2024 Toyota RAV4

Overview

The Toyota RAV4 turns 30 this year, and it is still obvious why the compact crossover regularly ranks as the best-selling non-pickup in the U.S. There’s nothing flashy here; the RAV4’s focus is on getting every job done without a fuss. It is practical, fuel-efficient, and rugged-looking. Available all-wheel-drive systems add a little bite to the stylistic bark of an SUV that’s actually best when tackling familiar suburban tasks. It offers plenty of features and its wide price range suits shoppers of many budgets. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder and eight-speed automatic deliver restrained acceleration in the name of good fuel economy. Beyond the attractive base price, cargo-friendly interior, and sensible road manners, Toyota also includes a host of driver-assistance tech and desirable infotainment features as standard, two more ways the RAV4 continues to be a challenge for rivals to overcome. A hybrid and a plug-in-hybrid powertrain are also available, but we review those models separately.

What’s New for 2024?

Army Green, a paint color already seen on several of Toyota’s bigger trucks and SUVs, makes its way to the RAV4 this year. The hue will be offered on the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims as a no-cost option. A two-tone color combo will also be available for these variants, paired with either a white or a black roof.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Although we’re drawn to the TRD Off-Road, we’d practice restraint and choose the mid-range XLE Premium. It provides plenty of standard equipment that the LE and XLE don’t offer as standard or at all, such as fog lights, 19-inch wheels, a power liftgate, a moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, faux-leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and soft-touch armrests. Toyota makes its suite of driver-assistance features standard across the lineup, so there’s not much reason to go with a pricier trim—unless, of course, you need rugged looks or ventilated seats.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

There’s a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine up front making 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive comes standard on all RAV4 trims but the Adventure and TRD Off-Road, which only come with all-wheel drive. The LE, XLE, and XLE Premium can be optioned with a simple AWD system. The more complex AWD setupon the Adventure, Limited, and TRD Off-Road trims comes with torque vectoring and can disconnect the rear axle to improve fuel economy. At our test track, this fifth-generation RAV4 proved quicker than its predecessor, with a 60-mph time of 8.0 seconds versus 8.3 seconds for the previous-generation model. The RAV4 Hybrid—reviewed separately—snapped off an even quicker 7.4-second time in our testing. The workaday four-cylinder can be gruff, especially during highway-passing attempts, and the transmission on our test vehicle seemed to stumble when called upon for a downshift. Workaday describes the handling as well; the compact crossover is solid and stable when cruising the interstate and competent when pitched into a twisty section of road. However, it doesn’t inspire the same confidence as the Mazda CX-50.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The RAV4 earned class-competitive fuel-economy estimates from the EPA. Front-wheel-drive RAV4s can manage up to an estimated 35 mpg on the highway. The all-wheel-drive Adventure delivered 32 mpg for us on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, 1 mpg shy of the EPA’s estimated rating for that trim. That’s a fairly good result for the class, but the RAV4 was outdone in that test by the Volkswagen Tiguan, which returned 33 mpg. For more information about the RAV4’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The RAV4’s interior prioritizes occupant comfort and cubby storage, but buyers need to shop above the base LE trim for an interior with eye appeal. That LE keeps its price down with cloth seats, hard black plastics throughout, a leather-free steering wheel, and single-zone manual climate control. The XLE tries a little harder, adding a second two-tone cabin option as well as a few more features. The XLE Premium cuts the compromises, done up with faux-leather upholstery, pleasant plastics, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and a stitched and padded dashboard and center-console armrest. The RAV4’s rear seats are easy to stow, and they fold to a nearly flat position, opening up the cabin for cargo. We fit 10 of our carry-on suitcases behind the rear seat and 22 with it folded. The Nissan Rogue matched the RAV4 here, but the Subaru Forester beat it by one in each metric.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Lower trims come with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, but the Limited and the TRD Off-Road get a 10.5-inch display. The infotainment system includes a 4G LTE mobile hotspot and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. A JBL premium audio system, navigation, and a wireless charging pad for a smartphone are optional. Most models come with a separate 7.0-inch display in the gauge cluster, but a 12.3-inch fully digital gauge display is optional on the XLE Premium and TRD Off-Road and is standard on the Limited.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The RAV4 lineup boasts an array of standard driver assists. Buyers also can add blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross-traffic alert, but those features cost extra on the base model. For more information about the RAV4’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Toyota’s warranties toe the industry line with three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage and five years for the powertrain. All models come with two years of complimentary scheduled maintenance—a rarity in this segment.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance is covered for two years or 25,000 miles

More Features and Specs