2017 Toyota RAV4 Road Test and Review

2017 Toyota RAV4 Limited exterior front angle ・ Photo by Toyota

As revealed by the 2017 Toyota RAV4 Limited, the intense competition in the compact SUV segments is certainly paying off for customers. After all, this is a vehicle that’s packed with premium features—from an uplevel Entune infotainment system to an extensive array of driver-assistance measures—yet it also maintains an affordable MSRP. It’s versatile and family-friendly, too, with loads of cargo space and EPA ratings that can reach 30 mpg in highway travel. Of course, just to be clear, that’s when the RAV4 Limited is equipped with its standard gas engine. With the optional hybrid powertrain, EPA ratings for the Limited trim take a major leap forward. It’s also worth noting that there are some important new upgrades elsewhere in the RAV4 lineup, like a standard Toyota Safety Sense P bundle for even the entry-level model, the debut of a sport SE Hybrid grade, and the launch of a new range-topper, the RAV4 Platinum.

Pricing

Now, we talked about affordability at the opening of our 2017 Toyota RAV4 Limited road test and review, and the specifics are these: With an MSRP of $31,830, this trim level is at a transaction price that’s right about average for the industry. As also mentioned, however, the RAV4 Limited is no “average” crossover. Only the Platinum grade has more RAV4 luxuries, and the Limited has plenty of upscale standard cues on its own, including heated seating and Toyota’s Smart Key System for the front doors. The automaker’s all-wheel drive technology also is available for the vehicle, for another $1,400. Frankly, that does leave the RAV4 Limited with some pricing disadvantages versus the Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V, both of which, for example, deliver a heated front row at a lower price point than Toyota. Pricing for the RAV4 Limited Hybrid starts at $34,030.

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Power, Performance, and Fuel Efficiency

The standard powertrain for the 2017 Toyota RAV4 Limited pairs a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission. That engine serves up 176 horsepower and 172 lb.-ft. of torque, ensuring enough output for a payload rating of 900 lbs. and a maximum towing limit of 1,500 lbs. The EPA ratings for the RAV4 Limited with that powertrain come in at 23 mpg city/29 mpg highway/25 mpg combined. That said, the vehicle’s front-wheel drive XE and XLE trims can touch 30 mpg. For all-wheel drive RAV4s, the EPA line for entry trims is 22/28/25, while the Limited with all-wheel drive checks in at 22/28/24. (The RAV4 Limited Hybrid will be handled below.) Further, for extra road capability, all front-wheel drive RAV4 models include a standard automatic limited slip differential, and all AWD RAV4s are packing Dynamic Torque Control technology.

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Exterior Design and Lighting

An intricately designed front end, with three separate grille/intake elements and deeply carved fog-light pockets, gives a futuristic look to the 2017 Toyota RAV4 Limited. But it’s aggressive, too, with a forward-moving stance and a dramatically shaped daylight opening. Also adorning the vehicle’s exterior are 18-inch 5-spoke “SuperChrome” alloy wheels, chrome door handles, and LED illumination for both its projector-beam headlights and its daytime running lights. Significant visual details at the rear of the RAV4 Limited are its wide taillights and a silver-painted bumper garnish—matching a similar garnish for the front bumper. The Limited trim also is configured with the RAV4’s multi-function exterior mirrors, which are heated, foldable, and enhanced by integrated turn signal indicators. Finally, crossover customers more focused on functionality will find this trim boasts a powered rear liftgate with adjustable height settings and jam protection, along with a standard rear windshield wiper and adaptable, cargo-friendly roof rails.

Photo by Toyota

Interior Design and Capacities

Cargo space is key for crossover customers, and the 2017 Toyota RAV4 Limited responds with more total capacity than either the Nissan Rogue or Ford Escape. Toyota engineers have created a standard rear cargo hold that can hold 38.4 cubic feet of gear behind the second row seats; meanwhile, with those seats folded, owners can fit 73.4 cubic feet of cargo. Other helpful storage solutions are the vehicle’s door panel pockets, overhead console with sunglasses holder, and eight cupholders. The RAV4 also stands out with more front row legroom than the Rogue or Honda CR-V. In terms of design and comfort, the cabin relies on Toyota’s premium SofTex material to trim the seats, carries an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and both that seat and the front row passenger position are heated and bolstered. Between the two front seats: a SofTex trimmed center console with storage. A powered moonroof, with a sunshade, is standard on all RAV4 trims above the entry LE level.

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Infotainment and Audio Technology

Unsurprisingly, the 2017 Toyota RAV4 Limited has one of the brand’s most comprehensive Entune infotainment systems. This setup starts with a 7-inch high-res touchscreen with split-screen capability,then adds advanced voice recognition and Bluetooth for hands-free calling and audio streaming. Premium 6-speaker audio is included, as are an integrated navigation system, HD Radio (with Predictive Traffic and Doppler Weather overlay), a 3-month complimentary subscription to SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Siri Eyes Free, and the Entune App Suite. That latter technology is free, and it allows owners to leverage their compatible smartphones for easy access to apps for destination search, Facebook Places, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Yelp, and more. Additional connectivity resources are provided by an iPod-compatible USB port and auxiliary input jack. For modern day convenience, customers will be able to keep up with future Entune software improvements, thanks to the ability to wirelessly download updates.

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Safety Ratings and Technology

The 2017 Toyota RAV4 Limited has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Score from NHTSA and has achieved Top Safety Pick+ certification from the IIHS—which, remember, added a new headlight test to the TPS program for the current model year. Nor should you forget that some rivals, like the 2017 Ford Escape and Chevrolet Equinox, don’t have the technology for Top Safety Pick status. On the topic of technology, all RAV4 models now supply a rearview camera, hill-start assist, and trailer-sway control, plus the Toyota Safety Sense P package. This bundle, in turn, brings together lane departure alert with steering assistance, Toyota’s Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, automatic high beams, forward collision warning, forward automatic braking, and a specific pedestrian-detection feature. To all that, the premium RAV4 Limited trim welcomes standard sonar-based front and rear parking sensors, a blind spot monitor with illuminated icons in the exterior mirrors, and rear cross traffic alert.

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Available Equipment

Shoppers interested in more luxury for the 2017 Toyota RAV4 Limited can check out a robust options menu. For instance, for high-efficiency approach to high-fidelity audio, owners can order a JBL sound system with 576 watts of power and 11 speakers, including a dedicated subwoofer. For a green edge, all of those speakers rely on GreenEdge technology to reduce the electrical draw on the RAV4 as compared to traditional audio components. Next, to save some green, the automaker furnishes an Advanced Technology Package combining the JBL speakers and a Bird’s Eye View Camera with Perimeter Scan functionality, for a live, rotating video stream of the area immediately surrounding the RAV4. Toyota also offers a tonneau cover and cargo net to maximize the RAV4’s carrying capacity. (Customers who prefer the highest levels of RAV4 luxury can opt for the Platinum trim, which comes complete with a heating steering wheel among its standard equipment.)

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The Hybrid Edition

Getting right to the heart of the matter, the 2017 Toyota RAV4 Limited is available with an advanced hybrid propulsion system that showcases EPA ratings of 34 mpg city/30 mpg highway/32 mpg combined. Compared to the fuel efficiency marks for the RAV4 Limited with its standard engine, the hybrid’s results represent an incredible 48 percent jump in city fuel economy, a 28 percent rise in combined fuel economy, and even a 3 percent bump in highway EPA ratings. But as impressive as that sounds, the real achievement is more impressive still, since the hybrid model is equipped with an electrically enabled all-wheel drive system and 18 more horsepower than the gas-only RAV4. When you factor in the hybrid model’s instant-on electric torque, Toyota also claims this is the fastest RAV4, with a 0-60 time of 8.1 seconds. (Toyota also offers a hybrid propulsion system for the XLE and SE trims.)

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Final Thoughts

The 2017 Toyota RAV4 Limited is not without its flaws. It’s a bit pricey versus its closest competitors, and the lineup’s traditional gas engine isn’t the most fuel efficient powerplant in the segment. Yet it holds its own with distinctive styling and luxury content, and it also brings a definite competitive advantage in its standard limited slip differential. And like all new Toyota products, the RAV4 Limited comes with Toyota Care coverage. With this program, Toyota takes care of all normal, factory-scheduled maintenance, and provides 24/7 roadside assistance, for two years or up to 25,000 miles. Owners may find more value in the RAV4 Limited Hybrid—due to its sophisticated powertrain—but even the gas-only versions will more than satisfy most customers as regards their technology, comfort, and overall ownership experience.

Photo by Toyota