The 2016 Toyota RAV4 is proving its capabilities in a big way. It recently finished first in the 2WD Class at the annual Olympus Rally in Shelton, Washington. Driven by well-known off-road racer, Ryan Millen, the SUV pulled ahead of all but four 4WD competitors, supporting the idea that big things really can come in small packages.
“It’s amazing how much speed you can carry. You wouldn’t expect a vehicle this size to handle and turn the way it does,” said Millen. “We know that thousands of hours have gone into the engineering of the RAV4, and we don’t mess with a good thing.”
For Millen and the Toyota RAV4 SE, this victory makes it their second consecutive win after snagging a top spot at the Oregon Trail competition earlier this year. The latest win was marked by a gap of more than five minutes ahead of the nearest in-class competitor.
Considering the wide range of intense challenges at the rally, the RAV4 stood up very well. In particular, its undercarriage was constantly pounded by massive stones, but that didn’t seem to be a problem at all for the compact SUV as it effortlessly forged forward to the finish line. “Even out of the box, the RAV4 is bulletproof,” Millen points out.
We agree, in fact, it’s amazing that the Toyota was able to accomplish such a prestigious feat without any engine or transmission modifications that are commonly found on race vehicles.
Sporting a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 176 horses and 172 lb.-ft. of torque, the brand-new RAV4 offers peppy performance while achieving excellent fuel efficiency at the same time. Learn more about this exciting SUV and compare it to the competition by reading our 2016 Toyota RAV4 review. When you’re done, contact us or stop by Crown Toyota for a test drive.
