The Toyota RAV4 has come a long way, evolving from what the niche activity vehicle that it originally was in the 1990s to what, for many buyers, is a primary family vehicle—a substitute for a mid-size sedan. Yet with a more limited lineup in this latest iteration of the RAV4, introduced last year, and redesigned versions of the Ford Escape and Subaru Forester arriving in the past couple of years, the competition is especially strong. so what new on 2014 toyota rav4 release date and feature will be available on the market for 2014 toyota rav4 redesign.
The base system that’s standard on the LE has a 6.1-inch touch-screen with a backup camera, Bluetooth, iPod, USB ports and six speakers. The version that’s standard on the XLE and optional on the LE adds HD radio with iTunes tagging and traffic and weather information in major metro areas.
On the Limited, a premium system adds navigation and the Entune App Suite that allows engaging several mobile apps through smartphones. This system is optional on the XLE. Exclusive to the Limited is an optional version with 11 JBL speakers and a 576-watt amplifier.
Lane departure warning and automatic high-beam headlights are new features grouped with blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert in a Technology Package available on the Limited.
With the redesign for 2013, Toyota ditched previous RAV4 features such as a side-hinged tailgate with an exterior-mounted spare tire and an optional V-6 engine and three-row seating. All models seat five and come with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission, with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive.
With last year’s redesign, the Toyota RAV4 became better-equipped and more value oriented; but at the same time it lost some of the features that had made this model so popular in its last generation—like its optional V-6 and third-row seat.
Taken in perspective, the 2014 Toyota RAV4 leaves room for the larger Highlander, which had been squeezed upscale by the last RAV4, and it brings its bearings back firmly to the compact segment. But last year’s redesign did bring some important new changes, in the way of updated transmission, better safety features, and updated safety gear. As it stands, the RAV4 is the middle-ground pick for pragmatists: with more room than the perky Ford Escape yet road manners that are just a little more alert than those in the Honda CR-V.
Last year’s redesign purged one of the remaining vestiges of the RAV4′s history: the tailgate-mounted spare. This year it’s history, and the more hatchback-style flow and lower stance, pitch the RAV4 headlong into a lookalike bin filled with the Ford Escape, Hyundai Santa Fe, even Mazda CX-5. Arguably, the RAV4 has a more carlike face than them all, but it doesn’t pull off such a clean design in back as the CX-5. The taillamps er XT. are pointy and shelf out, all in the name of meeting safety regulations. Inside, there’s some discord in the cockpit; this is a case in which the RAV4 limited and its many trims and surfaces leave us admiring the basic RAV4 LE’s simplicity.
Once upon a time—just a couple of model years ago—there were V-6 models of the RAV4 that were surprisingly quick; but the current RAV4 gives up those chances of a transcendent upgrade in favor of a better ride and more carlike handling. There’s only a 176-horsepower four-cylinder under the hood now, but the six-speed automatic with sport-shift mode saves it. Consider the 0-60 mph time of under nine seconds, and the RAV4 isn’t quick, but it’s quick enough for most family needs. The new RAV4 is responsive, although never sporty in the same way as a Ford Escape or Subaru Forester XT. Yet at the same time, the RAV4 rides lower, with well-weighted electric power steering and a good sense of center. All-wheel drive is just a $1,400 upgrade, and we like how the system works not only for inclement weather conditions but also for on-the-road handling. There isn’t much of a range in the way the RAV4 rides and handles, but for a slightly better ride we’d stick with the 17-inch tires on LE and XLE versions.
The RAV4 didn’t become significantly larger with last year’s redesign, but smarter packaging made it more passenger-friendly. Base versions come with a cheaper upholstery and seats that are less supportive, while XLE versions include more firmly bolstered seats and nicer fabrics that we wish were standard across the board. The synthetic leather upholstery in Limited models looks great from a few feet away, but up close it looks shiny and cheap. Seating space in the RAV4 is about on par with the CR-V—definitely more generous than the Escape. But there are some flaws: The back bench is less supportive than adults will expect, and its flip/fold mechanism is one step shy on slickness, although cargo space is excellent. Limited versions get a power tailgate.
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