Text by Tom Appel
2024 Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road
Specs
Class: Compact Crossover
Color: Army Green
Seating Capacity: 5
Miles driven: 140
Real-world fuel economy: 28.4 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | B+ |
| Power and Performance | B- |
| Fit and Finish | B+ |
| Fuel Economy | B+ |
| Value | A- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | A- |
| Tall Guy | A- |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 203-horsepower |
| Engine Type | 2.5-liter four |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Driving mix: 60% city, 40% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 25/32/28 (city, highway, combined)
Fuel type: Regular
Base price: $38,095 (not including $1350 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: TRD Off-Road Technology Package ($640), TRD Off-Road Weather Package ($1015), Digital Review Mirror ($625), TRD Off-Road Premium Audio Package ($1390), door-sill protector ($199), black-chrome exhaust tip ($120), mud guards ($150), running boards ($620), integrated dash cam ($375), black-out emblems ($65)
Price as tested: $44,644
Pros and Cons
The great: General utility, passenger comfort
The good: Decent fuel economy, on-road composure
The not so good: cramped for front-seat big and tall occupants
Overview
Americans snapped up an astonishing 435,000 RAV4s last years. That sort of volume allows maker Toyota to offer the popular compact crossover in a dozen trim levels, further enhancing the vehicle’s showroom appeal. Clearly, the RAV4 formula works. Credit a magic alchemy comprised of slightly aggressive styling, ample space for four—and their stuff—decent power, and an excellent ride and handling balance. And, as an after-sale perk, you can add outstanding resale value to the mix.
(We could go on. The RAV4’s excellent hybrid drivetrain is another noteworthy purchase inducement.)
Prices and Trim Levels
Here’s a RAV4 question: How many would-be RAV’ owners aspire to leave the pavement and hit the trail? We don’t know the answer, but assume that the number is significant, because for 2024 Toyota offers not one, but three off-road themed RAV4 trim levels. Available this year are the Adventure, TRD Off-Road, and the Woodland Edition.
Starting at around $36,000, the Adventure looks the part of an off-roader, featuring unique trim and black wheels. The Adventure does not include any suspension upgrades, however, and offers no real off-road ability beyond that of a standard RAV4. It does, however, come standard with AWD.
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Starting just under $41,000, the TRD Off-Road features standard AWD as well as off-road oriented tires and a number of meaningful suspension upgrades. The TRD Off-Road also features slightly more ground clearance than other RAVs.
Starting just over $36,000 is the Hybrid Woodland Edition. The Woodland features many of the same suspension upgrades as the TRD Off-Road, including standard AWD, but less standard equipment, hence the lower base price. And while the Adventure and Off-Road come only with a conventional 4-cylinder engine, the Woodland comes only with a hybrid drivetrain.
As noted above, the Adventure and Off-Road feature Toyota’s ubiquitous 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. In the RAV4, the largish four produces 203 horsepower. The Woodland comes with a 2.5-liter hybrid 4-cylinder engine rated at 219 horsepower. The Adventure and Off-Road come with an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the Woodland is equipped with a CVT automatic.
Consumer Guide recently spent a week behind the wheel of a well-equipped 2024 TRD Off-Road in Army Green. Including a number of options—including JBL premium audio system—our test truck came to $44,644.
Room and Comfort
Our single serious issue with the RAV4, is that it wants for big-and-tall front-row space. While most editors found the RAV plenty roomy, our big editor (me) wanted for thigh space. Blame an unusually wide center console for the confinement. Likewise, the RAV4 is somewhat shy on head space for our tallest testers. Again, if you’re not big or tall, or if no one in your family is, this is not an issue. Now that we’ve gotten our gripes out of the way, we can talk about just how good the RAV4 really is.
While not luxurious, the RAV4 cabin in TRD Off-Road trim is handsome, and looks and feels well crafted. There is some cheapish, hard plastic to be found, but for the most part the interior décor is at least class competitive. Also, the red stitching on the seats and dashboard is pretty sporty cool.
Controls and Connectivity
Like so many infotainment touchscreens these days, the RAV4 interface is tablet like, and sits on top of the dash. The screen is easy to read, and the primary icons simple to locate at a glance. Climate functions are still controlled via real switchgear, and are simple to decipher.
We talked about front-row space, but need to add that the RAV’s large door openings make for generally easy entry to the vehicle. Rear-seat space is also adult sufficient, with similarly easy entry and exit. Also, thanks to a generous amount of glass, and relative narrow rear pillars, outward visibility to all corners is very good.
Ride and Handling
On the road the RAV4 TRD Off-Road rides and handles about as well as any RAV, and that’s high praise. Though we were not able to conduct a back-to-back comparison with a standard RAV4, we suspect that any lost of ride quality due to the beefed-up suspension is, at best, nominal.
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Power and Performance
Power from the 2.5-liter four is better than adequate four around-town commuting as well as highway on-ramp service. Power comes on quickly from a stop, and the 8-speed automatic does a good job of keeping engine in its powerband. Also, Toyota has done a nice job of refine this engine over the years. We found the powerplant generally refined at idle, and only a little raucous sound during periods of brisk acceleration.
Fuel Economy
Answering the call of families with wanderlust, the RAV4 settles in nicely on the highway. Seats are long-haul comfortable, the ride generally compliant, and the cabin quiet enough for stress-free conversation. Plus, in Consumer Guide testing, we averaged better than 28 mpg in mostly city driving. Note that the RAV4 runs just fine on regular-grade gasoline.
Review
Do you need the TRD Off-Road gear? Probably not, but it could come in handy in the Snow Belt, where things get profoundly ugly a couple times a year. But here’s the deal, the TRD Off-Road equipment doesn’t seem to compromise the RAV4’s general goodness, and the added cost will likely be recovered at resale time, so, what’s the harm. Plus, we rather like the look, and you may as well. As we noted above, there are fully a dozen RAV4 models to choose from, and if you like the look—and promise of added capability—of the TRD Off-Road, we say go for it.
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2024 Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road Pictures
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