2014 TOYOTA RAV4 Review

There’s a little trick with the height tough: they’ve dropped the ground clearance 1.2 inches (30.5 mm) to 6.3 inches (160 mm). That's a little bit less than what the 2014 Mazda6 has to offer, for example. However, the RAV4 wasn’t exactly the kind of car to drive to the Arctic Circle, so we won't complain too much.

There is one thing that’s not so fine though. Weighing at least 3,435 lbs (1,560 kg), the new RAV4 is over 70 lbs (32 kg) heavier than the model it replaces. Toyota’s engineers talk of having made extensive use of high strength steel throughout the car. They explain that the resulting structure is both more rigid and lighter. However, they’ve added extra soundproofing and an acoustic windshield to boost comfort. Thus, the aforementioned diet should’ve been even more severe in order for us to end up with a lither, or similarly heavy car.

Still, the Toyota RAV4 starts in a promising manner, with the front fascia showing a design that makes it stand out a little bit. We’re particularly fond of the horizontal lines that split the grille, reaching into the headlights.

These elements are continued onto the sides, where the character lines at the base of the generous window area are truly strong. The profile is nicely completed with muscular wheel arches front and rear, as well as with a slopping roofline.

Unfortunately, as you move to the rear end of the Toyota RAV4, this has a bit of an awkward look to it. With the taillights that stand out and pretty uninspiring match between the liftgate and the apron, the rear of the RAV4 simply spells “cheap” or “anonymous”.

Well, at least the crossover now uses a liftgate instead of the tailgate that opened to the side. You’ve also got a power option on the superior trims. This is a pretty smart feature, as you can set the maximum height to which it opens. Cramped garage approved.

The transformation was possible through the courtesy of the spare wheel. This is now a space saver that’s located under the floor of the trunk. Oh and here in the luggage compartment, the two extra seats of the past generation are out. The RAV4 remains a five-seater now.