New RAV4 spins to the right tune

Al Quoz in Dubai is a wonderful place, far more than just the simple industrial estate most people expect it to be.

Hidden in these myriad yards and alleyways are every kind of business imaginable, from major metal-bashers and concrete makers, to bespoke gentlemen’s tailors and ‘public cook’ biriyani kitchens. Here you will find car restorers, racecar builders, motorcycle shops, used supercars and more mental metal for hire than you could imagine.

Hardly surprising then, that Al Quoz is also home to buzzing art and performance spaces. Several galleries showcase the work of contemporary local artists. Creativity in all its forms is there if you look long enough. Time to test the trusty RAV4 in a different kind of setting, then.

Al Quoz is on our sat-nav screen today, a maze of industrial units and a grid system of smooth roads and bumpy roadworks.

Our intended destination is an edgy and adventurous performance space called The Fridge, perfectly in tune with our new RAV4’s urban cool. No longer just a weekend workhorse, the sleek new styling and luxurious interior of our RAV4 are perfect for going beyond the fringe, for venturing into unexplored territory and taking the road less travelled.
 
We crank up the six-speaker stereo, choose something suitably funky for an urban soundtrack, and hit the streets in style. Running in Eco mode makes sense today, despite the presence of numerous smoking trucks. And the RAV4’s tight turning circle is ideal for squeezing round obstacles that might get in the way.

Here, the steering is effortlessly light, and all-round visibility is excellent. The high driving position gives an unrestricted view of our surroundings, and lets us place the RAV4 with millimetric precision. Parking sensors and the Back Guide Monitor provide extra reassurance in tight spaces.

This is the RAV4’s natural environment. Nothing stops it, not potholes and truck-pummelled roads, not sand lots or speed bumps, not a tricky narrow passage between crowding units.

The permanent 4WD system finds traction on every surface, the suspension is compliant enough to soak up every curb and bump. And inside all is serene and calm and luxurious, while we try to get the sat-nav to figure out where we are meant to be. And when you need to outrun that impending taxi, there’s plenty of power packed under the bonnet. The RAV4’s engine possesses a lively character.

Photographer Stefan knows where he’s going, apparently, so off we set, looking for a warehouse on a main road at the back of Al Quoz. This is where The Fridge began, a focus for local performance talent, a space for local musicians to find an audience and a stage to create magic.

After several runs along this road and bumps through the roadworks, we come to the conclusion that this particular hole in the ground is where The Fridge used to be, but the game has moved on, just as our RAV4 has evolved from a basic workhorse into something much more sophisticated and accomplished.

Turns out The Fridge had outgrown its original small space, and has evolved into a rather larger and more accommodating space at Warehouse #5 in Al Serkal Avenue, the new epicentre of creativity and the arts in this city — if you’re looking for the coolest underground music and unsigned acts, this is the place for you.

The move took place in August last year, and The Fridge was the first dedicated performance space in Al Serkal, and since then it has really taken off as a venue. It is open to every kind of live music, from classical through to jazz and contemporary, and equally open to the gentle rhythms of our RAV4’s superb 2.5-litre four-pot.

The RAV4 certainly struck a chord with our pianist Adam, a promising, up and coming musician. No need to worry about getting invited behind the velvet rope, we’ve got Smart Entry here.

And so with our 15 minutes of fame in the can it was back out into the maze of Al Quoz, AC on chill and music on max, to enjoy our RAV4 a little more. Truly, a virtuoso performance.