The 2020 Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road is a rugged-searching small SUV that sits at the top of its model array. Not only does it offer modestly increased path-bashing capacity, it’s each little bit as refined and multipurpose as extra mainstream variations of the likable RAV4. With handsome strains and a good deal of healthful goodness, there are several reasons not to contemplate parking a person of these machines in your garage.

Never Like

  • Reduced-resolution 360-diploma digicam
  • Some controls are hard to use
  • Steep as-analyzed value

TRD Off-Road ‘upgrades’

Separating the TRD Off-Road model from extra workaday RAV4s is a array of enhancements. Moderately broader fender flares assist give it a bulkier, extra planted visual appeal. Entrance and rear, the bumpers are new, and there is a diverse grille up entrance. The overall search is cohesive and eye-catching, even if it’s fairly very similar to what you get with the extra affordably priced Experience-trim variation of this Toyota.

As for real, substantive upgrades, they are quite slight. These RAV4s roll on exclusive 18-inch wheels that are addressed to a matte-black complete. Giving increased traction in a selection of circumstances are a established of 255/60R18 Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires. Their sidewalls may possibly scream Rubicon Trail, with their squared-off shoulders and blocky lettering, however the real tread pattern is substantially much less aggressive and far better suited for day to day street use.

Driving those upgraded wheels is a exclusive suspension setup. The RAV4 Off-Road model functions twin-tube shock absorbers, crimson springs for a jaunty search really should you bury your experience in a wheel effectively and new bump stops that supposedly offer far better human body command when tackling rugged terrain. With Michigan however mostly locked down, I have not been ready to place this declare to the test by carrying out some suitable off-roading, but this car or truck does maintain an even keel when confronted with potholes or when tackling pockmarked grime roadways.

Functioning in conjunction with those all-terrain tires is a common torque-vectoring all-wheel generate program. With a few of person-selectable configurations for diverse circumstances, this arrangement can ship up to 50{36a394957233d72e39ae9c6059652940c987f134ee85c6741bc5f1e7246491e6} of the engine’s torque to the rear axle and it can apportion that twist from the remaining facet to the suitable as essential for improved dealing with. The rear portion of this driveline can also disconnect when not essential to assist improve fuel economy.

The TRD Off-Road will come with somewhat beefier tires, but no additional floor clearance.


Craig Cole/Roadshow

Curiously, the RAV4 TRD Off-Road has no raise in floor clearance. It’s got the exact same 8.6 inches you get in other versions. If it’s built for path crawling as Toyota indicates, should not it have extra? Also, there are fundamentally no skid plates guarding this vehicle’s delicate underbody, so if you do determine to get a person of these from the shopping mall to Moab, be watchful. I you should not want to see you rip out a brake line or puncture the fuel tank when traversing tough terrain, and you certainly you should not want to pay back for affiliated repairs.

A beautifully competitive powertrain

Even though a hybrid drivetrain is obtainable in other RAV4 versions, the TRD Off-Road only will come with a person engine: the common two.5-liter Dynamic Pressure four-cylinder, which is used in other solutions like the Toyota Camry sedan. This engine’s corporate identify is a little bit schmaltzy, but the functionality it delivers is beautifully respectable.

Put that quartet of pots on the boil and you are rewarded with 203 horsepower and 184 pound-toes of torque. This engine absolutely just isn’t scared to let its voice be listened to when functioning hard, but I in fact assume it sounds very very good, emitting an assertive rumble, especially at greater revs.

A responsive 8-speed automated transmission is your only option, which I guess means it’s not genuinely a option at all. Thankfully, this gearbox is attentive, both sleek and speedy to shuffle by way of its gears, building the most of the engine’s obtainable grunt. It also helps provide respectable fuel economy. Driven typically, you can hope twenty five miles for each gallon town and 32 mpg freeway. Blended, the RAV4 TRD Off-Road is rated at a not-unreasonable 27 mpg. These figures assess favorably with other small crossovers. In accordance to the EPA, a Honda CR-V, a person with all-wheel generate and the obtainable turbocharged engine, really should return 29 mpg in mixed motoring.

On usual streets, the RAV4 TRD Off-Road is enjoyable sufficient to pilot. Its steering is unexpectedly crisp, both for a crossover and a Toyota, with a light-weight and precise really feel. Apart from a little bit of tire sounds, its inside continues to be generally silent, even at freeway speeds.

Stand on the accelerator pedal and this RAV4 moves with realistic authority. No, it won’t shove you back into your seat like having kicked in the chest, but the functionality it presents is beautifully fantastic and extra than competitive with rival crossovers.

Comfort and ease and comfort

For the most part, I genuinely like what Toyota has performed with the RAV4’s inside. The entrance seats are comfortable and there are a good deal of delicate plastics and storage cubbies, as well as I appreciate the crimson stitching you get in TRD Off-Road versions.

In lieu of animal hides, my tester’s seats are protected in SofTex, a fake-leather-based substance that not only appears to be like very good, it feels nice, neither low-cost nor plasticky. To guard the carpet from wintertime slop or muddy boot prints, TRD Off-Road versions also function rubber flooring mats. The initially and next rows are protected by these all-weather floorcoverings, as is the cargo spot.

Rear-seat passengers have a good deal of house. At 6 toes tall, I have no issues about this vehicle’s accommodations for the reason that there is a good deal of place for both my knees and noggin. As for cargo house, there is no scarcity, both. With the aft backrest up, you get a claimed 37.5 cubic toes of junk-hauling ability. Fold that ’em flat and you get 69.8 cubes. As an additional reward, the RAV4’s flooring is fairly small, which would make it less difficult to load major or bulky cargo.

The inside elements are nice, but the infotainment tech is just Ok.


Craig Cole/Roadshow

Up entrance, this vehicle’s weather-command and audio knobs function a grippy rubber texture and have a swirl pattern slice into them, which type of brings to mind the blades of a turbine engine. They are uncomplicated to use and really feel chunky. Regretably, they are flanked by a collection of small, rectangular buttons. Not only do these switches search out of place, they can be hard to hit, especially when driving. Modifying the enthusiast speed or bringing up a menu can be like striving to thread a needle when whitewater rafting.

Keeping anyone happy and their equipment entirely juiced, five USB ports are sprinkled all over this Toyota’s inside. These are common fare on each RAV4, ditto for Android Vehicle, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility. My tester also functions an up-level infotainment program with navigation and an 8-inch touchscreen. Passengers are also addressed to an 11-speaker JBL audio program.

That infotainment program is fantastic, no extra, no much less. Toyota’s multimedia offerings have a tendency to be underwhelming, with unattractive graphics and obtuse person interfaces. This a person is very responsive and it certainly will get the job performed, but it’s considerably from my preferred.

Other optional goodies incorporate a helpful wi-fi charging plate, parking sensors and a 360-diploma digicam, however this previous product is hardly some thing to crow about. The resolution of the impression it generates is appallingly small and the display looks to flicker when it’s on, and that’s a complete large amount of not very good.

On the as well as facet, Toyota Protection Feeling two. is common on all 2020 RAV4 versions. This involves a slew of driver aids like lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise command and automated superior beams. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-site visitors alert is integrated throughout the array as effectively, help you save for the most basic RAV4 LE model. All this kit is simple to use and hugely helpful.

Neat as the TRD Off-Road model is, much less costly RAV4s are absolutely the far better invest in.


Craig Cole/Roadshow

Is it really worth the value?

No matter if in extra-day to day trim or array-topping TRD Off-Road form, I won’t be able to say the RAV4 is my preferred small crossover. It competes in a phase rife with outstanding options. The Honda CR-V is superb, Subaru’s Forester is really effectively performed and the Mazda CX-5 virtually feels like a luxury auto. Nevertheless, even however it may possibly not excel in any unique spot, this Toyota is very good at just about every thing. It’s effectively created, it’s spacious inside and it presents a good deal of tech, as well as it’s refined, affordable and attractively priced.

Which include place costs, an entry-level RAV4 LE begins at just about $27,000, which is extra than truthful these times on the other hand, my generously optioned TRD Off-Road test model rings up for all over $41,five hundred, a value that’s substantially harder to swallow. Certainly, that outlay does get you some more capacity, but fact be advised, it’s likely not really worth what Toyota is charging.

In its place, this is my suggestion: Sidestep the TRD Off-Road model and grab a extra middle-of-the-street RAV4 variant, like the just-as-rugged-searching Experience. You can help you save a massive chunk of alter and the inherent all-all over goodness really should make you very happy.