The Toyota RAV4 is a popular compact crossover SUV with excellent road manners and a host of standard equipment. The 2018 model brings drivers the new Adventure trim with features to make it more off-road capable, and a new Tow Prep package to increase the towing capacity. Along with these updates and changes, these are some of the reasons you’ll love the 2018 Toyota RAV4.
The Cabin
This compact SUV has a surprisingly spacious cabin. It comfortably sits up to five passengers, and in the back, you’ll find over 38 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up. The seats easily fold down to expand the cargo area to over 73 cubic feet, or you can use the split feature to customize the cargo and passenger seating area.
Inside the cabin, you’ll also get the latest technology, including a 6.1-inch touch screen in the lower trims and a 7-inch touch screen in the higher trims. Toyota’s Entune infotainment system is also standard and is capable of linking to smartphones, using the Entune App Suite.
The Power and Performance
The RAV4 comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 176 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque, which Toyota matches up with a six-speed automatic transmission. There is also a hybrid version of the RAV4 that has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and three electric motors. This combination produces 194 horsepower, and it comes with a CVT instead of the traditional transmission. Both versions of the RAV4 are fuel-efficient, with the gas models getting 23 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The hybrid is even more efficient and will get 34 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.
The Adventure Trim
The RAV4 Adventure is a new model for 2018 and is perfect for the driver who wants some adventure. This vehicle comes standard with the Tow Prep Package, which includes a better radiator, and both an engine oil and transmission cooler. It can tow up to 3,500 pounds with the all-wheel-drive system, which is more than twice the amount of that in the regular RAV4. The Adventure also has a higher ground clearance, and it comes with 18-inch aluminum wheels, along with blacked-out trim around the headlights and black roof rails.
The Safety
The 2018 RAV4 received five stars from the NHTSA for an overall safety rating, and it is also a Top Safety Pick. It comes well equipped with standard safety features, including a rearview camera, and the Safety Sense P suite of advanced safety systems. This includes a pre-collision system that comes with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, along with adaptive cruise control. It also comes with automatic high beams.
Additional safety equipment is available as an option, which means that you can add both front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree surround view camera, and a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert.
These are just a few of the reasons you’ll love the 2018 RAV4. This SUV might come in a small package, but it packs a big punch.
Image via Flickr by JesusAbizanda, used under CC BY 2.0