The Toyota RAV4 has historical past. It was a part of the preliminary small-SUV phase that finally blossomed into some of the fascinating bunches of vehicles within the automotive trade. But by the point its fourth era got here round in 2012, the initially attention-grabbing crossover regarded and felt about as thrilling as an annual bodily.For its fifth era, Toyota has seen to present the RAV4 some character once more, and to nice impact. While it could nonetheless be a secure selection amongst compact crossover SUVs, the RAV4 feels extra attention-grabbing than it has in years.Quasi-rugged charmPracticality may be a significant buying issue for a lot of small SUV consumers, however that does not imply a automobile must be devoid of something attention-grabbing. One have a look at the 2019 RAV4’s new design is all it takes to understand that enjoyable has a spot, as properly. The delicate edges of the fourth-gen RAV4 have been solid apart in favor of onerous creases, giving it its most attention-grabbing look in over a decade. I am particularly a fan of the rectilinearity across the wheel wells. The hefty physique cladding offers it much more character, too.
The inside is equally interesting, however not a lot that it negatively impacts its prime directive: perform. The dashboard makes attention-grabbing use of layering, hiding a pair of very helpful cubbies in entrance of the driving force and passenger — slathered in vivid orange on my Adventure-trim tester. Throw in an additional storage space forward of the shifter (or a wi-fi system charger within the case of my check automobile) and a big-enough cubby beneath the middle armrest, and there is loads of locations to place all of your junk.
Even although Toyota went somewhat heavier on the cabin styling than normal, it does not take something away. The A-pillars are skinny sufficient, lending to glorious ahead visibility, and the scale of the rear glass means it isn’t onerous to see what’s behind the RAV4, both. Both rows of seats provide a great deal of area; with the driving force’s chair set to accommodate my 6-foot body, I nonetheless discover loads of obtainable legroom for extra adults within the second row.
My tester comes outfitted with Toyota’s $1,185 cold-weather package deal, which provides a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated entrance seats and rain-sensing wipers. The rain-sensing wipers are a pleasant contact, present within the background till I would like ’em, however I do want that the steering wheel and seat warmth had been somewhat stronger, by no means fairly reaching the extent of toasty I discover in Toyota’s competitors.While the RAV4’s 37.6 cubic toes of cargo capability lags behind opponents just like the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue, it is nonetheless greater than sufficient for a household’s value of groceries or a weekend journey’s value of baggage. If you are out within the wilderness, as one may be with an Adventure-trimmed RAV4, there is a conventional plug and a 12-volt outlet within the cargo space for numerous tenting home equipment and the like. The rear seats fold down rapidly and simply to supply 69.8 cubic toes of stuff storage, if crucial. That second determine is about even with the Rogue, however the Honda nonetheless has it beat by 6 cubic toes.Easy on the backbone, not on the earsThe Toyota RAV4 now rides on the identical Toyota New Global Architecture platform because the Camry and Corolla, and similar to these vehicles, the platform brings some massive advantages to this small SUV. It’s assured and competent, relaying little from the street to the cabin. Ride high quality generally could be very clean, the suspension cruising over Michigan’s sketchy roads with out feeling too floaty. The 235/55R19 Toyo Open Country all-season tires provide an OK quantity of sidewall, serving to the suspension dissipate bumps. The steering has a pleasant weight to it, and its direct-enough motion must be greater than wonderful for small SUV consumers.But whereas the chassis delights, the powertrain leaves me chilly. The engine is a 2.5-liter I4 that places out 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, enhancements of 27 and 12, respectively, over the previous-generation RAV4. It gives sufficient vim for what the SUV’s consumers will want, whether or not it is getting up to the mark earlier than the on-ramp ends or settling right into a busy visitors sample after turning onto a street. However, it is about as clean as a cheese grater, sending gentle vibrations into the cabin because the engine rises in revs and produces an disagreeable, quasi-agricultural word.It’s a great place to park your tuchus, however the street and wind noise can get somewhat annoying.
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While some Toyota automobiles, particularly on the Lexus aspect, sport world-class noise mitigation, the RAV4 is not fairly as much as laudatory snuff. Whether it is the tires, the street or a scarcity of appropriate sound deadening (or the entire above), the inside is not as quiet as I’d have favored. I needn’t crank the radio or shout to my passenger, however there’s at all times one thing within the background punctuating an in any other case pleasant-enough drive.The eight-speed automated transmission is not incomes any favors, both. While it does swap gears easily as soon as the automobile is up to the mark, there are a number of situations at low speeds when it clunks somewhat closely because it shifts up and down. This is most obvious in stop-and-go visitors, once I decelerate to about 5 miles per hour and must speed up once more earlier than coming to a whole cease. Giving the transmission somewhat additional time to decide does assist, however I really feel that the eight-speed on this occasion lacks the polish of comparable transmissions from different automakers.
Front-wheel drive is commonplace on the RAV4, however my Adventure trim packs an all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring and a rear axle that may disconnect from the entrance for higher gas economic system. The EPA estimates my tester’s thrift at 25 miles per gallon metropolis and 33 mpg freeway, numbers which are optimistic however not insurmountable — I handle to realize about 23 mpg within the metropolis and nearly 32 mpg on my native freeways.Solid tech, however not precisely goodToyota has been on the forefront in relation to democratizing its security techniques, and my RAV4 tester isn’t any exception. Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is commonplace throughout the lineup, providing adaptive cruise management, lane-keep help, automated emergency braking and automated high-beam headlights. The adaptive cruise management retains issues good and clean on the freeway, shaving velocity with none jarring braking motions. The lane-keep help is not heavy-handed, both, gently guiding me again to the center of the lane if I stray too near the traces.My tester provides a number of extra security techniques as a part of a $1,265 tech package deal that features blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors with automated rear braking, the latter giving me a bit extra confidence throughout parallel parking maneuvers. The package deal additionally features a intelligent rearview mirror that replaces the standard view with a digital show from the backup digital camera. I by no means loaded the RAV4 up sufficient to wish it, but it surely’s nonetheless a helpful little bit of tech for many who usually haul plenty of stuff.The graphics may be outdated, however the system continues to be greater than succesful (and feature-rich) sufficient for the common crossover purchaser.
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A 7-inch coloration show within the gauge cluster affords a digital speedometer wrapped round an info display that provides me gas economic system and different related info at a fast look. There’s additionally an 8-inch infotainment show rising up from the dashboard. Toyota’s Entune 3.0 system options extra functionality than prior variations, but it surely nonetheless wields the identical outdated design that appears somewhat stale in 2019. That mentioned, responsiveness is ample, and I respect the bodily buttons on both aspect of the display for fast hops between audio, navigation and telephone screens. The quantity knob lacks detents, although, so I discover myself by accident cranking the amount properly previous its supposed stage in each instructions.Apple CarPlay is a pleasant addition, however Entune nonetheless lacks Android Auto help. That should not be the case for for much longer, although, as Toyota has began including it to some 2020 fashions. Other connectivity additions embody a Wi-Fi hotspot and Amazon Alexa integration, the latter of which is useful if you happen to forgot to depart some lights on for the canines. In-car app integration does require a standalone app obtain, however fortunately it is free on the App Store. Embedded navigation and a nice 11-speaker JBL audio system are a part of a $1,620 leisure improve.How I would spec itWith all of the aforementioned packages, plus $850 for a moonroof, $500 for two-tone paint, $269 for ground mats and $1,045 for vacation spot, my 2019 RAV4 Adventure comes out to a high-but-not-obscene $39,634.While I am not essentially the most adventurous particular person, I do respect the aesthetic enhancements of the RAV4 Adventure, which begins at $32,900 earlier than vacation spot. I will follow my tester’s two-tone paint, because it’s somewhat extra enjoyable. Honestly, I can not consider a single package deal that I would do away with right here, apart from the $269 for ground mats, so my best spec comes out to $39,365 together with vacation spot. Those searching for a bit extra luxurious ought to go for the marginally dearer Limited trim, which begins at $33,500.Down to brass tacksThe RAV4 competes in a really busy phase. It has higher, newer tech than the Nissan Rogue, and its on-road livability completely spanks the Chevy Equinox, although it lacks the powertrain refinement of the most recent Honda CR-V. The Subaru Forester is equally priced and a bit smoother on the street, however our assessments revealed middling gas economic system. If you prize driving dynamics or need the fanciest inside you’ll be able to muster on this phase, there’s at all times the Mazda CX-5, too. The 2020 Ford Escape will doubtless put up an incredible combat when it arrives later this yr, as properly.Finding a well-rounded automobile normally means making a number of sacrifices. While the 2019 Toyota RAV4 may lack a refined powertrain and best-in-class noise mitigation or cargo area, it is nonetheless an eminently succesful small crossover that may transfer a bunch of stuff with out making the driving force really feel bored, drained or offended. The SUV’s new platform offers it an entire new life in a sink-or-swim phase. Even individuals who have solely ever had RAV4s of their storage will respect simply how compelling the fifth-generation mannequin is.
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