LA Auto Show - Toyota Reveals New 2014 RAV4

2014 Toyota RAV4 courtesy of Autoblog.com

Toyota has officially revealed the car at the LA Auto Show. While this might not sound like an exciting moment, it is the third best selling vehicle in the Toyota lineup (after the Camry and Corolla).

While the photos have surfaced for a while, we now have more details on the new RAV. The biggest development is the elimination of the 3.5L V6 engine of the previous RAV4 leaving just the 2.5L engine also found in the Camry. This engine is good for 176 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque. With this redesign, we see a three mile-per-gallon increase in fuel economy up to 24 city/31 highway on the front-wheel-drive model. Checking the box for the all-wheel-drive model will knock the efficiency down to 22/29 mpg but that is still fantastic for an all-wheel-drive compact SUV. Even one of the most efficient small off-roaders, the MINI Countryman S All-4 only pulls in 25/31 but costs a fair amount more.

Looking at the new design, I have to admit that I think this new RAV is beautiful. It pulls all the right styling queues from the Camry (including the headlights and grille) while creating a car that looks more stunning and well-rounded compared to the Honda CR-V (which I personally feel is too box-like). One major note is that the spare tire has been removed from the exterior and the rear lift-gate is no longer hinged from the side. Instead, the new RAV will feature a space saver under the cargo floor and a standard rear lift-gate. This is something I am glad to see. When I was younger, my parents had a 1998 RAV4 and one of the biggest frustrations was the rear-mounted tire. Even as a low speed collision, this tire can cause a large amount of damage to the rear door resulting in an expensive repair bill. As a result, I advised against a RAV4 since.

2014 Toyota RAV4 Interior courtesy of Autoblog.com

The interior is also drastically improved over the previous model. When I was looking to purchase the Camry, I cross-shopped the RAV4 but I found a few issue with the quality of the interior. My issues are far removed from this new model which pulls many styling functions from the Camry while adding just the right amount of sportiness. As far as features go, all RAV4 models will feature a Display Audio 6.1" LCD touchscreen, backup camera, bluetooth, privacy glass, and full power accessories.

One thing that has not been announced is the pricing but expect it to be near the current models list price of around $23,000. This is a car I look forward to seeing more of in the near future.