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2024 Toyota RAV4 Adventure: What is the Adventure Edition RAV4? – The 2024 Toyota RAV4 is now in the position of being an old gentleman in the small SUV sector. This is due to the fact that the majority of its competitors have already undergone entire redesigns after the RAV4 received its own significant redesign for 2019. It is becoming more difficult to suggest the RAV4 in light of the fact that it is up against such formidable competitors as the Honda CR-V, the Kia Sportage, and the Mazda CX-50. However, we continue to recommend it due to the unrivaled variety of trim levels, exceptional fuel economy, and long-term ownership prospects it offers, all of which add up to a compact SUV that should make sense to a large number of customers.
Let’s discuss a little bit about that variety, which actually expands for 2023 since Toyota decided it was finally time to provide hybrid buyers an off-road-oriented alternative to the gas-only Adventure and TRD Off-Road: the brand-new Woodland Edition. Let’s talk a little bit about that diversity. When compared to other compact crossovers, such as the Honda CR-V and the Nissan Rogue, the Toyota RAV4 now provides buyers with three different options for rugged trim levels. And among competitors who do offer such trims, the RAV4s represent more of a genuine functional upgrade than the majority of the others do. There are also sportier trim levels available, particularly for the RAV4 Hybrid and the plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime, as well as more standard LE, XLE, and Limited guises for customers who do not need a specific market segment for their vehicle. This is a very different path. To put it another way, there is something suitable for everyone.
Reviews
Each and every 2024 RAV4 has an upgraded infotainment system, which includes a brand-new touchscreen measuring 10.5 inches in size on the upper trim levels. A digital instrument panel with a 12.3-inch display is now included as standard equipment on the Limited and Prime XSE trim levels, while it is an available upgrade on the TRD Off-Road and Hybrid XSE models. The RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition will also make its debut in 2023.
This will be the first off-road-oriented trim level available for the Hybrid model (both the Adventure and TRD Pro trim levels have been and will continue to be gas-only). A TRD-tuned suspension with coil springs, bump stops, and twin-tube shocks has been added to the Woodland (shown above), which gives it a greater emphasis on its off-road capabilities. All-terrain Falken Wildpeak tires have been transferred from the TRD Off-Road package and are wrapped around bronze-colored wheels. The prerequisites for an outdoor excursion are finished off with raised black roof rails and cross bars, a 120-volt inverter, and all-weather floor mats. Additionally, specific black badging adds to the appearance of being slightly unusual.
It’s the same deal with the amount of space available for goods. Its cargo capacity of 37.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up or 69.8 cubic feet with them folded is larger and better than the cargo volume of most small crossovers (including the new Honda CR-V), but it is less than the cargo volume of the Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson. When we tested all of them with luggage, we found that this particular hierarchy of carrying cargo was the most accurate. It is essential to take notice of the fact that both the RAV4 and the Sportage hybrids have spare tires.
The CR-V and Tucson hybrids do not have this feature, therefore despite the fact that all of the aforementioned vehicles having almost the identical load capacity ratings as their gasoline-only equivalents, there is in reality a significant difference between the two sets of vehicles. Because its floor is higher, the RAV4 Prime does not have room for a spare tire, and it also has less space for cargo, but we highly doubt that you will notice the difference as a result of these changes.
We would also be remiss if we didn’t note the RAV4’s substantial ground clearance, which adds to it being one of the more competent small SUVs off the beaten road. This is particularly true in the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Adventure and TRD Off-Road trim levels. The only other vehicles with more ground clearance than the off-road-oriented RAV4s are the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk and the Subaru Forester, particularly the new Wilderness edition of the Subaru Forester. Even the RAV4 XSE Hybrid, which is the model with the lowest ground clearance, still clears 8 inches, which is better than most other vehicles.
Interior
The RAV4’s cabin materials are above average for the class of small crossovers it competes in, which is an improvement over previous iterations of the vehicle. The machining and finishing are done quite well. Having said that, the RAV4 never quite reaches the degree of near-luxury that is present in its competitors’ highest trim levels. It is not possible to purchase genuine leather, and the SofTex vinyl that is included with higher-end versions is not an adequate alternative. This is likely to be an issue with more expensive trim levels, particularly the Prime, which can be close to $50,000 in price depending on the extras you choose.
However, we prefer the use of colorful trim pieces that differentiate the various models from the unconvincing fake wood or metal trim of competing SUVs. This is because we find the use of colorful trim pieces to be more visually appealing. The Toyota Venza is essentially a more luxurious version of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, making it a good choice for those who want a more upscale appearance. The brand-new Lexus NX represents a step up in terms of luxury beyond that.
The inside storage is superior to that of most vehicles, as seen by the wide and flexible cupholders, an easily accessible location to store and charge your phone, a bin located beneath the armrest, and distinctive shelves built into the dash. The floor of the cargo compartment is reversible (one side is carpeted, while the other is made of plastic that is simple to clean), and the cargo cover may be stowed away under it. The RAV4 Prime does not come with either of these things, but we like that it has storage space for the unwieldy portable charging cord: it can be elegantly wound around a foam doughnut that is housed inside the spare tire. In most cases, a plug-in vehicle will make use of a tiny bag that resembles a briefcase and takes up cargo space.
The RAV4 will finally be competitive with the rest of the sector in 2024 when it introduces a new all-digital instrument panel, which will be standard on higher trim levels. The user experience of the new technology interface, which debuted in 2023, continues to be a mixed bag. The good news is that it seems to be much more contemporary, has a greater number of features that are up to date, and responds to user inputs a great deal more quickly — all faults that plagued the previous system. The size of the displays has also increased, with the smallest touchscreen now being 8 inches (shown on the left of the above image) and the largest at 10.5 inches (seen on the right of the above image). T
he unfortunate news is that they are no longer accompanied by the convenient physical menu buttons that made the previous system so user-friendly (the radio controls were also much better). This is one of the reasons why the previous system was so user-friendly. Because the traditional home button or, at the very least, menu buttons are not permanently docked on the screen, switching between the interfaces of Toyota’s controls and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto can be a particularly frustrating experience. In large part, how you interact with a car’s technological interface will determine how you feel about any of this, but regardless of how you use it, we believe that the majority of competitors’ systems continue to be better.
Specs
A four-cylinder engine with a capacity of 2.5 liters and producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque is standard in all RAV4 models. This is above average for the category, but the acceleration is nothing to write home about; it takes an estimated 8.1 seconds to get from 0 to 60 miles per hour.
Standard features include an automatic gearbox with eight gears and front-wheel drive. Customers may choose between two different all-wheel-drive systems, depending on the model level they want. The first system is a basic reactive system that sends power to the rear wheels in the event of slippage. The second system, which is available on the 2024 Toyota RAV4 Adventure, TRD Off-Road, and Limited trim levels, is a more active system that sends power around, including between the rear wheels, to improve wet weather traction as well as dry road handling. Both of these systems are available on the base model. In addition to that, it has off-road vehicle options for “Snow,” “Rock & Dirt,” and “Mud & Sand.”
Fuel economy with front-wheel drive is 27 miles per gallon in the city, 35 miles per gallon on the highway, and 30 miles per gallon overall. If you choose to go with an all-wheel-drive system, your combined and highway mileage will be reduced by one or two miles per gallon. It’s actually not that big of an issue. This includes the TRD Pro with its all-terrain tires, and in the TRD Off-Road, we were able to get an average of 31.3 miles per gallon while driving 700 miles.
The RAV4 Hybrid is equipped with a unique 2.5-liter engine in addition to three electric motors, and the total output of these components is 219 horsepower. The hybrid vehicle’s basic all-wheel drive is provided by an electric motor mounted in the vehicle’s trunk. It is estimated that it will take 7.8 seconds to get from 0 to 60 miles per hour, which indicates that the Hybrid is not only a more fuel-efficient alternative but also a greater performance one (although just barely). Except for the Woodland, which gets knocked down to a still-exceptional 38/35/37 because of its all-terrain tires, the fuel economy for all trim levels sits at 40 miles per gallon in the city, 38 miles per gallon on the highway, and 40 miles per gallon combined.
The last option is the brand new RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid, which has motors with increased power and a battery pack with a larger capacity. It has a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds, a total system horsepower output of 302, and an EPA-estimated range of 42 miles, which is farther than the majority of other plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. In the event that the all-electric range is depleted, the vehicle functions in a manner very similar to that of a conventional hybrid and achieves comparable fuel efficiency. Therefore, the all-electric range’s efficiency will improve proportionately with the amount of use it receives.