2012 Toyota RAV4 Review: Final Thoughts
It’s time for Toyota to redesign the RAV4. This is its seventh model year since its last complete revamp, and over the years the automaker has made few upgrades to the popular crossover SUV.
Foremost on the list of required changes, the rear cargo door needs to be replaced by a liftgate design. Beyond that, a direct-injected family of four-cylinder engines paired with six-speed transmissions ought to be installed, providing more power and greater fuel efficiency. We’re big fans of the V6 engine, but a turbocharged four-cylinder would be pretty cool, too. Finally, the interior could use an upgrade in terms of materials, and the new Display Audio system needs a complete rethink in terms of its usability.
As long as Toyota makes these updates and doesn’t stray far from the rest of the RAV4 formula, the next-generation version, rumored to be arriving either for or during the 2013 model year, ought to reinforce the company’s long-standing foothold in the compact crossover SUV class.