The 2013 RAV4 is undeniably one of the most eagerly awaited, and thus important, models of this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. And even though we’ve already seen the first images, we had no word on its specifications.
Now that Toyota officially revealed the fourth generation of its compact crossover, we finally have all the info on the latest iteration of the model that kickstarted the SUV trend as we know it back in 1994.
The all-new RAV4 is 179.9 inches (4,569 mm) long, 72.6 inches (1,844 mm) wide and 65.4 inches (1,661 mm) tall and sports a 104.7-inch (2,659 mm) wheelbase.
According to Toyota, the new RAV4’s architecture uses several grades of high-strength steel for key structural components and employs weight savings in other areas resulting in a more rigid, yet light, chassis.
It also uses a McPherson strut front and double-wishbone rear suspension setup with revised spring rates and dampers. There are disc brakes all around and, depending on trim level, 17-inch steel (LE) or 17- (XLE) nand 18-inch (Limited) alloy wheels.
Under the hood, the sole option for U.S. buyers is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 176HP and 172 lb-ft (232.9 Nm) of torque, since the V6 unit of the previous model has been discontinued. It is paired with a new, “Sequential Shift” six-speed auto transmission that replaces the old four-speeder. In order to keep engine revs low and achieve better fuel economy, the fifth and sixth gears are overdrives.
In other markets, such as Europe, Toyota will offer the fourth-gen RAV4 with different powerplants, such as a 149bhp 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder and a two diesels, a 122bhp 2.0-liter and a 148bhp 2.2-liter unit.
As before, the RAV4 will be available in front- and all-wheel drive versions. The FWD model has received EPA-estimated fuel ratings of 24 mpg city and 31 highway and the AWD, 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.
Both front- and all-wheel drive versions feature a Sport mode that sharpens steering and throttle response, gearbox shift timing and automatically increases revs and provides an audible “blip” on downshifts.
The AWD variant also has a Dynamic Torque Control feature. This works by detecting steering angle and lack of yaw rate in Sport mode (and only the latter in Normal and Eco modes) and sends power to the rear wheels when needed to improve handling in corners.
The Dynamic Torque Control system has three different modes. In Auto, it sends power to the front axle under normal conditions, reverting to AWD when needed, thus reducing both fuel consumption and drivetrain wear.
In Sport mode, the all-wheel drive system utilizes the Vehicle Stability Control steering angle and yaw rate sensors to sharpen the power transfer between the two axles, while in Lock mode, which is available at speeds up to 25 mph (40 km/h), up to 50 percent of torque is sent to the rear axle.
The roomier interior features what Toyota calls an “asymmetrical”, driver-centric dashboard. All versions get eight airbags, ABS, VSC, a steering wheel that adjusts for reach and rake and has audio and infotainment system controls, a 60/40/60 split/fold second row of seats that also reclines by several degrees and a Display Audio with a 6.1-inch touchscreen and backup camera as standard.
In the U.S. market, the 2013 RAV4 will be available in LE, XLE and Limited trim levels which, among other features, sport either as standard or optional navigation, a 576-Watt, 11-speaker JBL audio system and Blind Spot Monitor radar sensors with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
