TRD Off-Road Package now added to the popular RAV4 compact CUV
If the RAV4 Adventure trim isn't rugged or capable enough for you, Toyota has the answer with this TRD Off-Road edition we recently tested. Very few vehicles have the capacity to be both a segment leader and a segment disruptor, however the fifth-generation Toyota RAV4 has managed to achieve just that. Introduced in 2019, the latest RAV4 continues its bold leadership moves for 2020 by adding the TRD Off-Road model to its lineup.
The 2020 RAV4 TRD Off-Road is the next logical step in that evolution. It’s the latest member of Toyota’s esteemed TRD family, which includes off-road-capable pickups and SUVs, along with the recently added performance-tuned Camry and Avalon TRD AWD sport sedans. We’ll have the opportunity to test the Avalon TRD in a following review.
The RAV4 has taken over the lead from the Honda CR-V as the best-selling compact SUV vehicle in North America for the past two seasons. Toyota broke this segment mold yet again with the new generation 2019 RAV4. The CR-V lacks a similar package to the TRD, or even Adventure, so the closest vehicles in the RAV4’s segment is the Subaru Crosstrek and Jeep Compass Altitude.
Designed to embody a style and persona inspired by the brand’s tough trucks, the RAV4 was also designed to amplify the desirable traits of a crossover: interior comfort, agile handling, a smooth ride and exemplary fuel efficiency.
Channeling its inner 4Runner, the RAV4 TRD Off-Road certainly looks the part of an adventurous SUV with black-plastic fender flares, darkened grille and bumper elements, matte black aluminum wheels, and knobby all-terrain Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires.
Sporting twin-tube dampers and springs tuned by Toyota Racing Development (TRD), the TRD Off-Road shares the same 8.6-inch ground clearance 0f the RAV4’s Adventure and Limited trims, which is 0.2 inches higher than the LE and XLE models. Toyota touts that the suspension is inspired by the setup developed for the Rallye RAV4 but with enough compliance to damp out bumps in the trail and soak up potholes on the street.
The RAV4 TRD also receives new bump stops for better body control at Like the Adventure trim, the it comes standard with selectable drive modes for the all-wheel-drive system. The rotary controller allows the driver to select Mud and Sand, Rock and Dirt, or Snow modes in addition to the Normal setting. Torque vectoring is accomplished using the braking system. The RAV4's hybrid powertrain is not offered on the TRD Off-Road, which it instead comes standard with a 203-hp 2.5-liter inline-four paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. For the 2021 model year Toyota is releasing an even better Hybrid model, called the RAV4 Prime.
The interior is also gussied up - albeit only slightly - with faux-leather seating surfaces, red contrast stitching, red interior trim, and embroidered TRD logos in the headrests. The RAV4 offers all the same standard driver-assistance features that are on lesser models, which include automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beams, and traffic-sign recognition.
Our week with the RAV4 TRD couldn’t have come at a better opportune time. Although we didn’t test its off-road capabilities, it did tackle several days of off and on intense January showers, and I might add passed with flying colors.
All RAV4 models now have expanded multimedia capability with Android Auto™ added to the Apple CarPlay® and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The LE and XLE grades, both gas and Hybrid, gain standard SiriusXM® with a three-month trial, which was already standard on the higher grades.
Reconfigured equipment and option packages enhance value in the RAV4 XLE, Adventure and Limited grades. In the XLE and XLE Hybrid, a power driver’s seat is now standard. Heated front seats are moved from the Convenience Package to the Weather Package, which also includes a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a windshield wiper de-icer. Formerly available only on the all-wheel drive model, this package is now also available for the front-wheel drive XLE to provide even more options.
The RAV4 Adventure grade gains a standard leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and now also offers the Convenience Package, which includes the power liftgate and power glass moonroof.
The Limited grade models add the JBL® Audio package to the standard equipment roster. This system provides an in-vehicle concert experience with an 800-watt amplifier playing through 11 speakers across 8 channels. Among highlights are A-pillar horn tweeters and a ported subwoofer. JBL® system remains optional for other RAV4 model grades (XLE Premium, Adventure Grade, TRD Off-Road and XSE Hybrid).
Toyota Safety Sense (TSS 2.0), standard on all 2020 RAV4 models, groups a long roster of active-safety technologies and capabilities:
Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD)
Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)
Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA)
Automatic High Beam (AHB)
Lane Tracing Assist (LTA)
Road Sign Assist (RSA)
Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Rear Cross Traffic Braking (RCTB) system are standard on the higher grades, including the new RAV4 TRD Off-Road. Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automated Braking (PA w/AB) are also additional safety options.
Our RAV4 tester starts at a MRSP price of $35,190. The options list included the TRD Off-Road package of $1,015, TRD Off-Road Technology Package of $1,950, Premium Audio Navigation System for $1,620, and the tutone (actually tone on tone) paint for $500. Add $1,120 for designation charges and the RAV4 TRD comes to $41,385. Our tester came in Lunar Ridge green with a matching Icy Rock top. It’s a new color added to the mixture of TRD colors.
Assembly is in Cambridge, Ontario Canada.
