The updated Toyota RAV4 debuted in the “off-road” Adventure version

The compact Japanese crossover is very popular on the Russian market. For over 20 years now, car enthusiasts have greeted every generation of car with inspiration. All the more pleasant for them is the news that this year a new generation of SUV will appear, already the fifth in a row.

Company representatives plan to show the car at the end of March at the New York Auto Show. But it is already known that the model will be radically redesigned. You can learn about what the Toyota Rav 4 2021 looks like in the new body, its features and technical characteristics from this review.

Rav 4 2021: new body, differences from 2017 release

A distinctive feature of the new SUV is the different platform on which the model was developed. The project is based on the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform, which implies a “modular” system. In addition, the company's engineers claim that this has a positive impact on the safety and cost of the machine.

Obviously, the body looks a little different now. The exterior design has become more sporty and aggressive compared to its predecessor. The front optics are now angular, and in addition, as standard, they are equipped with LED lamps, and the bumper has a different configuration. The “mouth” of the radiator grille has slightly increased, under which there is a silver plate of protective plastic (see photo).

From the side, the updated crossover can be recognized by modified side sills, as well as modified wheel arches. Both elements received scratch protection made of black or silver plastic. A dynamic image is created by the line of side glazing that ascends to the rear of the car. Wheels painted in a dark color add a pleasant charm.

When viewed from the rear, there are not many differences from the 2017 models, but they are there. The new car sports stylish LED brake lights with a step, as well as a redesigned trunk lid. The lights are connected to each other by a dark lacquered insert, which contrasts perfectly with the “embrasure” of the rear window. And on the roof there is a small spoiler with a built-in strip of brake light repeaters. The bumper received additional segments of reversing lights, as well as additional protection against damage. The official dealer offers a wide range of body colors for the crossover, consisting of 8 different shades. The buyer will be offered the following color options:

• red;
• beige;
• white;
• silver;
• grey;
• brown;
• blue;
• black.

The dimensions of the car remained the same. Its length is a little more than 4.6 meters, its width is 1.84 meters, and its height is about 1.67 meters. In addition, the wheelbase of the car has grown a little, which is now 2.6 meters. The designers claim that thanks to such changes, it was possible to improve the smoothness and comfort for passengers even when driving on bad roads.

New Toyota Rav4 model: photo, new body

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 is a compact SUV. This well-balanced car has a spacious interior, high-quality materials with numerous standard features, and an economical engine that delivers the power you need. The RAV4 has earned prestigious awards for its combination of cargo and passenger space, safety and reliability ratings, positive owner reviews and available features.

Fact!

The RAV4 is one of the most well-equipped SUVs in its class. Its price is slightly higher than average.

Its competitors, the Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage, are cheaper. If you intend to purchase the model in question, you will have to spend additional money on the features that come standard on the new Toyota model.

Toyota Rav 4 2022: interior

The interior of the small SUV itself has also been redesigned. There are few striking differences in the interior, but the designers managed to introduce new notes and modernize the interior space while leaving it recognizable. The updated steering wheel fits comfortably in your hands, and the dashboard received stylish sky-colored lighting. Round air deflectors are adjusted according to the driver's considerations, and the pedal assembly has become a little closer to the driver.

The center console has retained its “two-story” architecture, where the lower block is responsible for climate settings, and the upper one is reserved for the navigation screen, where you can display images from maps, a rearview camera and other data. The quality of finishing materials has stepped up another step, in addition, the seats have acquired a comfortable profile, and in advanced configurations there is an electric drive and memory for several positions.

Rav4 in a new body 2021: technical specifications, price

Tuning did not ignore the engines of the famous SUV. The car can be purchased with a hybrid power plant, where a gasoline engine works in conjunction with a lithium-ion battery. The total power of the hybrid will be about 200 horsepower, and in urban mode the crossover is trained to move exclusively on electric traction.

The 2-liter gasoline unit, familiar to Russian consumers, will remain available, capable of delivering 146 horsepower with 187 nm of thrust. The eldest in the line will be a 2.5-liter engine, from which Japanese engineers were able to extract 180 horses and 233 nm of torque. By default, the car is equipped with front-wheel drive and a 6-speed manual transmission, but rich variations can be counted on a 4x4 wheel arrangement and the latest 8-speed automatic transmission, which replaced the old 6-speed gearbox.

Specifications

Interestingly, the new Toyota RAV4 has something new - an electric motor. So one of the configurations will be a hybrid. The base version gets a 2-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine with a power of up to 175 hp. and 208 Hm of torque.

In addition to it, a choice of 6-speed manual or CVT is available. The configuration with a CVT will be 30 thousand more expensive. The crossover will accelerate to hundreds in 9.8 seconds. Consumption in combined mode is 6 liters per hundred.

The more expensive version is also presented aspirated, but with more powerful characteristics. The 2.5-liter engine will produce 205 horsepower and 250 Hm. There will be no choice of transmission here. By default, an 8-position automatic machine is installed. The consumption of this engine will be 7.8 liters per hundred.

Toyota Rav 4: diesel 2022

Perhaps the most noticeable change in the range of engines after restyling was the abandonment of the diesel unit. True, for now this is only relevant for Europe. They decided not to offer the next Toyota Rav 4 for the 2021 model year. This is due to the fact that the operation of such cars has its drawbacks - first of all, it harms the environment.

But in the domestic market, the fifth-generation restyled car will be on sale until 2022. Under the hood there will be a 2.2-liter diesel engine with a power of 150 horsepower and a torque of 340 nm. This unit is offered only with an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

Toyota stops production of the RAV4 crossover in Russia

• In October 2021, the Toyota plant in St. Petersburg will cease production of the fourth-generation Toyota RAV4 crossover and launch the production of a completely new Toyota RAV4, which will be on the same level as the brand’s large SUVs.
• Built on the innovative TNGA® architecture platform, the new RAV4 features an all-new off-road design, larger dimensions, improved off-road capability, a more rigid body structure, a lower center of gravity, improved handling and the most advanced off-road performance in the model's history.
• Two new naturally aspirated engines, a revolutionary manually-geared CVT, new all-wheel drive with adaptive rear-wheel torque distribution and the comprehensive Multi-terrain select® off-road assistance system make the fifth-generation RAV4 a unique offering in its class.
• The new RAV4 delivers high-tech safety: thanks to the TNGA® architecture and the latest Toyota Safety Sense® package of active safety systems, the car has already received the highest score, 5 stars, in Euro NCAP crash tests.

On October 1, 2021, production of the fourth generation Toyota RAV4 crossover, which has become the most popular among buyers in the history of the model, will be completed in St. Petersburg. Not only is it the most popular crossover and best-selling Toyota model of 20211, but the fourth RAV4 has collected dozens of international awards and accolades throughout its illustrious career, and has earned the title of car with the highest residual value.2

The fourth generation model is replaced by the all-new Toyota RAV4. In the fifth generation, the car received an unprecedented amount of changes and the technological arsenal of a real SUV, which will allow the new RAV4 to surpass the achievements of its predecessor.

Brutal design, advanced features of the latest TNGA® architecture, a range of new gasoline engines, a unique CVT with gear first gear, new all-wheel drive with adaptive torque vectoring to the rear wheels, Multi-terrain select® and the latest version of the arsenal of active safety equipment TSS 2.0 makes the new RAV4 a unique offering in its class.

Benefits of the TNGA® Architecture

The transition to the innovative TNGA® (Toyota New Global Architecture) architecture has improved absolutely all the fundamental characteristics of the Toyota RAV4.

The all-new RAV4 features a significantly stiffer body structure, a lower center of gravity, carefully designed axle weight distribution and improved aerodynamics for improved handling and stability at high speeds. Other less obvious, but no less important advantages of switching to the TNGA® architecture include a simplified entry/exit process in both the front and rear rows of seats, a redesigned driver's workplace, improved visibility, and more effective sound insulation.

Off-road and technological design

If the design of the fourth generation RAV4 was more deserving of the epithet “evolutionary” (Toyota designers skillfully developed a theme begun on the third generation model), then the fifth RAV4 is a revolution without discounts or conventions.

The new brutal and expressive body design embodies the features of iconic Toyota SUVs. The aggressive off-road styling is clearly visible from all angles: front, side, rear and three-quarter view. The off-road character of the new RAV4 is emphasized by massive plastic linings in the lower part of the body, and developed wheel arches of complex geometry emphasize the brutal image of an adventurer.

The high-tech nature of the fifth generation RAV4 is determined by LED optics already in the basic configuration. Depending on the configuration, two types of headlights are used - parabolic and floodlight. In addition, for the first time in the Russian history of the RAV4, 19-inch wheels are available for the model.

New line of engines and transmissions

The fifth generation RAV4 will be presented on the Russian market with two completely new naturally aspirated petrol engines. Dynamic Force series engines of 2 liters (150 hp) and 2.5 liters (200 hp) show high efficiency and at the same time have the reliability inherent in Toyota cars.

Both engines feature an advanced VVT-iE valve timing system on the intake valves and D-4S combined fuel injection, ensuring the most efficient combustion of the fuel mixture and, accordingly, increased power and responsiveness to increased throttle.

Cars with a two-liter engine are equipped with a unique variator with mechanical first and reverse gears. Thanks to this, the car accelerates more dynamically when starting from a standstill, and in addition, it is not afraid of long-term off-road driving, a problem typical of conventional CVT transmissions.

The new RAV4 with the 2.5 liter engine has an eight-speed automatic transmission with an extended torque converter lock-up range. The range of gear ratios of the new transmission is 7.8 versus 5.42 for the six-speed automatic of the previous generation model, which is significantly higher than that of most competitors.

Off-road performance: a technological breakthrough

For the first time, two all-wheel drive solutions are available on the RAV4. Dynamic Torque Control AWD (Comfort package), familiar from the previous model, works according to the traditional scheme for crossovers of this class. Torque between the front and rear wheels is usually distributed in a ratio of 100:0. Electronics in real time monitors the desired and actual trajectory of the vehicle, wheel slip, analyzes information from speed sensors and ABS units, if necessary, redistributing traction up to a 50:50 ratio.

The new RAV4 gets Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD, an advanced all-wheel drive system with two separate all-wheel drive couplings on each rear wheel. Thrust vectoring provides a number of benefits both on-road (improved handling, reducing the effects of oversteer and understeer) and off-road (reducing the risk of wheel slip, solving the problem of diagonal hanging).

Absolute control over the vehicle's behavior on the road is provided by the "Integrated Active All-Wheel Drive Control System" for the new RAV4. This system is responsible for the coordinated operation of the engine, gearbox, all-wheel drive transmission and electric power steering (EPS), on which safe driving both off-road and in difficult conditions on ordinary roads depends. In the event of a dangerous situation, AIM independently corrects the driver’s actions.

Additionally, Multi-terrain select® makes its debut on the fifth generation RAV4. Well known to buyers of Land Cruiser Prado and Land Cruiser 200 SUVs, it helps to select the optimal algorithm for vehicle operation for a specific type of surface. The driver can choose from three preset options Normal (regular road), Mud and Sand (liquid mud and sand) Rock and Dirt (rocks and soil). Multi Terrain Select® algorithms make adjustments to the operation of the engine, transmission, all-wheel drive system, and power steering, helping the driver to overcome the most difficult road sections as efficiently as possible.

The geometric cross-country ability that is impressive for a crossover (approach angle is 18⁰, departure angle is 20.5⁰, minimum ground clearance is 195 mm) allows you not only to safely park with your wheel on the curb, but also to climb slopes up to 35⁰ steep.

5 star safety

The safety technologies in the new RAV4 have already earned the highest score, 5 stars, in crash tests by the independent Euro NCAP crash test association.

The RAV4's highest level of passive safety is made possible largely thanks to the innovative TNGA architecture. In the design of the power structure of the car body, the number of elements made of high-strength steel, which absorb and remove impact energy from the passenger compartment, has significantly increased.

Thanks to improved visibility (lower dashboard line, hidden windshield wipers, thinner A-pillars and transparent windows instead of plastic caps in the front of the side windows) and a completely new dashboard, the driver always keeps the situation on the road under control.

The Toyota Safety Sense package in the latest version 2.0 is responsible for active safety in the new RAV4. It includes a number of high-tech systems and traffic assistants: dynamic radar cruise control operating in the full speed range, integrated with traffic sign recognition (DRCC + RSA), a collision avoidance system (PCS) with improved functionality for identifying pedestrians at night, keeping the vehicle in the selected lane (LTA). In addition, the car is also equipped with an automatic high beam switching system (AHB), a function for monitoring the level of driver fatigue.

More detailed information about the Toyota RAV4, including trim levels and equipment, will be available on October 1.

1 Toyota RAV4 is the most popular crossover in the world and the best-selling Toyota model according to Focus2move in 2018. A total of 807,116 copies of the model were sold. 2 Toyota RAV4 is the leader in residual value among three-year-old crossovers, according to a 2021 study by the Autostat agency

Toyota Rav 4 2021: price and equipment, official website

The cost of the new SUV in the showroom is already known. According to information from the official website, the price of a car in the basic configuration is 1.45 million rubles. And for copies with rich equipment you will have to pay 1.9-2 million rubles. In total, the dealer offers 4 equipment options, each with a different set of options. The price list below will help you understand the pricing features.

Toyota Rav 4 Adventure 2021

The most equipped variation was the Adventure package. The owner of such a car can count on parking sensors, an all-round camera, rain and light sensors. In addition, the car will receive an engine start system with a button, a leather interior, a multimedia system on the Yandex platform, as well as an advanced audio system. According to the latest news, the price for such a car starts at 1.9 million rubles.

Rav 4 2022: latest owner reviews

Vladislav, 34 years old:

“The management recently gave me a promotion. It seems good, but you just need to buy a car. I didn’t even think about buying a used one - I want a new car. And then I came across an advertisement for RAV 4. I read the latest reviews from the owners about it and realized that it was worth taking. Now I can recommend the car myself. Spacious, but at the same time maneuverable - convenient in city traffic. And it’s not difficult to get out of the city either - it’s easy to overcome the dirt road. A true all-round crossover."

Mikhail, 28 years old:

“I have a car of the previous generation in the Prestige configuration. I’ve been traveling for two years now, so I’ve already learned all the downsides. Initially – weak seat upholstery. It was already greasy, I had to take the covers. The plastic on the doors is also hard and loud. This is one of the shortcomings. But the car itself is durable and unpretentious - no emergency situations happened during service.”

Toyota Rav 4 2021: latest news

The car's debut on the Russian market is just around the corner, so dealers are trying to lure buyers. Among the news is the sale of copies of the previous generation with significant discounts. In addition, the new SUV will be equipped with an additional “warm options” package, which includes a heated steering wheel, front and rear seats. You can also count on the ERA-GLONASS emergency system.

Toyota Rav4 interior

The Toyota can accommodate up to five people. There is ample legroom in the front and rear. Even tall passengers can easily find a comfortable position in the spacious cabin. One of the RAV4's main drawbacks is that it doesn't offer a power-adjustable passenger seat.

On a note!

Optional amenities include an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front and rear seats, and ventilated front seats.

The RAV4's interior features a modern design with soft yet durable materials. You won't mistake this Toyota for a luxury car, but practicality, comfort and luxury increase significantly as trim levels go up. Additional amenities include faux leather seats and unique accent stitching on the seats.

The RAV4 features a user-friendly infotainment system with a responsive 7-inch touchscreen. The interface is intuitive and the number buttons on the screen are well laid out. There are also physical knobs and buttons for things like stereo volume and temperature controls. These physical elements are generally easy to reach, with the exception of some elements on the far side of the console.

Standard Features:

• 7-inch touch screen;
• Wi-Fi;
• Android Auto;
• Apple CarPlay;
• USB port;
• Bluetooth;
• satellite radio;
• stereo system with 6 speakers.

Additional features available include an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, wireless device charging, an 11-speaker JBL audio system and 4 additional USB ports.

Other features that may be included: dual-zone automatic climate control, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, panoramic roof.