Take a look at the cars you see around you. What do you see? Four by fours. Lots of them. For some reason, everybody has to have one. Or two. There are big ones and small ones. Cheap ones and expensive ones. All different shapes and colours. They are being produced in all corners of the world, and people everywhere are buying them.

There are statistics flying around that less than 10 percent of four wheel drive vehicles out there ever see off-road conditions. But who cares? They're the in thing at the moment.

Toyota has all kinds of four wheel drive vehicles on the market. In 1994 it introduced us to what was then an entry-level 4x4 called a RAV4. Since then, the RAV4 has gone through two revisions to what we have today.

In my opinion the RAV is the true definition of refinement. Toyota took a good thing and just kept making it better. The RAV4 has almost reached cult status around the world, especially with female owners. It is also quite obvious that some other carmakers have copied the RAV's styling and design.

I recently had the opportunity to take the latest RAV4 on a trip to Pilanesberg National Park. It was a perfect little test, because the vehicle and I would encounter all kinds of terrain and road types. I got a chance of experiencing the car in every environment, from Johannesburg's city streets to open highways to rocky roads. I must say, the car handled everything beautifully. It's at home in all conditions.

Toyota says that it was hoping to achieve a boulevard cruiser come weekend adventurer with the RAV, and I think it did a pretty good job.

I also got to try out the relatively basic navigation system that has been incorporated into the RAV. Some cars have some seriously fancy systems with full colour displays that could rival some television sets. The RAV4 does things a little differently.

It's got a simple orange coloured display about the size of a playing card in the centre of the dash. But don't let that fool you. I entered the phone number of the camp I was staying in Pilanesberg, and with the help of a friendly ladies voice and some arrows, I found myself literally at the reception's doorstep. This is one of Toyota's first attempts at navigation and if this is anything to go by, I expect good things from them.

If I had to choose something to complain about, it would have to be the engine. The 2.0-litre, four cylinder engine feels and sounds very tinny. It's also a bit gutless. Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastically reliable and economical little lump, but anything over 300 grand should feel better than this.

Toyota claims 112kW and 194Nm power outputs. I'm not sure how accurate these figures are, but whatever this thing is pushing out, it needs more. I know Toyota has 2.4 and 2.5-litre units lying around. It would be nice to see them chuck something like that in here. But who can argue with their decisions? They aren't exactly struggling to sell cars.


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