Toyota’s extensive lineup of SUVs and crossovers features six different models, including two hybrids and a plug-in hybrid. The RAV4, which is now in its fifth generation, is its best-seller. In fact, Toyota says it’s the best-selling non-pickup in the United States. Last year, the company introduced a redesigned version of the popular crossover with a rugged new look, and now the new 2020 Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road model backs up that brawny exterior design with some real capability.
TRD has been tuning the suspension of the Toyota Tacoma since 1997, and for off-road enthusiasts, the three letters are synonymous with extreme off-road performance. Toyota Racing Development isn’t the product of the marketing department, it’s the same engineers responsible for the automaker’s motorsports efforts, including its competition in off-road events like the Baja 500. This is the first time TRD has brought that off-road know-how to the all-wheel drive RAV4, which is now one of the most rugged and off-road capable crossovers in its class. The 2020 Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road competes with the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, the Subaru Forester, and the soon-to-be-released 2021 Ford Bronco Sport.