In 1994, the original first-generation Toyota RAV4 debuted in Japan. It didn't arrive in the US until 1996 and was available as both as a four-door and ...
... as a two-door. In case you were wondering, RAV4 stands for Recreational Active Vehicle with Four-wheel-drive.
The fourth generation RAV4 arrived for the 2013 model. It ended its production in 2018 as the best-selling SUV in America.
The new RAV4 is built on Toyota's new TNGA-K global mid-size platform shared with the Camry sedan. Previous RAV4s were built on compact platforms shared with the Corolla and the Prius.
Its wheelbase is now 1.2 inches longer, but apart from that, the RAV4's overall dimensions remain virtually unchanged.
The RAV4 news sheet metal is handsome and modern, delivering suburban civility with a subtle evocation of 4Runner/Land Cruiser ruggedness.
The centerpiece of the RAV4's front fascia is a large grille along with a sizable Toyota logo. They are flanked by round fog lamps and LED headlights.
We were impressed by the RAV4's interior. Material quality was outstanding and everything felt really well put together.
The leather upholstered seats in our test car were soft and supportive with ample adjustments available.
Toyota worked hard to make the RAV4's cabin easy to live with. And it shows. Cabin ergonomics are top notch. Everything the driver needs is clearly marked and easily within reach.
I'm a fan of the various storage nooks found throughout the RAV4, like this one located right above the glove box.
In front of the driver is a hybrid digital/analog instrument cluster. Our test car's 7.0-inch information display worked well and offered a bevy driving data. Lower trim cars come with the a 4.2-inch display.
Atop the center stack is an 8-inch touchscreen running the latest version of Toyota's Entune infotainment system. Entune is not one of our favorite systems.
Even though Toyota has made improvements to the system, it's still clunky to use and its presentation is decidedly outdated.
Entune is not without its merits. The system has plenty of feature content such as app integration, Wi-Fi connectivity, and built-in navigation.
Also, the physical short cut buttons around the bezel of the screen that dramatically improve Entune's usability.
And then there's Apple CarPlay capability. It's available for the first time on the RAV4 and allows you to completely bypass the Entune should you choose to.
Lower down on the center stack are the RAV4's climate controls and seat heaters. Again, well designed and easy to use.
Our test car came equipped with a screen embedded into the rearview mirror. The screen can be turned on or off using a toggle switch at the bottom of the mirror.
The system took a little while to get used to, but worked like a charm. It'll be particularly useful when the RAV4 is packed with people or cargo and rear visibility is obstructed.
... it also offers a 360-degree panoramic view that will swing around to show the car's surroundings.
The system also has a feature that will show you what the car looks like from the perspective of those around it.
All RAV4's come standard with Toyota's Safety Sense suite of semi-autonomous driver's assistance technologies including pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with steering assist, automatic high beams, lane tracing assist, and traffic sign assist.
The RAV4's second row felt roomy and spacious. It offers 37.8 inches of legroom, up from 37.2 inches in the previous generation model. However, it lags behind the Hyundai Tucson's 38.2 inches not to be mention of the Subaru Forester and the Mazda CX-5, both of which offer more than 39 inches.
This massive panoramic glass roof is also a nice optional extra. It gives the cabin and open and airy feeling.
... you'll find 37 cubic feet of cargo room. Fold down the second row and cargo capacity increases to 69.8 cubic feet. Both figures are down from the 38.4 cubic feet and 73.4 cubic feet capacities of the outgoing RAV4.
All non-hybrid RAV4s are powered by a 2.5-liter, 203 horsepower, naturally aspirated inline-four-cylinder engine shared with the Toyota Camry.
It's mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission sending power to the front wheels or an optional all-wheel-drive system.
Hybrid RAV4's are powered by the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a hybrid drive system to produce 219 unit horsepower, sending power to all four wheels through a continuously variable transmission.
Our test car came with a fancy Dynamic Torque Vectoring all-wheel-drive system that can send up to 50% of the engine's torque to the rear wheels. It can also distribute power between the left rear and right rear based on road conditions.
So, what's it like to drive?
Shockingly unrefined.
Everything about the Toyota RAV4 conveys thoughtfulness and refinement from the quality of its interior plastics to its comfortable ride.
The same could not be said for the driving experience. The 2.5-liter engine is one of the most coarse-sounding four-cylinder engines I've encountered in a long time. Under hard acceleration, the engine buzzes and strains like a poorly executed 20-year old tuner Honda Civic.
The 8-speed automatic doesn't help the situation. Shifts were a tad slow and came with a somewhat uncouth jolt.
What's most surprising is the fact that the drivetrain is shared with the current generation four-cylinder Toyota Camry, a vehicle we thoroughly enjoyed.
On the bright side, the four-banger delivers strong acceleration amid the noise.
Overall, the RAV4's driving dynamics are unremarkable.
The verdict.
The Toyota RAV4 is the best-selling SUV in America for a reason. It has delivered solid, sensible, and reliable transportation with an extra dose of fun for more than two decades now.
And it is set to continue that trend with the fifth-generation 2019 RAV4.
The new Toyota RAV4 delivers a capable, high-tech, and easy-to-live-with compact crossover in a handsomely-styled package. Now, I just need Toyota to add to some sound insulation and retune the transmission.
