Our review programme of the new Toyota RAV4 starts here. Quite literally. This is the GX hybrid FWD, the least RAV4 you can buy at the lowest price: $50,990. But probably not the least interesting, despite our car being delivered in rental car white (sorry, Glacier White). Does somebody at Toyota NZ specifying media test cars have a sense of humour about these things? Anyway, the entry GX introduces something completely new for RAV4 in NZ: the hybrid powertrain with two-wheel drive. All previous RAV4 hybrids (and that's been all RAV4s in NZ for a while now) have been powered by Toyota's E-Four AWD system, with an electric motor on the back axle. On the outside: what are the Toyota RAV GX HEV FWD's main design features? Not so long ago, a base-level RAV4 shouted "base-level RAV4" on the outside, with pared-back styling and small/shiny wheels. You'd need make no apologies for choosing the RAV4 GX. It's an entry-level model that feels remarkably complete. No longer. The chunky body addenda of the new RAV4 gives the GX a visual lift (esecially in white, we'd have to say), there's LED lighting, much of the badging is blacked-out premium-style and while the wheels are still modestly sized 17-inchers, they're in a dark finish, too. The next-RAV4-up GXL gets upsized wheels of a more ornate design and some silver garnish on the bumpers, but there's not a lot between them at first glance. Both are based on the "core" RAV4 styling package with a slotted EV-ish flat grille, distinct from the look of the Adventure and GR Sport - both of which get their own masks. The more muscular Land Cruiser Prado-esque styling makes the RAV4 look bigger, but it isn't. Toyota has kept the exterior footprint the same. OVERVIEW | Price |