2019 Toyota RAV4

THE BEST-SELLING CROSSOVER IN AMERICA JUST GOT BETTER

- Alisa Priddle

The Toyota RAV4 is what the industry calls a category killer. Which means Toyota sells a ton of them, and the competition (even if it feels it has a better vehicle) can’t seem to topple the king.

The outgoing fourth-generation RAV4 lacked the pizzazz of several other small crossovers. Despite 11 trim levels to choose from, they all looked fairly alike. Despite this anonymity, the old RAV4 was the best-selling passenger vehicle (not counting pickups) in America last year.

Bad news for the competition: The fifth-generation RAV4 has upped its game.

For starters, it does look different, as evidenced by the three trim levels making their world debut at the 2018 New York auto show; there will be nine in total: five with a gasoline engine and four hybrids. For 2019, the RAV4 is racier and sportier with a more pronounced front end angled slightly—but not so far as to wear the sharknose moniker. The front end features new grilles, angular LED headlights, and squared-off wheel arches (think Lexus), and in back the new RAV4 has a spoiler, LED taillamps, and dual exhaust. The side mirror moves from the A-pillar to the door to improve visibility.

But the big changes are under the sheetmetal. The RAV4 moves from Toyota’s compact platform shared with other small cars to the much-touted TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) and shifts from the compact to the midsize platform alongside the Camry and Avalon.

The switch gives the RAV4 a 105.9-inch wheelbase (up 1.2 inches), a wider track, and a half inch more ground clearance. Overall length shrinks by 2.6 inches. The result is a more planted stance. Bonus: The new architecture makes it possible to offer 19-inch wheels on top trims.