Toyota’s RAV4 isn’t just any compact crossover. It’s the original compact crossover, having gone on sale in the United States in January 1996. The words “compact” and “crossover” weren’t in the automotive jargon of that time. RAV4 was simply “a small SUV.”
Now nearly 30 years in the U.S. market, the RAV4 has been a sales juggernaut, topping the list of best sellers year after year. When you consider the zillions sold in other countries around the world, RAV4 could be called the Taylor Swift of compact crossovers.
The RAV4 receives no major changes for 2024. A new color, Army Green, and two-tone combos have been added to the paint choices for select models.
My tester, a TRD Off-Road model, was dressed in Army Green. The color is more exciting than it sounds. It flatters RAV4’s handsome design very nicely, and elicits favorable comments from the public.
The RAV4 offers a big selection of trim levels to choose from: LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, Limited, and TRD Off-Road. The small SUV is also available in hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.
Gasoline-only RAV4 models have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It doesn’t mind being served regular 87-octane gas. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard across the board.
Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims come with all-wheel drive. For the others, front-wheel drive is standard and AWD is available.
Fuel economy ratings for combined (city and highway) driving range from 28 mpg to 30 mpg.
The TRD Off-Road has 8.6 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and a somewhat more sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, but its base price is quite a leap, and it isn’t
the only trim with those features. If I were shopping the RAV4, I’d probably look more closely at the other models, while shielding my eyes to prevent seeing a TRD Off-Road in Army Green on the car lot.
RAV4 pricing starts at $30,025 for the base LE trim.
The fun-to-drive RAV4 handles twisty roads with a reassuring steadfastness, and I know from experience that this little SUV is a real trouper in snow.
There was one tiny episode during the week, when I had to pull out onto Highway 2 during fast rush-hour conditions when there’s no chance of a decent break in traffic. I stomped on the gas pedal and the engine made a loud but, to be honest, pitiful howl in apparent protest. Then the “RAV” shifted gears, more slowly than I’d hoped for, and howled one more time before getting up to speed up. “The hybrid powertrain would never have acted like that,” I told the RAV after things had settled down. “I’m just saying.”
2024 TOYOTA RAV4 TRD OFF-ROAD
Base price, including destination charge: $39,445
Price as driven: $41,725
Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.
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