The single most important new car of the year is almost here. It’s not going to be on teenagers’ bedroom walls, nor is it likely to go down in the Guinness Book of World Records for pushing the envelope. No, the new Toyota RAV4 is the most important car of the year because the RAV4 is the world’s new default car. A picture of the old one might as well be in the illustrated version of the Oxford English Dictionary.
These days, people want practicality, they want economy, they want reliability, and they want to sit high up. Right in the middle of all those circles sits the RAV4, a sensible car designed and engineered to make everyday people love what it does for them. Youngest child picked up a tuba? Unscheduled IKEA run after a cat-induced catastrophic Lack end table collapse? Road trip through the snow to grandma’s house? No sweat, the outgoing RAV4 handled it. Oh what a sensible feeling. With the new RAV4, the question is: Can it keep the crown of the world’s best-selling four-wheeled vehicle?
At these sort of drive events, automakers often keep one static model on display at the hotel or what have you, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here. I’m sure the new RAV4 is somewhere, probably being driven by journalists on the wave before mine. You know what is here, in the underground parking garage? The old RAV4, in all of its two-door splendor.
I mean come on, isn’t this just the neatest thing? The ’90s had its problems, but it could also be pretty great. Look at how joyous the original RAV4 looks, especially compared to the outgoing model behind it. This one’s like driving a blueberry, the sort of Richard Scarry-ass motoring future we were all promised as kids.
Ah, here’s the new RAV4. Yep, that’s definitely it, and it’s actually quite sharp in the metal. It’s still early days, but I reckon its best angle is the rear three-quarter view, where a stronger C-pillar than on the outgoing car and tail lights set into a dark full-width surround download just a hint of Land Cruiser maturity to Toyota’s most popular model. Alright, I’m still not sure how I feel about the standard model’s front-end latticework, but I have time to form a descriptive opinion.
Oh, and you know what else was in the underground parking garage? Sheer, unadulterated weirdness. It’s strange enough on it’s own that someone bought a BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, which was a bit like an X4 in every conceivable way except for the fact that it isn’t an X4, and it’s unusual to see a Karma Revero out in the wild because I can’t imagine a re-worked Fisker Karma is a huge seller more than a decade after the original car launched, but for both to be in the same place at the same time, seemingly out of pure happenstance? I mean, their plates were from different countries. Different countries!
Truthfully, I was hoping to write more today, but I’ve suffered an extremely Autopian mishap. Since it’s getting towards the end of car season, I figured I’d roll up in my low-slung summer car. A great decision, until the glute-flex required to exit the thing tore the culo out of my jeans. For those completely unaware of how focal length works, the resulting hole is the size of a (blurry) Camry, as evidenced by this photograph.
Anyway, much to see, much to do, and I can’t actually tell you about how the new RAV4 drives for a couple weeks, but for now, what do you want to know about the most important new car of the year?
Top graphic image: Thomas Hundal
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You can fit a full size spare in the spare tire well of the current generation. Will the new one accommodate a full size spare?
When the compact CUV singularity happens when every brand’s models merges into the same vehicle except for badging and maybe 2-3 styling “cues,” do you expect then all to use the RAV4’s hybrid system?
Does it do anything better than any other brand? Why should anyone get this over any other medium 5 seat crossover? If there was a GRav4, what would power it?
When the last Toyota/Lexus infotainment system launched in 2022 in the current NX, I let Toyota/Lexus know about the lack of a home button being a huge misnomer and they acted like I was insane.
Fast forward to today and the biggest upgrade to their new OS in their screens? The addition of a HOME BUTTON and HOME SCREEN.
I want to know how friggin’ useful that home setup is!
Also, for making such a huge deal about over-the-air updates, they’ve released exactly ZERO OTA updates on the current Lexus/Toyota system.
As an old guy, who has had 4 flar tires in the last 4 years ( Same 4 in the last 15+ years).
Does it have a spare tire?
when does the AWD PHEV Sienna come?
and more seriously, are they going to make enough of PHEV RAV4s this time?
The biggest downfall of the old Rav was NVH and overall refinement – this was particularly true of the hybrid and its agricultural engine feel.
Seeing as the new ones are all hybrid, has this been fixed to a certain extent?
Building on this: the front end steering feel and bump/pothole handling were a bit flimsy in the current generation RAV. Let us know if it’s at least up to Hyundai standards this time around.
Gotta pay more and get the Lexus if you want that. I do agree with you. However everything else in the same group isn’t any better.
Does it go anywhere near close to being as nice as a Mazda in interior and driving experiences?
“Richard Scarry-ass motoring future” is now my favorite new design expression.
I couldn’t wait on the RAV to come out, so I ended up buying its most obvious competitor: 2022 X3. Wait, I think I’ve made a horrible mistake…
Yeah, I traded some reliability and efficiency for some RWD fun, but I’d also echo LTDScott on how this one stacks up on interior space. Headroom was a big one for me, too, and the X3 has always been about as good as any car out there for driver space (and I’m coming from a minivan).
Toyota has been stuck on the number 4 for a long time now. when is the rav 5 coming?
This is the 6th gen so it really should be the Rav6
As soon as the 5runner comes
This is extremely minor but also very important.
Does the compartment in the front row armrest still rattle like hell?
Yes, one can fix that by buying $4 worth of tiny stick on bumper circles the diameter of a pencil eraser. But really, it should come with.
Is the front seat headroom still only adequate for sub 6-footers? I’m 6’3″ and built like an ogre but I was shocked at the lack of headroom in the front seats compared to other vehicles in its class.
To add to that, the A-Pillar to front seat was placed in such a way that everyone from my 5′-2″ mother to my 5′-10″ father frequently bumped their head while attempting ingress. Has this been fixed? How much do you have to crane your neck while getting in to the seat?
please include in your review a haiku on the feature that excites you most about this new rav4, but the feature cannot be related to fuel economy or safety