2020 Toyota RAV4

The first RAV was introduced by the Japanese manufacturer more than two decades ago. The "CSUV" concept car steadily gained popularity in the US market and emerged as one of the most popular SUVs in North America.

The reasons for CSUV's popularity were better cargo space, decent power, higher visibility, and four-wheel drive option, all these at the fuel economy of a compact car

The 2020 RAV4 is available with five trim levels which are considered to be one of the stretched lineups in the segment. Front-wheel drive is standard on all trims though AWD can be added in each trim at an additional cost of $1,400. The main highlights of the LE (base) trim are 17-inch alloy wheels, Halogen projector-beam headlights, Power outside mirrors with folding, Tilt/telescopic steering wheel, and a backup camera on the board.

Trims	LE	XLE	XLE Premium	Adventure	Limited
MSRP(FWD)	$25,850	$27,145	$29,850	-	$34,380
MSRP(AWD)	$27,250	$28,545	$31,250	$32,955	$35,780
Features	LED Headlights with Automatic high beams	All the features in LE added or replaced and:	All the features in XLE added or replaced and:	All the features in XLE Premium added or replaced and:	All the features in Adventure added or replaced and:
	LED DRLs	Auto On/Off Headlights	Power tilt moonroof	Unique split-bar front upper grille	JBL Audio with Dynamic Navigation and 11-speakers
	17-inch steel wheels	17-inch alloy wheels	19-inch alloy wheels	Black RAV4 and Adventure badging	Downhill Assist Control(DAC)
	Power folding outside rear-view mirror	Smart key on front doors and liftgate	Climate control system with front centre vent flow controls and rear-seat vents	7-inch MID with customizable settings	Anti-theft system with alarm and engine immobilizer
	Climate control system with pollen filter	Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control	8-Way power-adjustable front driver’s seat	Overhead console with map lights and Safety Connect button	Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive with Rear Driveline Disconnect
	Integrated backup camera	Blind Spot Monitoring System with Cross-Traffic Alert	Leather-trimmed steering wheel;	Rear Cargo area decklid mounted-storage net
	Fabric trimmed seats
	60/40 Split-folding rear seats

 We Recommend

We recommend users to opt for the SE trim as it is the best-valued trim. It offers better interiors, power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats, Steering mounted paddle shifters, and daytime running LED lights on the board as upper trims don't offer much value for money.

Toyota RAV4 boasts with a 2.5L, 4-cylinder engine that produces above-average power and torque counts in the segment. The 2.5L I4 engine throws power at 203 hp @ 6600 rpm which is decent for an entry-level SUV.  This Engine makes overtaking easy but does become a bit more vocal at the Higher RPM's.

Toyota also comes with a highly complex Torque Vectoring System that allows the seamless and sufficient transfer of power to the different wheels when going off-road. The gasoline-powered RAV4s are available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive configuration. Power id delivered to all the wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Models	Toyota RAV4 LE (FWD)	Mazda CX-5 Sport (FWD)	Kia Sorento L (FWD)	Hyundai Santa Fe SE (FWD)
MSRP	$25,850	$25,090	$26,690	$25,900
Engine	2.5L I4	2.5L I4	2.4L I4	2.4L I4
Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	6-Speed Automatic	6-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic
Horsepower	203 hp @ 6600 rpm	187 hp @ 6000 rpm	185 hp @ 6000 rpm	185 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque	184 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm	186 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	178 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	178 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm

The competitors like Mazda, Kia, and Hyundai produce similar power output and the RAV4 definitely takes the win in terms of power.

Acceleration

It's a matter of fact that we cannot expect thrilling acceleration performance from entry-level SUVs; the Toyota RAV4 also fits in the above definition. 2020 RAV4 offers competitive acceleration counts in the segment, as the CSUV takes 7.8 seconds in boosting from still to 60 mph.

Quarter mile results are again impressive for 2017 Toyota RAV4 as the car takes just 16.7 seconds in measuring a quarter-mile distance. Dynamic Torque vectoring benefits in taking corners with more confidence and speed.

Models	Toyota RAV4 LE (FWD)	Mazda CX-5 Sport (FWD)	Kia Sorento L (FWD)	Hyundai Santa Fe SE (FWD)
0-60 MPH	7.8 s	8.7 s	8.9 s	8.4 s
Quarter mile	16.6 s	N/A	16.7 s	16.3 s
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15k mi/yr)	5.0	5.3	6.0	6.0

At last, Toyota RAV4 features slightly better acceleration performance when compared with the competitors in the budget SUV segment. Rivals are almost a whole second behind.

Ride and Handling

RAV4 is boosted with a competent, though not the most powerful in the segment, engine that offers best-in-class 0-60 acceleration results. Though the acceleration performance isn't thrilling or brisk, It was still better than competitors. The 6-speed automatic transmission is flawless, and steering-mounted paddle shifters (available in upper trim levels) add more convince to the offering.

The interiors are spacious and as good as expected from the RAV4, seats are comfortable enough though power and adjustable seats aren't standard in the base trim; interior quality isn't the best in the segment as there's a lot of plastic stuff which doesn't feel premium at all.

The suspension performs below average in the RAV4, as the car struggles a bit on the rugged roads. The tilt and telescopic steering wheel along with driver-assist features like steering assist (Lane departure warning) and automatic braking add more stars to the riding experience.

The handling is quite impressive in the segment and steering offers good grip and confidence. At last, the riding experience is commendable in the 2017 RAV4, though interiors quality isn't the best in the segment.

Braking

Toyota RAV4 is equipped with advanced braking technology that offers automatic emergency braking feature on the board. Toyota RAV4 offers small-sized braking pads which are convenient in use. Though the latest RAV4 offers advanced braking features, performance is below-average for the SUV as it slides 125 feet while decelerating from 60 mph to still which isn't impressive at all.

Though the latest RAV4 offers advanced braking features, performance is below-average for the SUV as it slides 131 feet while decelerating from 60 mph to still which isn't impressive at all. 

Models	Toyota RAV4 LE (FWD)	Mazda CX-5 Sport (FWD)	Kia Sorento L (FWD)	Hyundai Santa Fe SE (FWD)
Brake Front (in.)	12.0	11.7	12.6	12.6
Brake Rear (in.)	11.1	11.9	12.0	12.0
60-0 MPH (ft)	131	N/A	N/A	N/A

Some other competitors in the segment offer commendable braking performances in 60-0 deceleration test. On the other hand; Mazda CX-5 is also equipped with a feeble braking tech as it slides a lot on braking test. 

Toyota has stressed well on the fuel-efficiency while making its latest RAV4 for the budget-SUV market. The fuel economy for the 2020 Toyota RAV4 measures 26 and 35 mpg on city roads and highways respectively which is above-average in the segment.

The fuel tank range is on the lesser side as there are many other cars in this segment that provides with a larger fuel tank. So, The RAV4 is at most perfect for a weekend getaway and weekday runs.

Models	Toyota RAV4 LE (FWD)	Mazda CX-5 Sport (FWD)	Kia Sorento L (FWD)	Hyundai Santa Fe SE (FWD)
MPG (city)	26	25	22	22
MPG (highway)	35	31	29	29
MPG (combined)	30	28	25	25
Fuel Tank Capacity (Gal.)	14.5	14.8	18.8	18.8
Range (City/Highway)	377/508	370/459	414/545	414/545

The Eco mode proves to be the main mode that that help you cope up with the fuel efficiency in city terrain.  Meanwhile, Mazda CX-5 seems like sharing similar figures with the RAV4.

RAV4 offers passenger capacity of five which is standard among competitors. There is a slight improvement in the interior from its predecessors as interiors are quite comfortable in the 2020 Toyota RAV4 SUV.

The seatings are spacious, and passenger volume is generous through the quality of the interior doesn't seem premium; overuse of plastic materials is ruined the impression further.

The upper trims are equipped with premium interior styling and leather upholstery which is pleasingly good for the SUV. Features like power-adjustable passenger seats, dual-zone automatic climate control system, Steering mounted paddle shifters, and driver memory seat is available in the upper trims but isn't standard, unfortunately.

Models	Toyota RAV4 LE (FWD)	Mazda CX-5 Sport (FWD)	Kia Sorento L (FWD)	Hyundai Santa Fe SE (FWD)
Seating Capacity	5	5	7	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.5/57.8/41.0	41.0/57.1/41.0	39.5/59.1/44.1	41.2/59.1/44.1
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.5/56.4/37.8	39.0/54.8/39.6	39.3/58.0/39.4	39.2/58.3/40.9

Looking into the competition, we can find that 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe offers a more spacious cabin. On the other hand, RAV4 and Kia Sorento offer close similarity in terms of internal dimensions. Toyota RAV4 has the least cabin space of the lot but manages to pack in a fully-fledged cabin in it.

Interior Features

Toyota has worked on the Interiors of the 2020 RAV4 and has added a host of new Interior Features inside the Cabin. These features include

• Heated and Cooled Seats
• Dual Zone Climate Control System
• Keyless Ignition
• Engine Start/Stop Button
• Synthetic Leather Upholstery
• Powered Adjust Front Seats
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Road Sign Recognition
• 60/40 Split-Folding Rear Seats
• Ambient Lighting
• Interior Moon Roof
• 12V Power Outlet in Instrument Panel and Cargo Area
• Powered Tailgate

Infotainment System

Toyota RAV4 is boosted with a Multi-Information Display (MID) infotainment system which features advanced voice recognition. The connectivity features include AUX, USB ports and Bluetooth (hands-free phone controls) on the board. 

The upper trims feature premium "Entune" infotainment system which features an intuitive interface and best-in-class features including smartphone integration, advanced navigation features, and premium multi-speaker sound systems ( JBL Premium Audio system in the uppermost trim).

Infotainment Features

• The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• JBL Audio System with 11 speakers
• Subwoofers and Amplifiers included
• Dynamic navigation with 3 Years subscription
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• SiriusXM and Alexa support
• Five USB ports(1-music,4-charging)

Cargo Capacity

Toyota RAV4 amazed us with its huge cargo volume of 38.4 ft.cube which is commendable in the entry-level SUV segment. The boot is convenient in use and is easily accessible. The foldable rear seats are standard though automatic power liftgate is only available in upper trims. 

The boot can easily hold three large-size cargo bags and a medium-sized suitcase which is impressive. RAV4 has more than enough cargo space for all the storage needs of your family.

Models	Toyota RAV4 LE (FWD)	Mazda CX-5 Sport (FWD)	Kia Sorento L (FWD)	Hyundai Santa Fe SE (FWD)
Cargo Volume (cu.-ft)	37.6	30.9	11.3	35.9

At last, Toyota has stressed well upon the boot volume while designing the RAV4 SUV; its impressive cargo volume and also best in the class.

As a major facelift came in the 2019 model of the RAV4, this Toyota has undergone a drastic makeover when compared with the previous model. The exterior design language is similar though there are slight, unnoticeable at first look, exterior changes in the exteriors.

The major exterior highlights of the Toyota RAV4 include 17-inch alloy wheels, H-LED headlights, power-folding outside mirrors, similar cutting-edge design, and the inherited aggressive front design.

When it comes to exterior design, the new RAV4 looks the part when we compare it to its rivals. The Exteriors of the RAV4 gives it a "BIG SUV" feel as the Exteriors seem to have taken inspiration from the Tacoma/4Runner.

Models	Toyota RAV4 LE (FWD)	Mazda CX-5 Sport (FWD)	Kia Sorento L (FWD)	Hyundai Santa Fe SE (FWD)
Length (in)	180.9	179.1	189.0	187.8
Width (in)	73.0	72.5	74.4	74.4
Height (in)	67.0	66.2	66.3	66.1
Ground clearance (in)	8.4	7.5	7.3	N/A
Wheelbase (in)	105.9	106.2	109.4	108.9
Track width (in) F/R	63/63.7	62.8/62.8	64.3/64.7	64.3/64.7
Curb weight (lbs)	3370	3541	3810	3591

Toyota has built the RAV4 in a somewhat compact dimension when contrasted to the opponents. Yes, the Mazda CX-5 is of a more modest footprint than the Toyota but Kia and Hyundai are much bigger in proportion.

But RAV4 has an advantage over the others with the remarkable 8.4 inches of ground clearance. This helps it take on any given territory without doubt whereas the competition needs to think twice.

Exterior Features

• Dual Chrome exhaust tips
• Privacy glass on all rear side, quarter and liftgate windows
• Active grille shutters
• Low profile roof rails
• Puddle lights
• Integrated fog lights
• 19-inch alloy wheels

The RAV4 has received five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The SUV has scored four stars in the frontal collision test and five stars in the side crash test. The additional safety equipment alongside the standard features includes blind-spot monitoring, bird’s eye view 360-degree camera, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The RAV4 is offered with 3 year/36,000-mile warranty and 5 year/60,000-mile on the engine.Toyota has given most of the safety features from the base up and only a few passive safety features like Hill Start Assist and Downhill Assist Control get added to the top trim.

Safety Features

• Toyota Safety Sense
• Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
• 8-Dual Stage Airbags
• Driver side emergency locking retractor (ELR)
• Front and Rear side-impact door beams
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
• Lane Tracing Assist
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control

Toyota RAV4 vs Mazda CX-5

Mazda CX-5 Sport is loaded with the most powerful engine among competitors which offers best-in-class power and torque counts but the acceleration performance is slightly better in RAV4 because of its low curb weight. The Mazda CX-5 excels in fuel economy, interiors quality, and ground clearance when compared with RAV4. 

On the other hand, Toyota RAV4 outshines Mazda CX-5 in segments like braking, handling, passenger volume, cargo capacity, and driver assistance and safety. Toyota provides us with a more flexible car that can take any terrain given due to its practical advantage. Toyota RAV4 is our choice here.

Toyota RAV4 vs Kia Sorento L

Kia Sorento is an assuring car that goes hand in hand in all regards when matched to the Toyota RAV4. But due to the extension of the third row, Kia lost the edge. It supplements a trivial third row and more load to the overall vehicle. 

You get a bang for the buck in the Kia but the RAV4 succeeds over it in terms of practicality and a lower MSRP. We will choose the Toyota RAV4 over Kia Sorento L for the better overall package it is.

Toyota RAV4 vs Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai Santa Fe comes real close in terms of giving the number of features for the same price point. There are a lot of convenient features for the price point and also has a lot of optional active safety features. Practicality takes a back seat due to wide roof pillars. 

The cabin comfort is not up to the RAV4 due to stiffer suspension and road noise creeps in the cabin too. Despite having a larger footprint, Santa Fe fails to provide with the cabin space management as the RAV4. Toyota is our choice of the two.

Toyota RAV4 is a decent package in the entry-level SUV segment as the front-engine equipped with a competent 2.5L I4 engine that offers best-in-class acceleration performance.

The major highlights include the four-wheel-drive option, strong riding and handling experience, spacious seats, advanced driver assistance and safety features even in the base trim, and commendable cargo capacity. But the Toyota lacks in some segments including interiors quality, suspension, and braking.