Less than a week before its New Zealand launch, Toyota's fourth-generation RAV4 has earned a top safety rating from the crash test watchdog.
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (Ancap) has awarded the RAV4 a top five-star rating, largely helped by its count of seven airbags including a driver's knee airbag, and technology including seatbelt reminders for all seats.
Ancap chief executive Nicholas Clarke said the RAV4 would be competing in a part of the market where two out of every three off-roaders rolling out of showrooms carried a top safety rating.
"The RAV4 will be competing in a very competitive segment of the market and its five-star Ancap safety rating brings it to a new level in terms of safety," said Clarke. "This means more and more motorists will be driving in five-star safety."
Ancap noted some higher-specification RAV4 models added more safety technology, including adaptive front lighting, blind spot monitoring, daytime running lights and a reversing camera.
