and have held back product development to minimize recalls.

    From the middle of last year, it was hit by another kind of problem — a widespread boycott of Japanese products, including Toyota cars, in China over a territorial dispute.

    But sales growth in other parts of the world, including the U.S. and Asian nations such as Indonesia and India, was more than enough to offset such losses.

    Toyota is planning to sell 9.91 million vehicles globally this year, putting it back on track toward its earlier goal of 10 million vehicles — a target that it had made a special effort to play down after its recall crisis.

    Meanwhile, the company will recall nearly 1.3 million cars globally for two separate defects, including 752,000 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles in the United States to fix airbags that could be deployed inadvertently, the automaker said last week.

    It is the third Toyota recall since October to involve more than a million cars, and it comes as the company tries to recover from a damaged reputation following a series of recalls between 2009 and 2011 that were related to unintended acceleration problems.

    An IC chip in the airbag control unit can malfunction when it receives electrical interference from other parts in the car, causing the airbags to deploy when it is not necessary, Toyota spokesman Naoto Fuse said.

     

    Toyota is also recalling certain Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles in Japan, Canada, and Mexico.

    “The problem has caused minor injuries such as abrasions in 18 cases that have been reported. Two accidents have been reported by customers outside Japan, although Toyota has not been able to confirm them,” he said.

    Fuse said Toyota will add an electrical signal filter to the airbag control module to the recalled vehicles – repairs expected to take an hour to hour-and-a-half.

    The spokesman declined to disclose the costs involved.

  • RAV4: Impressive, stylish, aggressive

    RAV4: Impressive, stylish, aggressive

    The 2013 Toyota RAV4 possesses a six-speed transmission to replace the old four-speed automatic, which improves the RAV4’s fuel economy. It has been given style that is more sculpted and aggressive, enhanced by a body that is an inch narrower, lower and nearly an inch closer to the ground, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO with agency addition

    n just half a decade, crossover Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) have become popular choices among car buyers. It is no accident; the full-size SUV craze of 10 years ago had most drivers addicted to their cavernous cargo spaces, elevated driving positions and eye-watering gasoline bills. The Toyota RAV4 was among the first models to downsize that addiction into a manageable package.

    With the 2013 Toyota RAV4, the fourth generation of the popular crossover, the automaker has given and also taken away. Notably, the RAV4 no longer offers a V6. Although the burly six-cylinder could catapult the mild grocery hauler from zero to 60 mph in just 7.3 seconds, it was more engine than the RAV ever needed and few buyers signed on for it. The 2013 RAV4 also dispenses with a third-row seat, another option that Toyota says fewer shoppers deemed important.

    The RAV4 does, however, get a six-speed transmission to replace the old four-speed automatic, which in turn improves the RAV4’s fuel economy. It has been given styling that is more sculpted and aggressive, enhanced by a body that is an inch narrower, an inch lower and nearly an inch closer to the ground. The new RAV4 also gets a roof-hinged liftgate, thereby eliminating the old design that swung out to the right and hindered curbside loading.

    The RAV4’s redesign could not have come soon enough. The small crossover class is full of interesting choices, including the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Hyundai Santa Fe Sport and Mazda CX-5. With impressive styling, a contemporary look and feel to its cabin and electronics, loads of cargo capacity and improved fuel economy, the RAV4 reclaims its standing as a top choice for a small crossover SUV.

    Body styles

    The RAV4 is a five-passenger compact crossover offered in LE, XLE and Limited trim levels. The LE comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, power folding mirrors, rear privacy glass, full power accessories, air-conditioning, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 60/40-split and reclining second-row seat, a rearview camera, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, and a six-speaker sound system with six-inch touchscreen, a CD player, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio interface.

    The XLE adds 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, heated side mirrors, roof rails, a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control and sportier front seats. An optional package further adds a navigation system, Toyota’s Entune smartphone integration system, satellite radio, HD radio and voice controls.

    The top-level Limited comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, a height-adjustable power liftgate, keyless entry/ignition, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat with memory settings, heated front seats and premium synthetic leather upholstery. The navigation system with Entune is available and can be bundled with a premium 11-speaker JBL audio system.

    Powertrains and performance

    The RAV4 is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder that produces 176 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic is standard, and the RAV4 is available with either front- or all-wheel drive.

    Toyota says the front-drive RAV4 will accelerate from zero to 60 in 8.9 seconds. The front-drive RAV4 returns an EPA-estimated 24 mpg city/31 mpg highway/26 combined, about the same as the CR-V and Escape. The all-wheel-drive model, meanwhile, achieves 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined.

    Safety

    Antilock disc brakes, stability control, traction control, whiplash-reducing front head restraints, front-seat side airbags, a driver knee airbag and full-length side curtain airbags come standard on every 2013 Toyota RAV4. The Limited model offers optional blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert systems.

    Interior design and special features

    The new RAV4 features a striking new interior design that shares themes with the new Camry and Avalon models. Pronounced angles and lines form a more streamlined dash and center stack, replacing the rounded, pedestrian look of the outgoing model. It is a distinctly modern look, and overall interior materials quality is better than average for this class.

    It still embodies practicality, though. The rear seats recline, but no longer slide fore and aft, the result of the RAV4 scrapping its optional third row. Behind the rear seats are 38.4 cubic feet of cargo space, which opens up to a generous 73.3 cubes when the second row is folded – one of the largest capacities in the class.

    The almost flat load floor is also quite low for the class, minimising the strain of loading groceries, household project materials or even just a couple of large dogs. In a significant break from tradition, the new RAV4 gains a roof-hinged liftgate (height-adjustable on the Limited), replacing the right side-hinged design that often impeded easy curbside loading.