In Carmel Valley, CA, we had an awesome time. Exploring the new 2019 Toyota RAV 4 5th generation while taking part in wildlife operations such as trail running, and meditating on the exquisite Carmel Valley Ranch grounds with Mother Nature.
The CUV’s sleek exterior style is prolific with a fresh grille, greater clearance, broader corpora, Dynamic Torque Vectoring, panoramic moonroof and a lot more.
You will discover the addition of legroom, distinctive trimesters, soft-touch materials, Verizon WiFi connectivity, and an upgraded 11-speaker premium JBL system, 800 watts Clari-Fi Sound Restaurant audio system.
The style is a complete overhaul over the past year with a more upright position, a Tacoma-Esque front fascia, and proportions that give it a look that the latest generation misses. In general, we believe this is miles better than the prior model. The visual update moves away from a car-like appearance before.
The updates Are Much More Than Just Skin Deep.
The RAV4 2019 is available in 9 grades and 13 different designs, including a hybrid and adventure on rough terrain, for instance on the way to campsites.
In particular, the Multi-Terrain selection Adventure enables riders to choose between snow, mud, sand and rock & dirt while the Drive selection mode differentiates between Eco, Normal and Sport.
Downhill Assist Control is also available for steady slopes downhill. AWD is first a Toyota and adds courage to Adventure and Limited RAV4 models. Dynamic torque Vectoring is also a RAV4.
I observed the tiny marvel in his company during a brief off-road course, particularly up steep paths and close, sluggish curves. Up to 50 percent of the torque can be delivered to the back of the scheme and each back-torque can be received separately.
However, DTV is very noisy, so I think the car was going down.
I took the Hybrid off the course too and it did the job with its AWD and trail mode electronic on-demand but fought somewhat against the RAV4 Adventure.
The adventure also features a threatening front grill, distinctive 19 “alloy rims, large and aggressive wheel well molds, relocated side-view mirrors, a new Lunar Rock color and orange accents inside the cabin.
The Hybrid has 18, “black external trim, exclusive blue interior highlights, and a unique gray grille. All RAV4’s have a greater floor clearance, a bigger body, a slightly shorter length, a little longer wheelbase, conventional LED headlights, and a panoramic moonroof. For vertical height up to 2, “the rear floorboard can be adjusted.” The load cover can be stored underneath too.
The RAV4 Manages To Conquer The Terrain All The Same.
The RAV4’s new TNGA-K platform provides a supple ride on the road, even with the jacked-up suspension stuff.
Drive the new RAV4 and you’ll be taken instantly by a large move in cockpit quality, noise control, and— yes— driving a pleasure.
Back seat travelers are comfortable even on medium-long journeys, although tall rear-seat travelers challenge Toyota’s reduction of the roofline (and the roof rack above) by an inch for a sleeker look.
The powertrains are also more potent this time around. We were particularly struck by the low-end torque of the hybrid, although the gas-only model was also decently muscular when required.
Connecting the gas-only model is an eight-speed automatic with a torque converter lock-up in the second through the eighth gear, while the hybrid utilizes a CVT.
New for 2019, the RAV4 AWD system is being provided with a new Dynamic Torque Vectoring scheme, which comes as standard on the Adventure and Limited Gas models.
To give you a stronger grip on how it operates, the RAV4 demonstrates how much torque is sent to each individual wheel through the gauge cluster screen while applying the throttle.
The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Is A Surprisingly Awesome Off Roader
During my driving experience in Carmel, Toyota had us take the wheel of an off-road trip that matched the 2019 RAV4 against a multitude of problems, including loose dirt surfaces, profound ruts, steep mountains, and tight terrain.
I was immediately impressed by just how easy it was to drive the RAV4 in these conditions.
However, the most impressive part came later in the course, where the 2019 RAV4 had to ascend a steep, rutted incline.
Toyota’s rep had us stop about halfway up and feel the hill-hold function kick in. When I got back to the throttle, I could really feel the torque vectoring scheme claw up the slippery, powdery surface. No trouble, no problem at all.
Finally, the course was marked by some articulating bumps that kicked the wheel out of the floor. Again, the RAV4 had no difficulty navigating the irregular terrain.
Overall, I went away impressed by the capacities of the RAV4. While I wouldn’t put it on the same level as a truly off-road committed car like the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, it’s evident that the new RAV4 will meet all but the toughest off-road lovers. If your objective is a far-flung trailhead, or an ideal launch place for kayaks, or a distant fishing spot, the RAV4 should have what it takes to get you there without any drama whatsoever, particularly in the Adventure grade.
There are settings for mud, sand, rocks, dirt, and snow. There’s also a dedicated Trail Mode for the hybrid.
Other aids include Hill Start Assist Control and Downhill Assist Control, which maintains a defined velocity on steep grades without any braking input, making it simpler to focus on your line.
Out of all the designs on offer, the Adventure grade is the most off-road prepared for the bunch. New for the 2019 model year, the Adventure grade comes with 235/55R19 tires and distinctive exterior treatments, plus loads of normal off-road gear and distinctive orange interior pieces.
2019 Toyota RAV4 Prices
Pricing starts at $25,500 for the LE FWD and can increase to $35,700 for a Hybrid Limited. The RAV4 created the compact SUV segment and continues to set trends for active lifestylers and customers who love adventure. So, let’s go places!
- Limited steps up the luxe: standard power moonroof and power-adjustable driver’s seat, optional ventilated/heated front seats and heated rears. It also gets a bigger 7-inch instrument panel MID and onboard navigation. A power liftgate is standard, and hands-free power is optional. The Limited and XSE hybrid are the first Toyotas in North America with a digital rearview mirror (Toyota’s term), meaning a mirror that flips from optical (a mirror) to a wide-angle, camera-based view. The base price is $36,745.
- XSE, hybrid-only, is the sportiest RAV4. Toyota says it does 0-60 in 7.8 seconds. There is a lot of blacked-out and piano black trim inside and out, a sportier suspension and 60-series tires, although the Adventure has 55-series. The interior is heavy on black trim with blue accents throughout. The roof is black, with a choice of four body colors: Blizzard Pearl, Silver Sky Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, or Blueprint. The base price is $34,745.
- Adventure is gas-engine-only, all-wheel-drive-only, with raised roof rails. The Adventure, Toyota says, “[is] equipped for all-weather urban, suburban, and trail exploring.” It will give a Subaru a run for its money, but this is not a Jeep Wrangler. Still, check out the photos of a RAV4 on uneven terrain. The cockpit has orange-lined storage trays and orange stitching. The base price is $33,945.
- XLE Premium, gas only, jumps to 19-inch alloys, leather-look SofTex seats, and a multi-way adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment (sorry, passenger). The base price is $31,945.
- XLE adds 17-inch alloys, auto-on/off headlamps, heated power side mirrors, a moonroof, rear climate control vents, smart key access to front doors and the liftgate, and five total USB jacks. The base price, AWD, is $28,745.
- LE, the entry grade for both gas and hybrid. Standard are LED headlamps and tail lamps, a 4.2-inch multi-information display in the instrument panel, privacy glass from the second row back, and a 12-volt jack in back as well as the front, to go with one USB jack. The front-drive LE is $26,545 including $1,045 shipping, all-wheel-drive LE is $27,945 (a $1,400 difference), and the AWD hybrid (there are no front-drive hybrid RAV4s) is $800 more. The price differentials (minus $1,400 for front-drive versus AWD, plus $800 for the hybrid) hold for all trim lines.
2019 Toyota RAV4 Pictures
