2026 RAV4 Debuts
wow, a ton of posts in this thread are STILL about cylinder count. 
i didn't say anything about 'dire'. i get why the masses buy 'em. doesn't mean i have to like the car. someone i know has a '22 (i think) rav4 limited. it looks 'better' with some of the upgraded trim bits and bigger wheels but i still don't think either the interior or exterior is attractive. and it still feels uber cheap inside. and i have the screen, the shifter, the engine, the lousy back seat room, pretty much everything. toyota masterfully leveraged the COROLLA platform into a cuv they could sell a ton of and make a vast profit from. good for them! 
lipstick on a pig. 
but yeah it looks better.
ha, great post, so true.
another great post, worth quoting here!
if they're first time rav4 buyers then they won't be familiar with them but the rav4 is filled with 'safe' choices, "tried and true" (as mmarshall would say), with consumer reports their biggest sycophantic mouthpiece.
sure there is. their lane keeping has been HORRENDOUS. maybe better now in this latest gen. they were using incandescent bulbs on most trims (maybe they're gone now on the new one). the rear seat room is poor. i consider those objective details.
i wonder what the average rav4 buyer age is though. i susoect the even greater '(fake) ruggedization' is an attempt to lower their average.buyer age. i doubt it will work as their most loyal buys are probably ancient.
people can like, love, dislike or hate all sorts of cars they have no intention of buying so i don't think the buying intention matters.
assume yours is a loaded (limited?) one? anyway, given it's a 2019, how do you find the lake keep assist? do you use it? the adaptive cruise?
put anyone/anything in a dark suit and they look sharp. 🤣
i imagine millions buy them without considering anything else and never look back.
It’s a nice update.
but yeah it looks better.
Design language and consistency matters. New RAV can't decide if it will embrace on screen controls or not and it ends up being the master of none. In fact this is Toyota in general they have hydrogen, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs. Pick a lane Toyota your waffling is tiresome and is resulting extremely boring cars.
Hard to find any objective fault with the car that literally outsells any other car lol
i wonder what the average rav4 buyer age is though. i susoect the even greater '(fake) ruggedization' is an attempt to lower their average.buyer age. i doubt it will work as their most loyal buys are probably ancient.
I drive a 2019 hybrid one frequently and it's not noisy at all and it offers great torque, comfortable seats, price appropriate materials, and though it's subjective, I think it looks good. Great features like a panoramic roof that opens, digital rear view mirror, CarPlay, radar cruise, etc. It's all on the price point, in my opinion.
Lead Lap
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A RAV4 hybrid has more legroom and cargo space than a Lexus RX 350h while being $18k+ less expensive. Same exact powertrain even if you move to the PHEV models. One takes regular and other recommends premium. Even with the RX being a top seller for Lexus, it’s still not a hard sell for the RAV4.
Lexus Fanatic
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From: ON/NY
A RAV4 hybrid has more legroom and cargo space than a Lexus RX 350h while being $18k+ less expensive. Same exact powertrain even if you move to the PHEV models. One takes regular and other recommends premium. Even with the RX being a top seller for Lexus, it’s still not a hard sell for the RAV4.
and the RAV4 is made in the USA with American labor
Last edited by Toys4RJill; May 22, 2025 at 01:54 PM.
Lexus Fanatic
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From: ON/NY
the new RAV GR Sport will have 320hp. Can go 50 miles on a charge. Will get more than 40+ combined. And awd.
Lexus Fanatic
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,208
Likes: 220
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,276
Likes: 305
From: ON/NY
The Toyota Kentucky plant employs 10,000 American workers. And all the suppliers connected locally. Buying a RAV4 Hybrid directly supports American workers and the City of Kentucky. 🇺🇸
i looked up the specs and you're quite right, but it's only slightly more and sure doesn't feel very roomy to me.
anyway, toyota obviously has a massive winner with the rav4, it's most things to most people at the right price. i just don't like it at all.
anyway, toyota obviously has a massive winner with the rav4, it's most things to most people at the right price. i just don't like it at all.
Lexus Fanatic
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From: Alberta
Toyota loyalists will like it by default because they simply won't look at anything else. IMO Toyota has fallen way behind in safety*, performance, looks and tech. What really bothers me is they spend considerable resources on things that are frivolous. Fake vents and other styling features, giant grilles that do nothing, high hood lines just because Toyota is in love with the over bite look. This wasn't the case for decades, Toyota excelled at being under stated and spent their resources on engineering not clown car styling cues.
*see the latest Euro NCAP ratings.
*see the latest Euro NCAP ratings.