A NEW top of the range model has been added to Toyota's funky RAV4 line up with the arrival of the luxury equipped five-door XT5 on sale from next month.

With the onset of winter, perhaps the most desirable feature of the new RAV4 XT5 is the comfort of heated front seats as standard, ensuring drivers will leave cold seats behind them.

Other up market features include full-map satellite navigation, cruise control, automatic anti-glare electrochromic rear view mirror and RAV4 branded aluminium scuff plates.

The XT5 also includes automatic climate control, vehicle stability control and traction control systems and full leather upholstery.

Simultaneously, the grade structure of the RAV4 range has been revised with the XT3 grade replacing the XT2 as the entry model, available in three and five-door body styles.

Models in the range are now fitted with front and rear electric windows (rear only on five-door models), air conditioning, an electric tilt and slide sunroof (five-door models), four-speaker audio system with CD player, audio controls mounted on the steering wheel, leather steering wheel and gear knob trim, front fog lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels with locking nuts, hard cover for the spare wheel, roof rails, painted bumpers and wheel arch extensions. Three-door models also feature a roof-mounted rear spoiler.

All models also include driver, front passenger and curtain shield airbags, and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution.

This year RAV4 celebrates its tenth year on sale and it remains Europe's best-selling SUV with more than 1.4 million sales worldwide.

Prices of the 2.0-litre XT5 start at £23,445, with the automatic costing another £1,000, while the diesel version comes in at £24,445.

Updated: 12:03 Friday, November 19, 2004